The Indoor Ascent Climbing Gym is a pround member of the Green Alliance. The Green Alliance is a growing union of green businesses on the Seacoast, offering strength in numbers; raising the profile of local sustainable businesses through collaboration, consumer education and shared business strategies. The Green Alliance Co-op offers their green goods and services to individual Co-op members at a discount. Visit the Green Alliance website at www.greenalliance.biz
For Chad Murphy of Indoor Ascent Climbing Gym in Dover, rock climbing is a way of life. The owner takes great pride in the service and space he provides his customers, emphasizing that learning to climb indoors gives one a greater appreciation for nature when climbing outside. “Aside from the gas to get there, the actual activity of climbing doesn’t require any energy at all, in comparison with other energy intensive sports such skiing, boating or golfing often does,” says Murphy. “And just to have the incentive to protect the outdoor climbing areas invites a green mindset.”
Murphy recently took over the space in downtown Dover, located on Broadway just past Red’s Shoe Barn, after co-owning the gym for the previous four years. In that time he has maintained a loyal and consistent customer base, all the while seeking more significant ways to render sustainable his entire operation. Unfortunately, Murphy’s space is rented, so some of the bigger long-term goals – such as installing solar panels – might have to wait. Still, Murphy maintains that his business has made great strides in attempting to “greenify” their operation, including: recycling and composting all waste products; switching from paper towels to cloth towels that can be washed and re-used; and hand washing the climbing holds as opposed to running them through a near-empty dishwasher.
And, Murphy plans on installing high-efficiency spray-foam injection into the walls of the climbing gym, with fellow GA Business Partner MJW Drywall and Spray Foam Insulation. Additionally, Murphy has plans to install motion-lighting in the climbing area, which will allow lights in areas not in use to be shut off automatically. While these changes don’t amount to the total overhaul Murphy envisions for the space, he no less sees each small investment as a door to even more energy-efficient changes. “With the spray-foam, we’re hopefully making a change that has the potential to snowball – the energy we save with the spray-foam will allow us to purchase more efficient light bulbs, which will in turn save enough energy to one day make solar a possibility,” says Murphy.
As far as on-site cleaning products are concerned, Indoor Ascent has switched from toxic cleaners for climbing holds and other equipment to totally non-toxic, citrus based and biodegradable cleaners. And while some of the climbing equipment Murphy uses are indeed made from synthetic plastics, safety has always been and will continue to be the number one priority – in short, synthetic holds are tougher than non-synthetic holds. Still, Murphy remains confident that, given time, climbing companies will begin to develop safe and sustainable climbing equipment that will be both affordable and effective.
Perhaps the most admirable aspect of Murphy’s businesses lies in its impassioned work within the community. He has partnered with Big Brothers / Big Sisters, the Chase Home for Kids and Shortridge Academy – just to name a few. Murphy works with these organizations to provide a safe haven for disadvantaged youth, allowing them to climb at drastically discounted rates. For the kids from Shortridge, Murphy has worked out a barter whereby the students climb for free in exchange for providing further community service in the city of Dover, service which Murphy and his staff oversee. Murphy takes great pride in not just providing an incredible community service himself, but further instilling within these kids the instinct to “go out and do the same for other people.” It is a dynamic that has been wildly successful so far, and one that Murphy plans to continue fostering into the future.
Green Dreams: While admittedly ambitious, Murphy’s goal is for both his gym and his home to one day be entirely off the grid through a combination of solar and geothermal. Clearly such a project demands continued growth and revenue, goals which Murphy believes will come as Indoor Ascent continues its own “climb” to full sustainability.