Alpine – Alpine Meadows purchases 100% renewable wind powered energy from Colorado-based Renewable Choice Energy, a wind power provider. Using this amount of wind energy is equivalent to not driving a car 1,822,061 miles. That’s three and a half round-trip tickets to the moon!
Heavenly – All 5 of the Vail Resorts, including Heavenly, are 100% powered by the wind, making them the second largest corporate purchaser of wind power in the United States. Like Alpine Meadows, Vail has also partnered with Renewable Choice Energy.
Homewood -
Mount Rose - Mt. Rose-Ski Tahoe has joined the SkiGreen program and purchased enough renewable energy to match the annual electrical load of the Northwest and Zephyr chairlifts. This represents over 610 megawatt–hours of renewable energy produced from non-polluting resources – equivalent to the annual electricity used by about 50 average homes. That’s the approximate carbon dioxide reduction equivalent of planting 115 acres of trees or not driving 73 cars for one year.
Mt Rose is devoted to being a leader in the ski industry through managing our organization in a way that demonstrates our commitment to environmental protection and sustainability while exceeding the expectations of the public. Some of the resort’s current environmental practices include:
- Development of Best Management Practices (BMPs) for construction sites with input from local regulatory agencies.
- Improvement of water quality through the incorporation of erosion and sediment controls.
Incorporation of energy and water efficiency design both on the hill and in the lodges.- Successful recycling and waste reduction program that resulted in 15.8 cubic yards of solid waste avoiding the landfill during the 05/06-winter season.
- Employment of two on-site certified erosion control and pollutant containment specialists, as well as an environmental scientist to coordinate construction activities.
- Native vegetation restoration in formerly disturbed areas
- Protecting the natural wetlands in the area and recognizing their significance to improving water quality, reducing flood flows, and providing wildlife habitat.
- Promote conservation and enhance habitat for the rare Tahoe Draba and other natural resources in coordination with the USFS and local stakeholders.
- Increase public outreach through “ski-ecology” programs and continue to support projects that increase sustainable recreation in the area.
- Working in conjunction with local stakeholders to increase sustainable recreation in the area, such as the Reno to Rim project.
- Transportation initiatives to provide alternatives to the use of individual vehicles and thus the subsequent reduction in air pollution.
Future plans include:
- Feasibility studies of alternative energy sources such as solar power at the Rose Lodge.
Mt Rose Ski Tahoe practices environmental sustainability and stewardship through independent programs and by observing the principles established by NSAA’s Sustainable Slopes Environmental Charter.
Sierra at Tahoe – For their PROJECT: GREEN SIERRA they have instituted many educational, community and environmental programs. Sierra-at-Tahoe Resort works local school children to collect plastic bottle tops in exchange for a free day of skiing and snowboarding. The collected plastic tops will be recycled into new bottle tops by Aveda™ in their Caps Recycling Program.
In terms of using the green thumb for building, Sierra “saved” their sister ski area Northstar from creating more landfill when they rescued the doors and installed them at the Grandview and Base lodge. They also used recycled material to rebuild the roof-top decks above their main lodge and above Grandview Lodge. On the below side, they replaced carpet in the main lodge with a carpet that is 25% recycled and contains 100% recycled backing. We have to like that carpet has Cradle-to-Cradle certification.
Speaking of recycling, Sierra makes a point to use 100% eco-friendly disposable products for all their restaurants. All plates, bowls, cups and flatware come from renewable sources such as sugar cane, potato starch and corn resin. (ecopreneurist)
Sugarbowl – In partnership with 3 Phases Energy, Sugar Bowl is supporting California wind farms by purchasing renewable energy to offset 100% of its energy use. This 4,272 megawatt hour (MWh) per year purchase reduces Sugar Bowl’s consumption of fossil fuels, and keeps 4,588,000 pounds of greenhouse gasses out of the atmosphere each year. This is equivalent to planting 310,000 trees or taking 400 cars off of the road for one year.
