Kirkwood

Kirkwood: green factor

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

Major Initiatives

Recycling
Kirkwood are partnered with one of the three counties the resort is situated within for the collection of recyclable plastic, aluminum, and glass. Eldorado County supplied the resort with several attractive recycling stations that allow our guests easy access to the receptacles. Kirkwood staff take care of the collection and distribution to off site recycling centers. Kirkwood’s trash collection vendor also actively sorts any additional recyclable materials at their off-site facilities and transports the materials to recycle centers. Last year 188 tons of paper, aluminum, glass, plastic and steel were diverted from landfills by utilizing the above techniques.

Green Power
Kirkwood’s closest access to the power grid is 20 miles away, so the resort has utilized diesel generators since it first opened 33 years ago. The power generation plant utilizes state-of-the-art catalytic exhaust cleansing technology to help eliminate pollutants. Alternate power generation sources are actively being investigated.

To minimize diesel emissions, all snowmaking compressors are electric rather that diesel powered as often is the case at other snowmaking facilities.

Newly built homes and commercial properties are not allowed to install wood burning devices that do not comply with EPA Phase II Certification requirements.

Traffic Reduction
Kirkwood is located over 30 miles away from other bed base communities. Kirkwood provides on-site housing for approximately 25% of our seasonal staff. The employees who commute are either shuttled for free in vans and buses or offered incentives for car-pooling. The car-pool incentives totaled approximately $81,500 last year and it is estimated that about 2,600,000 vehicle miles traveled were averted through the use of car pooling and alternative guest and free employee shuttle services.

Sewage Properly Managed
The community sewage treatment plant is one of the most efficient state-of –the-art facilities in the country. The effluent is very low in nitrates and the treated solid waste is trucked away from the facility.

Climate Policy
Kirkwood is a member of the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) and endorses the Sustainable Slopes Environmental Charter. A big part of the NSAA’s focus has been on global warming and Kirkwood Mountain Resort has actively participated in the Keep Winter Cool program to help fight global warming.

Green Building Policy
All mountain development and construction projects are regulated with strict erosion control plans. All heavy equipment brought to the resort must be steam cleaned prior to arrival to eliminate non-native and noxious plant seeds from invading the local plant species. Re-vegetation must begin within 10 days of last disturbance. Topsoil is stockpiled and distributed over disturbed areas prior to re-vegetation. Only prescribed seed mixes that contain native grass and plant species are allowed for re-vegetation of disturbed soils. When possible only native mulch is used from chipped wood branches with all other mulch sterilized prior shipment to prevent noxious seed germination. Kirkwood will plant a tree for every tree removed over four inches in diameter.

Non-disturb zones are mandated along all jurisdictional creeks and wetland boundaries to contain silt. Numerous stream bank restorations have been performed along Kirkwood Creek by planting willows to restore wetland animal habitat. All wetland disturbance is avoided whenever possible. Water and soil analysis is performed throughout the year to insure that policies and efforts are working to preserve natural resources.

Noise ordinances are enforced for all development. Kirkwood also has a low light program in effect to reduce light pollution from new development and a retrofit program to reduce light emissions from existing developments.

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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