Chamonix

Chamonix: green factor

• Introduction to green factor assessments
• Environmental overview of resorts
• Environmental initiatives

Major Initiatives

PCET 2009/ 2010

In February 2009, the Chamonix Valley (4 communes) adopted the principal of a Territorial Climate Energy Plan, known as PCET. This plan is supported by ADEME (Government agency for the Environment and Energy Management).

It aims to mobilize collectivities, businesses and individuals in 2 ways:

1) Reduction of greenhouse gases by privileging public transport and non polluting vehicles.

2) Reducing energy consumption by developing renewable energy options.

During the first semester of 2010, the PCET will carry out an analysis of the sectors in the valley producing the most greenhouse gases. The results of which will enable the local authorities to develop a plan of action, aimed ultimately at reducing carbon emissions 4 fold (factor 4).

Funding

The Chamonix Valley already dedicates nearly 4 million euros per year on the public transport system which is free to all guests and residents in the valley. The aim for 2012 is to increase the train frequency to at least 2 per hour; this involves more rolling stock!

In the public sector, the valley is also developing collective wood granule heaters and THPE buildings (very high energetic performance).

Encouraging measures for individual owners:

Tax advantages for green energy properties, subsidies for environmentally friendly renovations, planning permission advantages for THPE buildings. The Chamonix Valley has also produced an informative document on the advantages of wood heating.

A vast campaign to increase awareness on climate change and the Valley Climate Plan took place last autumn with the "Climate Weekend" from 17th to 20th September.

Work Groups

The Valley players now have the opportunity to participate and to express their views in work groups divided into the following themes:

- transport and getting about

- urbanism and habitat

- consumption and waste

- awareness and tourism

By being present during these work groups, individuals, professionals and associations will contribute to the co-construction of a Climate Plan for the Chamonix-Mont-Blanc Valley: email address for Climate Plan

In the future the Chamonix Valley also has the intention to elaborate a significant ecotourism project.

Green Blog 2008

Chamonix launched a green blog in 2008 which contains a wealth of environmental information on the Chamonix Valley including advice for skiers and boarders looking to have an environmentally friendly ski or board holiday at the famous resort. chamonixgoesgreen.org

Information provided includes:

Reason For Chamonix’s Environmental Initiatives

“Because every year we see the glaciers melting...
Because, here, our environment is sacred...
Because we owe everything to Mont Blanc...
Because the mountain is fragile...
Because our environment is sensitive...
Help us to protect our surroundings...

To seek a new balance between development and protection of the mountains.

“To engage willingly in a move towards sustainable tourism, giving ourselves criteria for the choices for which we must afterwards assume responsibility , every day, regarding every project… If we don’t do this, how can we decide between the urgency of seeing a rapid return on investments and the pressing need not to kill the goose that lays the golden egg? If we don’t do this, how will we find new ways to continue to create wealth, with out also creating the pollution which sooner or later we will have to deal with….and pay for?”
Bernard PRUD’HOMME, Chamonix Tourist Office Director

Green Transport Initiatives

In Chamonix, we support collective transport :
- Regular public transport (bus, train),
- Rail network,
- The Mulets shuttle : this bus is free to everyone,
- Transport on request for the locals…
We try our utmost to consider the environment in our transport policy. In 2008, 12 of our vehicles will be scrapped to be replaced by more eco-friendly buses which meet the Euro 5 standard for anti-pollution. These buses have 80% lower emissions and are accessible to handicapped people.
A few figures …
- 1 500 000 people transported during the year, 1 000 000 during the winter season
- Cost of collective transport by road: 3 300 000 euros of which 2/3 was provided by the ski lift company
- Cost of collective rail transport: 400 000 euros
Eco-friendly transport: we are gradually developing cycle routes around the town.
Planned for 2012 : Tram-train project with a frequency of every 20 minutes !

Accessible By Train

If you want to come skiing by train , it’s possible ! A little slow, but so relaxing...
The Mont Blanc train has existed since 1906...For more information: train.mt.blanc.free.fr.
For timetable information: www.sncf.com
If you are staying in the Chamonix valley, ask for a carte d'hôte which will give you free travel on the train between Servoz and Vallorcine as well as on the Chamonix bus town-centre service.
If you take a main-line train to get to Chamonix, present your ticket to the Tourist Office and you can participate in a prize draw organised every Saturday in the school holidays. For more information: rail travel incentives.

