A Green Green Mountain State of Mind in Vermont
MONTPELIER, Vermont. – Lovingly known as the Green Mountain State, Vermont is endowed with a local mindset that’s devoted to our surroundings – from the soil we tread to the crisp winter air we breathe. In the Greener Mountains, it’s easy to unearth stories of caring for Ma’ Nature. We dig this stuff.
Bolton Valley
This season, Bolton Valley is extending snowmaking on the popular Cobrass trail that connects the main mountain with the Timberline area and is retrofitting a number of its Ratnik snow guns to improve energy efficiency.
“We’ve upgraded and expanded our snowmaking capacity considerably during the past three seasons and this year is no exception,” noted George B. Potter, Bolton Valley president. “We also are continuously looking at ways to improve our energy efficiency on a resort-wide basis and have been working with Efficiency Vermont to identify areas for improvement.”
Bolton’s Ratnik brand snow guns and the accompanying snowmaking system were tested by Efficiency Vermont, to identify areas where greater efficiency could be obtained. Working with Efficiency Vermont and Ratnik, retrofits have been made to the guns, improving energy usage.
“We’ll have a better idea of how much energy conservation results from the retrofits once the system is in operation,” continued Potter. “But whatever efficiencies we gain are well worth the investment.”
Bromley Mountain
Making White and Going Green: Bromley’s two-year, $1.1 million plan to boost its snowmaking capacity an additional 30 percent is completed, on time and in green fashion, for 09/10. Phase One saw the addition of an arsenal of HKD sv10 tower snow guns, allowing for considerably more manmade snow at moderate temperatures – that translates to more early season terrain and faster recovery. Phase Two of the plan includes the addition of thirty-five new High Efficiency Low Energy HKD snow guns. The enhanced efficiency of the HK technology – versus conventional air/water systems – enabled Bromley to take advantage of credits from Efficiency Vermont, an independent, non-profit organization under contract to the Vermont Public Service Board, which reduced the system investment cost by 10 percent.
Killington
Killington continues to reduce its overall carbon footprint by initiating resort-wide co-mingled recycling through Casella Waste Management, setting a no-idling policy for all company owned vehicles – including snowcats – and installing “Freeaire” systems on six of the resort’s walk-in coolers. In addition, millions of dollars were invested into snowmaking efficiencies and purchasing Low Energy snow guns, which have reduced Killington’s diesel consumption by more than 30 percent and electricity by 25 percent over the past three years. For the 2009-10 season, Killington is once again offsetting 100 percent of power usage through renewable energy credits and purchased additional Low Energy snow guns to continue to reduce the resort’s overall carbon footprint.
Mad River Glen
While Mad River Glen’s ski experience is unique, the mountain’s sustainable business model and mission of protection and preservation are downright revolutionary. The skier-owned mountain’s philosophy is to operate in a responsible and sustainable way, with minimum environmental impact. By staying true to their core beliefs, Mad River Glen will always appeal to a viable niche of ski aficionados.
The business model strives to maintain the current infrastructure, minimize environmental impact and stay true the Co-op’s vision of maintaining the areas unique character. The philosophy is to protect and preserve the unique ski experience, putting an emphasis on the mountain, not development. This minimizes expenses, eliminates debt, reduces the area’s environmental footprint and creates a sustainable business model that will fulfill the Co-op’s mission for generations. Visit: www.madriverglen.com/naturalist/.
Magic Mountain
Magic depends on Mother Nature to provide ample snowfall for years to come and strives to be a good steward of the environment. To accomplish this goal, thinking small, Magic has increased recycling efforts mountain wide. Magic recycles cans and bottles and has started an office paper recycling program. Light fixtures have been replaced with energy efficient CFL bulbs. An employee task force examines all aspects of operations in an effort to become more energy efficient and lessen impact on the environment one step at a time.
Mount Snow
Mount Snow is dedicated to preserving its breathtaking landscape. Constantly thinking green – Mount Snow recycles spent fryalator grease as shuttle bus fuel, recirculates excess heat from snowmaking compressors to warm the base lodge, saves company vehicles’ used motor oil to heat buildings, purchases soy-based inks to print signage. Thinking of new ways to protect the environment in which we thrive is the norm.
Our 251 new fan guns require 1/3 the energy of traditional air/water guns. Each fan gun has its own onboard air compressor, thus eliminating the need for diesel-powered air compressors and saving an average of 200,000 gallons of fuel per year. Vermont already has the lowest carbon footprint of any state and Mount Snow aims to keep it that way.
