-By Jason Warnock

Sweet-smelling fog floats through the pitch-black space as strobe lights flash. A siren wails, and the deep vibrations of a strong bass rumble the floor and walls. In the past, the men and women dancing the night away probably thought far more about their next cocktail than the sustainable design of the club. But things have changed. Today's clubbers want a green social scene, and yet they refuse to surrender any aspect of their ecstatic evening experience.

Even conceiving of a sustainably designed nightclub is a feat. These dramatic, flashy, loud spaces consume tons of energy and potable water—not quite the hallmarks of sustainability. But then came Enviu, a visionary, international collective of sustainability driven entrepreneurs. Enviu saw all the shuffling feet and dripping sweat and thought: maybe these are not just by-products of the club, but they could also be a resource. From that idea, Enviu created a sustainable dance floor. The prototype converts the kinetic energy of the clubbers into electricity that powers the lights and music that keep those clubbers moving—a rhythmic cycle of energy output and input.

But the floor is only the beginning. Working with Rotterdam architecture firm Döll—Atelier voor Bouwkunst, Enviu has pushed further, from a sustainable dance floor to a wholly sustainable dance club. Driven by "modern techniques and fashionable design," the concept for the Sustainable Dance Club in Rotterdam bills itself as a fun way to live the sustainable lifestyle. Besides fuelling the lights and sound with dance moves, the club also takes advantage of every bead of sweat produced by dancers. This perspiration is channeled into grey water circuits, biometric wall displays, and furniture that changes color to match the body temperature of the clubbers. And even though this Sustainable Dance Club is still conceptual, there are a number ways to make a club or bar more environmentally friendly.

First, consider energy waste. Enviu's data shows that a nightclub operating on an average of three times a week uses 150 times more power than a family of four over the course of a year. To reduce this drain, change all of the lighting to compact fluorescent and LED bulbs. Purchasing wind or solar power plans as part of an energy package or using carbon offsetting programs can also reduce power requirements and carbon production.
Then there's water: An average nightclub uses 40 times the water of an average household every year.  But don't worry about banning ice cubes or the soda tap. Controlling water is simply a matter of opting for low water, grey water, or even waterless toilets.

New bars and clubs can get an early environmental start, too. Specify low-emitting paints and materials in the designing phase to improve indoor air quality. Recycled or rapidly renewable furnishing and construction materials also will get the new business on the right (sustainable) foot. When designing the interior space, accentuate acoustics that will lighten the load of the sound system when the business opens its doors for the first time.

For those who want to jump right in to the socially sustainable mix, there are a few quick ways to do so. Use local fruits and beverages; this will heavily reduce the associated greenhouse gas emitted by shipping materials across the country or around the world. In the long run, due to the frequency of delivery, local produce and beverages can actually reduce more emissions than merely using local materials in construction. One last idea: provide easy access to public transportation, whether by shuttle or club location. This is a greener—and safer—idea, one that will ensure that the club goers will continue living a sustainable lifestyle for many years to come.

So let that mist roll in, those strobe lights flicker and flash. Pour another cosmo or gin and tonic and let the clubbers dance the night away. If the club has adopted any of the previous environmentally friendly practices, the dancers won't need to worry about being sustainable for a few hours. They can have a blast, knowing full well that they're helping out the environment just by keeping those feet moving.  

Jason Warnock is managing partner of green.dmd, the sustainability practice of Diversified Media Design, an integrated marketing firm based in New York City  www.dmdinsight.com.