The results of The International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association's (IHRSA) first Green/Sustainability Survey reveal that - overall - health club operators have a positive attitude towards integrating environmental-friendliness into their daily business practises and see 'going green' as a way to have a positive impact on club performance.

The purpose of the survey was to gain an insight into the opinions and practices of health, racquet and sports club operators around environmental sustainability and its associated business implications. More than 130 respondents provided data which revealed that 70.7 per cent of them had a strongly positive perspective on implementing green practices; 54.7 per cent saw green practices as having a moderate priority within their organisation, with 33.1 per cent giving them a high priority; and 65 per cent believed that implementing green practices at their clubs would differentiate them from the competition.

Other figures to emerge from the survey indicate that 35 per cent of those who took part believe that green practices would increase membership growth; 38.8 per cent think that they would increase membership retention; and 48.9 percent consider they would increase club profits. Bruce Buckbee, managing partner of Leisure Green, who collaborated with IHRSA on the survey, said: "Going green can have a positive impact on a club's image, establish them as leaders in their communities, positively impact on its recruitment and retention of both members and employees, and improve its bottom line."

Green business practices include improvements ranging from recycling and cleaning with non-toxic products, to larger construction projects using building materials with low Volatile Organic Compound (VOCs), using recycled materials such as rubber flooring, and installing LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)-certified heating, air-conditioning and ventilation systems.