Okemo Mountain Resort
And the award goes to … Okemo Mountain Resort! Okemo recently received the prestigious Silver Eagle Award for Environmental Education. The National Ski Areas Association annually recognizes resorts’ efforts to preserve and protect winter playgrounds. Okemo was recognized in 2009 for its development of innovative ways to engage both guests and employees.
Okemo Mountain Resort has made environmental education a central part of its operations through programs like Valley Quest, an award-winning, place-based education program that uses treasure hunts to celebrate community, natural history, cultural sites, stories and special places. Okemo is developing two new quests to explore the nature of the mountain environment and the historic farmstead that surrounds the Jackson Gore base area. Okemo’s full-time environmental scientist handles a number of tasks including permitting, environmental compliance and sustainability. He established the Environmental Committee at Okemo (ECO) to bring together the experience and enthusiasm of staff and to foster ideas on sustainability. Adopting the motto “Taking big steps to a smaller footprint,” ECO meets monthly and brings together staff from diverse departments to implement environmental initiatives. Learn more at http://www.okemo.com/okemosummer/environment/home.asp
Pico Mountain
Pico Mountain and Killington Resort continue to reduce their overall carbon footprint by initiating resort-wide co-mingled recycling through Casella Waste Management, setting a no-idling policy for all company owned vehicles, – including snowcats – and installing “Freeaire” systems on six of the resort’s walk-in coolers. In addition, millions of dollars have been invested into snowmaking efficiencies and purchasing addition Low Energy snow guns, which have reduced and Killington and Pico Mountain’s diesel consumption by more than 30 percent and electricity by 25 percent over the past three years. For the 2009-10 season, Pico Mountain is once again offsetting 100 percent of power usage through renewable energy credits and purchases addition Low Energy snow guns to continue to reduce our overall carbon footprint.
Smugglers’ Notch Resort
Smugglers’ is very proud to be recognized as an Environmental Leader by the Vermont Business Environmental Partnership program since 2006. This designation recognizes Smugglers’ exemplary environmental management program focused on compliance and minimizing environmental impacts. Smuggs is the first ski resort recipient of this award.
A few of the resort’s top programs include: maintaining the Five Star status in energy efficiency in residential construction; an extensive recycling program throughout the resort for guests, employees and on-site restaurants; wildlife and habitat protection with ongoing tracking of both the Bicknell’s thrush and the black bear; and operation of the Living Machine treatment facility that uses natural biological processes to treat a percentage of the resort’s wastewater. Smugglers’ also received the Vermont’s Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence and Pollution Prevention for carbon footprint reduction in 2006. Read all about Smugglers’ environmental initiatives at http://www.smuggs.com/environment.
Stowe Mountain Resort
Stowe Mountain Resort has won a 2009 Silver Eagle Award for Environmental Excellence. Established in 1993, the CLIFВ® BAR Golden and Silver Eagle Awards recognize environmental achievements of ski areas in the United States and Canada.
The award hails Stowe for its leadership and innovation in waste reduction and recycling. Stowe Mountain Resort developed a stand-out waste reduction program by highlighting the power of food. The composting plan delivers impressive results – enjoying an 84.5 percent diversion rate. Stowe works with a local farmer who turns the food waste into soil nutrients. This has converted more than 102 tons of organic matter into compost and recycled 82 tons of waste.
An Environmental Charter guides all aspects of Stowe Mountain Resort in a way that preserves the area’s ecological viability. This includes designating 2,000 acres of the surrounding forest for wildlife preservation and a host of environmental accomplishments. For more information visit http://www.stowe.com/press_room/.
Stratton Mountain
Stratton is a 2009 recipient of the Silver Eagle Award for Excellence in Energy Conservation from the National Ski Areas Association. The award, the fourth Silver Eagle for Stratton, was awarded based on the resort’s upgrade of lighting in 15 locations, installation of a Variable Frequency Drive for the resort’s snowmaking equipment, and replacement of 80 Ratnik snow guns with more efficient models. Stratton also implemented a program that incentivized building owners to decrease energy output and established an overall education campaign focused on reduction.
Additionally, Stratton increased its annual recycling by almost 14 tons, began a ski equipment and athletic shoes donation program and reduced propane, fuel oil and diesel by 12, 15, and 11 percent respectively from the previous year.
October 27, 2009
Posted in: United States NorthEast