---
title: Energy Efficiency for Fitness Clubs | Budderfly
description: Budderfly funds, installs, and manages HVAC, lighting, and water upgrades for fitness clubs at no upfront cost. Meet with an expert.
image: https://info.budderfly.com/hubfs/BudderflyBrandingGuide_LogoVariations_StackedFC-420x420.jpg
---
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- [Energy as a Service](https://www.budderfly.com/energy-service/)
- [Equipment](https://www.budderfly.com/energy-service/equipment/)
- [Smart Technology Monitoring](https://www.budderfly.com/our-technology/)
- [How We Innovate](https://www.budderfly.com/energy-service/how-we-innovate/)
- [Measuring & Billing Technology](https://www.budderfly.com/energy-service/measuring-billing-technology/)
- [Who We Serve](https://www.budderfly.com/the-budderfly-effect/)
- [Restaurants](https://www.budderfly.com/the-budderfly-effect/fast-casual-restaurants/)
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- [Hospitality](https://www.budderfly.com/the-budderfly-effect/hospitality/)
- [Healthcare & Fitness](https://www.budderfly.com/the-budderfly-effect/healthcare-fitness/)
- [Schools & Universities](https://www.budderfly.com/the-budderfly-effect/schools-universities/)
- [Retail](https://www.budderfly.com/the-budderfly-effect/chain-retail/)
- [Convenience Stores](https://www.budderfly.com/the-budderfly-effect/convenience-stores/)
- [Manufacturing](https://www.budderfly.com/the-budderfly-effect/manufacturing/)
- [Resources](https://blog.budderfly.com/)
- [Blog](https://blog.budderfly.com/)
- [Case Studies](https://case-studies.budderfly.com/)
- [Customer Testimonials](https://www.budderfly.com/resources/customer-testimonials/)
- [Thought Leadership](https://info.budderfly.com/)
- [News](https://news.budderfly.com/)
- [About](https://www.budderfly.com/about/)
- [Executive Team](https://www.budderfly.com/executive-team/)
- [Leadership](https://www.budderfly.com/leadership/)
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- [Energy as a Service](https://www.budderfly.com/energy-service/)
- [Equipment](https://www.budderfly.com/energy-service/equipment/)
- [Smart Technology Monitoring](https://www.budderfly.com/our-technology/)
- [How We Innovate](https://www.budderfly.com/energy-service/how-we-innovate/)
- [Measuring & Billing Technology](https://www.budderfly.com/energy-service/measuring-billing-technology/)
- [Who We Serve](https://www.budderfly.com/the-budderfly-effect/)
- [Restaurants](https://www.budderfly.com/the-budderfly-effect/fast-casual-restaurants/)
- [Corporate & Enterprise](https://www.budderfly.com/the-budderfly-effect/enterprise/)
- [Hospitality](https://www.budderfly.com/the-budderfly-effect/hospitality/)
- [Healthcare & Fitness](https://www.budderfly.com/the-budderfly-effect/healthcare-fitness/)
- [Schools & Universities](https://www.budderfly.com/the-budderfly-effect/schools-universities/)
- [Retail](https://www.budderfly.com/the-budderfly-effect/chain-retail/)
- [Convenience Stores](https://www.budderfly.com/the-budderfly-effect/convenience-stores/)
- [Manufacturing](https://www.budderfly.com/the-budderfly-effect/manufacturing/)
- [Resources](https://blog.budderfly.com/)
- [Blog](https://blog.budderfly.com/)
- [Case Studies](https://case-studies.budderfly.com/)
- [Customer Testimonials](https://www.budderfly.com/resources/customer-testimonials/)
- [Thought Leadership](https://info.budderfly.com/)
- [News](https://news.budderfly.com/)
- [About](https://www.budderfly.com/about/)
- [Executive Team](https://www.budderfly.com/executive-team/)
- [Leadership](https://www.budderfly.com/leadership/)
- [Board of Directors](https://www.budderfly.com/board-of-directors/)
- [Mission](https://www.budderfly.com/about/mission/)
[Careers](https://omsbdrflyprd.wpengine.com/careers/)
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— **FITNESS ENERGY MANAGEMENT**
Upgrade your HVAC, lighting, and water systems. Cut energy waste. Improve member comfort. All at no upfront cost.\*
[Meet with an Energy Efficiency Expert](https://meetings.hubspot.com/eliza-murrell/eliza-and-kristine?uuid=223e091c-b768-4066-802e-08af87309eb7)
**Lower Operating Costs.
Better Member Experience.**
***Zero Capital Risk.***
---
**Solutions built to solve fitness centers' toughest energy challenges**
Budderfly delivers modern, ultra-efficient energy systems for fitness facilities, reducing energy use while improving comfort for members. Our energy-as-a-service model funds, installs, and manages your full energy stack — equipment upgrades, technology, and renewables — with zero capital risk.
