Telluride Ski Resort
Like many ski areas around the world, Colorado Ski Country USA (CSCUSA) resorts recognize the need to address climate change.
While resorts themselves are not a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, we believe that the long term global affects of climate change on our beloved sports of skiing and snowboarding, and our weather dependent industry, could be significant and could change the winter recreation experience as we know it today.
Many CSCUSA resorts have already made efforts to reduce their own greenhouse gas emissions and conduct business in a more sustainable way. By adopting this policy, we will work together with our members to address some of the challenges climate change presents.
Here’s a sample of some of the improvements Colorado Ski Country USA member resorts made in the last year.
Arapahoe Basinreceived the National Ski Areas Association and SKI magazine Golden Eagle award for excellence in their waste reduction program, and theywill continue to push those efforts. Additionally, the new Kids Center isoutfitted with several elements that highlight sustainability, including solar panels.
Aspen/Snowmasspublished its2014sustainability report, detailing its environmental advocacy at the federal and state levels as well as its commitment to sustainable operations.Aspen continues to be active leaders in Protect Our Winters and Business for Innovative Climate and Energy Policy, pushing for substantive energy and environmental policy. Aspen Snowmass hashired its first energy manager for the company, and has added a number of new snowmaking guns to increase efficiency of operation and reduce operating time. In addition, the restaurant at Elk Camp at Snowmass is slated to receive LEED Goldcertification.
Silverton Mountain is home to the new highest wind turbine-powered radio repeater in North American ski areas at 13,500 feet.
Steamboatwas awarded the 2014 Golden Eagle Award for Environmental Excellence in the large resort category during the NSAA National Convention in May 2014, for making sustainability a cornerstone of the Four Points Lodge construction.
Steamboat continues to promote sustainability and environmental practices with the Zero Waste Initiative which incorporates reducing, reusing, recycling and composting across all entities at the resort. Through the Zero Waste Imitative, Steamboat diverted on average 80% of organic waste from Food and Beverage departments from the landfill over the past year. The goal of the program is to not only to reduce waste, but to educate guests and other Routt County business about environmental practices they can take home with them; and thus continue the cycle.
Telluride’snew snowmaking system includes 38 new high efficiency Snowlogic snow guns. These snowmaking snow guns require 90% less energy to operate than other models.
Winter Park continued its five-year pine beetle kill mitigation project by clearing out 70 acres of potentially hazardous dead timber lastfall, mostly via helicopter.
Wolf Creekpurchases 100 percent of its power from a green power energy supplier. Two wind farms supply Wolf Creek with all power usage, mountain wide, and year round. Sourcing 100% of our power usage with wind power has led to recognition from the U.S. Forest Service.
