Cranmore

Cranmore: green factor

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

Major Initiatives

Free Skiing For Hybrid Car Drivers

Cranmore offered free skiing on two Saturdays in the 2007-8 season for drivers of a hybrid vehicle. Drivers needed to present their car registration documents for their qualifying hybrid fuel automobile at the Ticket Haus for one free lift ticket valid for that date per vehicle.

Saving Power

The New Hampshire Electric Cooperative (NHEC) has organised a multi-faceted program to help Cranmore Mountain Resort reduce its energy consumption by applying new, efficient technologies and participating in a demand response program. Implementing this comprehensive program boosted the bottom line of a major commercial member that is a linchpin to economic vitality in the state.

After a thorough review of the member's energy usage, NHEC provided Cranmore Mountain Resort a rebate of $15,000 toward the purchase of 20 low-energy tower snow guns estimated to be sixty percent more efficient than conventional snowmakers. On top of this rebate, the co-op provided $56,300 for new fan guns through its SmartSTART program (Savings Through Affordable Retrofit Technologies), which allows the coop to be repaid over time on the member's electric bill using energy savings.

The cooperative also enabled the resort's participation in ISO-New England's demand response program. When the cooperative started the program, it was the only utility participating in the ISO's demand-response program. Said NRECA President Jack Wolfe, "NHEC is helping reframe the energy equation: this program shows that everybody profits when we reduce the amount of energy consumed."

Under the terms of the demand response program, during high-price/high-demand periods the co-op notifies the resort, which is then able to curtail usage and get paid for energy not consumed. ISO NE pays the cooperative for the energy saved; the cooperative in turn gives that money to the member. NHEC is, not surprisingly, the only utility in New England to pass the money on to the consumer. Says Johnstone: "It took a lot of convincing to get the ski areas to participate in demand response."

The efficiency efforts will save the resort $2.8 million over their lifetime and 22.6 million kilowatt hours of electricity.

NHEC worked with other ski resorts to find similar opportunities to reduce consumption. By helping ski resorts, the cooperative is supporting a key industry in an environmentally sound manner.

Biodiesel Pioneer

Cranmore made headlines in 2003 when it became the first ski area east of the Mississippi to run its grooming equipment and other diesel vehicles on the then-innovative alternative fuel that few others were utilizing.

"We have never had any problems with the biodiesel fuel in the cold, and we didn’t have to make any modifications to our machines in order to use the alternative fuel." Cranmore switched to biodiesel (B20) to operate their four groomers in 2003. Cranmore was the first eastern United States winter resort to switch to biodiesel (B20) instead of conventional fossil fuel diesel. The resort uses more than 20,000 gallons of 20% biodiesel fuel each year which results in a 4,000 gallon reduction of conventional fossil fuel diesel. Cranmore has also invested in a 4,000 gallon above-ground, non-heated biodiesel storage tank with some collaborative help from the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (DES) and the Granite State Clean Cities Coalition (GSCCC).

Cranmore has found using biodiesel instead of conventional petroleum diesel has made a significant improvement in air quality, is cleaner running, and has less toxic emissions than conventional diesel. "This is especially true when the machines are being worked on in the repair shop," said Jim Mersereau, director of operations. Cranmore has also found that not only is biodiesel better for the environment but it is convenient to use. "We have never had any problems with the biodiesel fuel in the cold, and we didn’t have to make any modifications to our machines in order to use the alternative fuel," Mersereau explained.

In the interest of expanding its influence within Mount Washington Valley and reducing emissions in the region, Cranmore will provide biodiesel fuel to the local Village Trolley, providers of shuttle buses to and from Cranmore and area hotels and motels. The Trolleys, which circulate continuously around North Conway and the surrounding areas seven day a week, will carry placards announcing they are "Powered by Cranmore Biodiesel."

Additionally, Cranmore have instituted an anti-idling program for both staff and guests, instituting "Clean Air Zones" all around the resort. Motor vehicles are the leading source of air pollution in New Hampshire and one of the primary contributors of greenhouse gas emissions.

The guidelines include:

Asking all drivers to turn off engines when they reach their destination and expect to be parked for more than 10 seconds.

Letting vehicles idle no more than necessary to bring them up to proper operating temperature – generally 1 to 3 minutes in winter.

"By following these simple guidelines, we can help reduce global warming and keep winter cool and our slopes white.""People may be surprised to learn that running diesel generators at a ski resort has been found to generate a higher reading of particulate matter, a measurement of air pollution, than was measured in New York City shortly after September 11, 2001," stated Cranmore General Manager, Ben Wilcox. "By following these simple guidelines, we can help reduce global warming and keep winter cool and our slopes white."

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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