Green Accommodation

If we could recommend today a hotel which has a genuine environmental project it would be the hotel Le Morgane.
Its great advantage : it is a new building. Carrying out an environmental project at the start of a construction is obviously much easier than doing it in an existing building. However, it should be noted that le Morgane has laid emphasis on ...
- heat pumps and solar panels for energy management, 

- the use of local materials: slate, granite and wood for the building,

- Use of water-based varnish and paints without solvents for the internal decoration...
First and foremost, the staff training is an indispensable part of this type of project.
The aim is to achieve zero CO2 energy emissions. The clean up has begun!
To verify its project and to implement a real environmental management plan, the hotel Le Morgane is currently undergoing ISO 14001 certification.
A new hotel promising great success to Chamonix! Le Morgane has 56 bedrooms, a Michelin starred restaurant, a spa and luxury conference room – all situated in a contemporary atmosphere...

www.morgane-hotel-chamonix.com

Mont Blanc Eco Tourism Association

To bring together all the eco-touristic projects of the Mont Blanc valley, we decided to create the Mont Blanc Eco-tourism association. 
Its objective is to obtain finances for developing responsible tourism in the Mont Blanc region: awareness and collective certification projects.
If you would like to become a member of the association, you must respect the charter of commitment, the internal regulations which contain a number of fixed criteria.
For more information, contact: tiphaine@chamonix.com

Chalet Operators in Chamonix with an environmental policy

Chalet 1802 (Chamonix) www.chalet1802.co.uk

Action Outdoors www.action-outdoors.co.uk

Refuse management

In Chamonix, as in many local communities in France, we have introduced selective treatment of waste, which is managed by SITOM.
The Syndicat Intercommunal de Traitement des Ordures Ménagères (SITOM) (intercommunity household waste management organisation) of the Mont-Blanc valleys is able to handle, sort and incinerate.
This capacity has been improved to handle selective sorting of waste. 
 SITOM des Vallées du Mont-Blanc, serves 20 local communities representing 60,000 residents and as many as 200,000 temporary residents in the height of the tourist season.

Air Quality

The Chamonix Town council has introduced a system of measuring and surveying air quality. The two fixed stations are situated in Les Bossons and in the town centre of Chamonix, in the Lyret.. This work is carried out by l’air de l’Ain et des Pays de Savoie (Air-APS).

Air-APS is responsible for surveying air quality in the departments of L’Ain, Savoie and Haute-Savoie.

In addition to a network of permanent installations which today comprises 14 fixed stations, Air-APS deploys other means of investigation throughout the three departments: l'Ain and the Savoie regions have many rural zones bordering on major road axes, passing through remarkable but sensitive mountainous areas. All these are subject to particular attention suited to local concerns.

Town Planning

In Chamonix we avoid urban expansion,
we favour accommodation in the town centre and existing villages, we protect buildings and give financial assistance to private individuals to help them preserve existing buildings, which represents our patrimony.

The Chamonix Valley of Tomorrow

A project to promote awareness and to explain the environmental actions and projects of upper Arve valley (Vallorcine - Chamonix Mont-Blanc- Les Houches- Servoz), "the valley of tomorrow" is an action organised by SIVOM HVA based on the principals outlined in the Sustainable Development Plan of the Espace Mont Blanc.
Its objective : to motivate the inhabitants and visiters to take action through their daily habits and to preserve in a sustainable manner all the advantages of this valley.
A booklet has been produced to present these courses of action and to make each of us aware of our personal responsibility.

Chamonix Rewards Train Travel

During the 2007-8 season Chamonix Tourist Office organised a lucky draw at 6pm each Saturday for those people who have travelled to the resort by train. Guests were invited to come along, with their rail ticket, and take part in the draw to win a wonderful basket of local and regional produce.

It is part of an increasing campaign by the famous resort to increase environmental awareness amongst its guests as well as making more effort itself with ISO 14001 environmental management registration.

The resort also has many joint projects underway with nearby Megeve and the surrounding "Pays du Mont-Blanc" region including an environmental association.

Mont Blanc Tunnel Pollution

Despite the huge investment in re-opening the Mont Blanc tunnel in 2002, many remain sceptical about the sense of allowing large lorries to use the tunnel again. The mayor's office in Chamonix is amongst those calling for a truck ban, suggesting most tunnel traffic could be carried more safely and in a less environmentally destructive way by rail.

The tunnel runs between the French ski resort of Chamonix and the Italian resort of Courmayeur beneath Western Europe's highest mountain, Mont Blanc. The final re-opening of the tunnel was delayed a few hours when environmental extremists placed a bomb at the tunnel entrance.

Since resorts are continuously increasing and improving their environmental practices, we update the Green Resort Guide throughout the year. If you have any information about new resort environmental policies/practices or anything that you think we may have missed, please email greenresortguide@skiclub.co.uk.

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