Aberystwyth University opens eco-friendly gym

Aberystwyth University has opened an environmentally-friendly gym featuring self-charging exercise stations.

The gym is part of a sports dome project at the university’s Penglais Campus, which takes the University a step closer towards limiting its carbon footprint and becoming net-zero by 2030.

Located next to the sports centre’s multi-purpose sports pitch, the gym has been equipped with the latest Matrix Fitness equipment.

The install included an equipment move to the dome from the current adjacent facility incorporating existing Matrix Fitness cardio integrated with 7xi consoles to provide an interactive user interface, live fitness data, workouts and streaming options. New equipment included Matrix Fitness Target Training CXP bikes which will run on the energy provided by users rather than being plugged into the mains electricity supply.

To accompany the cardio, the gym also features a range of new strength equipment, including the Matrix Fitness Ultra Series and Magnum Racks. The new equipment was partly funded by a £250,000 grant from the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales.

The new gym replaces an old one and having the facility housed in the sports dome has allowed the number of stations to be doubled from 65 to 130.

Darren Hathaway, Head of Sport and Grounds at Aberystwyth University, said: “We take great pride in the facilities we have here at the University’s Sports Centre which are open to students, staff and the local community.

“We continually strive to invest in our facilities and, where possible, to innovate when upgrading our equipment. Our new self-powered kit is another small step towards limiting our carbon footprint as the University works towards becoming a net-zero estate by 2030. We also hope that everyone using the new kit will feel just that little bit better in the knowledge that they are benefitting health, mind and the environment.”