Meribel

Meribel: green factor

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

Major Initiatives

Traffic Reduction

Since the Olympic games in 1992, Méribel has financed a free shuttle bus system (open to all, even non-holders of a ski pass) at a cost of over a million Euros per winter season (in summer, this service runs for two months).

Over the same period of time (1993-2005), the Méribel authorities have created over 1 000 parking places, free for the user if outdoors or at the cheapest rate in the Alps if underground. Due to the configuration of the resort’s 14 mile long valley (containing 14 villages or resorts), it would be impossible to make it a car free resort altogether, for either workers or vacationers.

The resort has built a 20 mile network of (groomed) winter pedestrian trails (different from the cross-country loops, of course) to connect the various resort areas, the first network of its kind in the French mountain resorts, which coupled with well maintained pavements in the built-up areas and lower lift pass rates for pedestrians, it is possible to walk over both valleys of Courchevel and Méribel with the aid of probably the world’s most extensive network of inter-linked gondolas and cable cars.

In addition, walking trails, foot paths and pavements have been built throughout the entire valley (connecting the three resorts and 14 villages). There has been a free communal transportation system since 1992, which, along with the construction of numerous underground parking areas, means resort guests need not use their vehicles in season.

Mandatory Recycling

Recycling is mandatory in the resort (at great cost to the community which has to co-finance, with other local communities, ever larger and more distant waste disposal plants).

Eco-friendly Architectural Standards Since Day One of Méribel

Very strict architectural rules have always been enforced since Méribel was established in 1938. A building code requires that only chalets of stone, wood and slate be built to a maximum height for individual chalets of ten metres (33'), 19 metres for apartment buildings and hotels. More recently, two new rules have been added: the mandatory construction of underground parking for each building as well as roof and wall insulation, for energy saving.

Besides the strict building code, which insists on the use of local materials, the Town hall enforces a landscaping policy for each construction project.

Renewable Energy Research

The Town Hall is launching a study on the feasibility of installing solar panels to use as (or offset) energy required by the resort’s ice Hockey rink and swimming pool building

ISO 14001

The resort’s two lift operators are both working separately towards the ISO 14001 international environmental quality management standard.

“Natural Lawn Mowers”

Meribel’s re-seeding policy after all the ski slope summer works, means selecting grass species favoured by the resort’s (and visiting) cows in the summer, are planted. These “natural lawn mowers" mean there’s shorter grass at the beginning of the winter on the ski slopes and therefore, less avalanche danger and possibility of safe skiing even with a lesser snow dump.

Other Measures

* All radio relays (for piste safety or communications) are solar battery powered.
* Piste cleaning parties are encouraged after the season ends, with the help of local mountain protection associations.
* A quarter of the resort valley's area is either within the Vanoise National Park boundaries or is natural reservation.
* In Meribel supermarkets give recyclable bags to customers.
* No additives whatsoever ("Snowmax" banned) used for snow cannons;
* Gazex remote controlled avalanched inducing installations all solar battery powered;

Three Valleys Go Green

In the continuing trend to identify and quantify the efforts mde by ski resorts to minimise their environmental impact, Courchevel in France has detailed what the Three Valleys, the world’s largest ski area, is doing in this regard.

The Three Valleys, which operates 1,920 snow cannons, 183 ski lifts and 67 trail groomers uses entirely hydro-electric power for its electricity requirements. This full enewable energy is provided by the Gaz Electruicite Company of Grenoble using power generated by small hydro-power centres in the French Alps. The area also uses biodegradable diesel in all its company vehicles.

For snowmaking the Three Valleys chose the Ariondaz Dam – a hilltop location that had minimal impact on the existing topography and is located in an area where no protected species live. The lake has a capacity of 123000 square metres of which about a quarter is available year round if ever required for fire fighting purposes.

The installation of the new Chapalets Chair is another example of good environmental practice. The lift pylons were anchored directly on to existing rocks to avoid the need for creating new concrete tower bases. The cables are marked to warn birds that might fly in to them. The company is also creating new meadow pasture to help preserve the endangered indigenous black grouse species.

Other initiatives in the area include the collection of rubbish from the pistes organised by the Anne Cattelin Association – an ex freeerider from Courchevel. Organic toilets have also been intalled at the base of the ski lifts. All old lift installations are dismantled and recycled once their working life is complete. A three fold waste processing and recycling stystem has also been introduced and skiers and boarders visiting the three valleys are encouraged to participate in maximising this scheme.

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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• Historic Snow