**Ultra-efficient HVAC replacements and upgrades**
**Solar and other renewable integrations**
**Advanced controls and real‑time monitoring**
**Facility‑wide LED replacements or upgrades**
**Energy optimization solutions (battery storage)**
**Water solutions**
Plus, customers get access to the Budderfly Customer Portal — a centralized place to view every location's energy performance, receive real-time alerts, and access billing and sustainability data.
Budderfly Customer Portal video
2/3 of gym-goers
### Gym-goers prefer green facilities
The same upgrades that lower your energy bill also give members another reason to choose you.
## **Scaling Sustainable Operations Across 53 Orangetheory Studios**
Empire Portfolio Group (EPG), one of Orangetheory Fitness's largest franchise operators with more than 60 locations across New England, the Tri-State area, Northern VA, DC, and Charlotte, partnered with Budderfly in 2022 to reduce emissions and energy waste — without diverting capital from growth.
#### **Budderfly + Empire Portfolio Group**
“It's a win-win-win: better for members, better for our business, and better for the planet.”
**Mitch Benson**
*Partner & SVP of Business Operations*
Read the full case study
## **Powering Energy Efficiency for Mission-Based Organizations**
For mission-driven operators like the YMCA, every dollar saved on energy is a dollar that can go back into community programming. Budderfly's YMCA partnerships have delivered meaningful annual savings, without requiring nonprofit budgets to cover the upfront cost of new equipment.
It's the same model that works for growth-stage franchise operators, applied to organizations whose bottom line is community impact rather than expansion.
Read the YMCA case study
#### **Budderfly + YMCA of Southwest Kansas**
“Budderfly delivered in three weeks what would have taken us 10 to 12 years to accomplish on our own. The no‑upfront‑cost model helped us improve our facility, better serve our members, and reduce HVAC energy consumption.”
**Chad Knight**
*CEO*
**HFA + Budderfly:**
## How Fitness Operators Are Taking the Headache Out of Energy Management
Rising energy costs and aging HVAC are forcing fitness operators to make tough calls. In this HFA webinar, hear from Keith Callahan of The Pinebrook Group and Paul McClure of Thrive Community Fitness on why they chose Budderfly to upgrade their energy infrastructure at no upfront cost. They cover what to do about aging HVAC, how a turnkey partnership frees up capital for member-facing priorities, and how to keep control of your temperatures and set points.
## **Why Fitness Brands Trust Budderfly**
Budderfly understands the complexities of energy management for gyms and fitness facilities.
**Capital preservation**
By taking on the cost burden of overhauling a facility’s entire energy infrastructure, Budderfly enables you to invest in what matters: your core business and your members.
**Member experience**
Consistent member comfort, fewer service interruptions, water leak prevention, and predictable monthly budgeting — backed by proactive maintenance and continuous energy management.
**Custom solutions**
We build and fully fund a portfolio of solutions customized to each facility, helping reduce energy costs, improve performance, and simplify long-term operations across your whole portfolio.
**Simplicity and ease**
We eliminate complexity from the process. Instead of managing dozens of vendors and procurement decisions on your own, you can rely on Budderfly’s team of energy experts for a turnkey experience, facility by facility.
## **Opening a New Location?**
## **We Build Your Energy Infrastructure from *Day One******.***
Budderfly simplifies and de-risks the entire process for new-build fitness locations, from sourcing to maintenance. Our capital commitment represents a long-term investment in your brand and the health of your infrastructure, not just a one-time install. And whether you're breaking ground on a new location or upgrading an existing one, we've got a model built for it.
How new builds and remodels compare to our usual retrofit model:
| | Existing Locations | Remodels | New Builds |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Capital Provided (No upfront Cost) | Budderfly invests in new equipment or necessary upgrades | Budderfly invests in new equipment or necessary upgrades | Budderfly invests capital in new equipment\* |
| Average Monthly Usage (Baseline) Calculation | Based on 2 years of historical utility data | Based on square footage, similar club usage, and utility rates (will be recalculated after club opens) | |
| Equipment Procurement | Budderfly procure all equipment | Budderfly can procure all equipment | Budderfly can procure all equipment |
| Equipment Installation | Budderfly manages install of equipment | General contractor or Budderfly manages install of equipment | Site’s general contractor installs equipment |
[Learn more about the new build process for fitness facilities](https://app.hubspot.com/documents/20472728/preview/19341856)
Learn more about the remodel process for fitness facilities
**Healthtrax + Budderfly:**
## **Energy Efficient Upgrades Make a Better Gym Member Experience**
Healthtrax is saving energy while improving comfort, temperatures, and air quality for its gym members by partnering with Budderfly. The fitness facility received an infrastructure overhaul — including 12 new HVAC units and additional sustainability upgrades — at no upfront cost and with minimal disruption to members.
