Club companies worldwide are assessing their long-term environmental sustainability By Jennifer H. McInerney


F


or club companies both large and small, “going green” can seem a daunting prospect. With so many opportunities for improvement and so many possible strategies to pursue,


it’s easy to become overwhelmed. That’s why many businesses start with what’s


commonly known as a “green audit.” Certainly, the word “audit” has its negative—and


anxiety-inducing—connotations. But, within the con- text of environmental sustainability, this procedure is simply a comprehensive evaluation that helps pinpoint ways in which a business can operate more efficiently—saving not just precious environmental resources, but all-important financial ones, as well. In general, a green audit focuses on reducing


carbon emissions and improving energy efficiency, and encompasses, among other things, electricity, water, waste, environmentally friendly products/ practices, and indoor air quality. Some of the largest club operators in the industry,


including Town Sports International Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: CLUB), Fitness First U.K., and Les Mills New Zealand, have recently conducted green audits as a first step on their multifaceted journey toward environmental sustainability. “Whether yours is a big or a little company, an


assessment of this kind is a good place to start,” observes Bruce Buckbee, the managing partner of Leisure Green, a Plymouth, Massachusetts-based consultancy that’s been assisting TSI with its green goals. “We began this process with TSI in 2007, and have developed a roadmap, a strategic plan for sustainability within the company, that will drive an ongoing initiative.”


U.S. - Taking EcoSteps Town Sports International (TSI) has 158 clubs—under the Boston Sports Clubs, New York Sports Clubs, Philadelphia Sports Clubs, and Washington Sports Clubs banners—and several regional corporate offices in its northeast and mid-Atlantic network.


36 Club Business Internat ional | OCTOBER 2010 | www. ihrsa.org


GREEN AUDIT A ‘GLOBAL’


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