I know that going to the gym isn’t always a green choice. In fact, sometimes I feel like my sneakers are making big fat carbon footprints the second I walk in the door. I toss single-use razors and use up to three towels that have to be washed and dried, not to mention the fact that I’m running on electrically powered treadmills when I could hit the pavement.

But one new gym that I frequent was built to be more eco-friendly than your average fitness facility. The Equinox in Chelsea uses low-flow shower heads and low energy/high output lighting. For construction, the club used renewable cork and bamboo from sustainably managed forests as well as recycled materials like mosaic glass and ceramic tiles.

They also improved the indoor air quality with their green advances, which I think is a no-brainer for a place where everyone is huffing and puffing. Wood products are formaldehyde-free and the paints and sealants used were free of hazardous fumes. Equinox also installed high-performance air filters and my favorite part—a wall of live greenery, which cleans the air, creates a natural sound barrier and looks amazing.

How green is your gym? Do you do anything to make your work out more eco-friendly?