## **Built to Scale** ***with*** **You**
Multi-location operators need more than a vendor who can handle one facility. Budderfly's robust capital backing and scale means we have the ability to deliver tailored energy solutions and our no-upfront-cost model whether you're managing 5 sites or 90. Backed by renowned institutional investors like BlackRock and Nuveen Budderfly has the capital and longevity to support your growth at any scale.
[Read more](https://news.budderfly.com/budderfly-expands-debt-facility-to-550-million-to-scale-its-energy-as-a-service-platform?hsLang=en)
## **Ready to Join the Budderfly Program?**
Meet your dedicated Budderfly fitness experts to learn more about the program.
Norm Pensky
Senior Program Director
Brittany Ficano
Senior Program Director
Kristine Rovsek
Program Director
Ryan Lynch
Customer Success Manager
Eliza Murrell
Energy Efficiency Consultant
Lauren Cox
Energy Efficiency Consultant
[Book a Meeting](https://meetings.hubspot.com/eliza-murrell/eliza-and-kristine?uuid=223e091c-b768-4066-802e-08af87309eb7)
**Frequently Asked Questions**
#### No upfront cost? Is this legitimate?
Yes. Budderfly is the only Energy-as-a-Service company that fully owns the infrastructure behind the meter, investing our own capital in your facility's performance. Instead of paying upfront for equipment and installation, you enter into a long-term service agreement and pay a predictable monthly bill based on your average historical energy use.
#### Does Budderfly pay 100% of project costs?
For qualifying sites:
- No equipment purchase costs
- No capital expenditure (CapEx) required
- No hidden financing structure
- No maintenance burden placed on your team
*Determined by a site survey and agreed upon before any contract is signed.*
#### What types of energy upgrades does Budderfly provide for fitness clubs?
Budderfly designs and funds a portfolio of high-efficiency and renewable solutions tailored to fitness facilities, including:
- Ultra high-efficiency HVAC systems
- LED lighting
- Water solutions and leak prevention
- Demand control kitchen ventilation (juice bars, cafés)
- Solar and battery storage
- Metering, monitoring, and smart thermostats
These upgrades reduce energy use, improve member comfort, and support sustainability goals across every location in your portfolio.
#### How is a new-build location different from an existing location?
In short, Budderfly still invests the capital either way. The difference is how usage is estimated (square footage and comparable clubs vs. two years of historical data) and who manages installation (your general contractor vs. Budderfly directly). See the comparison table above for details.
#### How does Budderfly help maintain consistent temperature and humidity for members?
Comfort is non-negotiable in a fitness setting. Budderfly's proactive monitoring and maintenance keep HVAC systems performing at peak efficiency, reducing unplanned downtime and helping maintain consistent temperature and humidity across every facility — even during high-traffic hours. We maintain the comfort levels your facility already runs at. Budderfly doesn't set or control your temperature settings, we just make sure your systems can reliably deliver them.
#### Who is a good fit for Budderfly's model?
- Multi-unit fitness operators
- YMCAs and nonprofit or community fitness centers
- Operators opening new locations who want energy infrastructure built in from day one
- Brands prioritizing member experience and sustainability without diverting growth capital
#### Will Budderfly own the equipment?
Yes. Under our Energy-as-a-Service model, Budderfly owns and maintains the equipment during the agreement term, removing the burden of maintenance, unexpected repair costs, and lifecycle management from your team.
#### What results have other fitness operators seen?
Check out these case studies to hear directly from our customers:
- [Empire Portfolio Group + Orangetheory](https://case-studies.budderfly.com/case-study-budderfly-orange-theory-empire-portfolio-group?hsLang=en)
- [YMCA](https://case-studies.budderfly.com/ymca-outsourcing-case-study?hsLang=en)
#### What's the next step if we're interested?
The first step is a conversation with a fitness energy expert at Budderfly. We'll talk through your energy needs and operational goals, then complete a site survey to evaluate your facility's current usage and infrastructure. From there, we develop a customized proposal outlining projected savings, equipment scope, and partnership structure. There's no obligation at any point in the process.
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