Snowmass

Snowmass: green factor

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

Major Initiatives

Aspen Skiing Company's (ASC) environmental accomplishments:
* Committed to the first significant purchase of renewable energy certificates in the US ski industry;
* Built the largest solar photovoltaic system in ski industry;
* Became the first ski resort in the United States to be certified to the ISO 14001 standard;
* Established the first ski-resort supported Environment Foundation; (more than $1 million given to local environmental causes)
* Built one of the first 11 LED certified buildings, then built a second;
* Became the first ski resort to join the Chicago Climate Exchange;
* Launched the first climate change education campaign in the ski industry;
* Developed the ski industry's first climate policy;
* One of three companies and the only ski resort operator to file an Amicus Brief on behalf of the landmark US Supreme Court case, MA v. EPA.
* Became the first US ski resort to fuel all of its snowcats with biodiesel;
* Built a small hydro-electric plant to power a portion of its operations; and
* Received numerous awards recognizing its environmental commitment.

A bit of detail on each of these accomplishments:

Wind Power: In June of 2006 ASC began purchasing renewable energy certificates from wind farms. Combining this new purchase with pre-existing commitments to buy Colorado-created wind power, ASC's purchases renewable energy credits equivalent to close to 100% of it electricity use. Starting in 1997, ASC pioneered ski industry purchases of wind power, when it ran the Cirque lift on 100% wind power. Since 1997, ASC has continually increased renewable energy purchases.

Since ASC announced its wind credit purchase in 2006 more than 55 U.S. resorts have announced their intention to purchase wind credits.

Solar Power: The 2.3 kilowatt array is part of Aspen Highland's patrol headquarters at the top of the Loge lift. The system provides enough energy annually to run an average home for half a year. In the summer, when the building isn't occupied, the system runs the electric meter backwards, creating a credit for the following year.

ASC also developed a 10.5 kilowatt system atop an employee housing facility it owns (Thunder River Lodge in Carbondale).

ASC is in the process of securing approvals to develop a 150 kW solar system in Carbondale.

ISO 14001: In 2004, ASC became the first ski resort in the United States to achieve ISO 14001 certification - the most widely known and respected third-party certification, which demonstrates responsible management of environmental effects.

Environment Foundation: More than 50% of the company's employees are members of the Environment Foundation. Through the foundation, they donate a dollar (or more) per week from their paycheck, which is matched by ASC and again by the Aspen Community Foundation. All funds - more than $1 million in ten years - support environmental projects in the communities in which employees live, well beyond Aspen. The board of directors of this independent nonprofit is entirely comprised of employees. Recently, other resorts, Arapahoe Basin, Copper Mountain and Steamboat, established similar foundations.

LEED Certification: ASC developed the first set of green building guidelines in the ski industry. It participated in the creation of the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Program (LEED) (www.usgbc.org). It built one of the first 11 LEED certified buildings in the world-the Sundeck Restaurant on Aspen Mountain, then built a second, the Snowmass Golf Clubhouse, which received a ranking of LEED Silver. Many other new buildings are now green as well: the patrol headquarters at Highlands features passive solar design, mostly recycled interior floors, cabinets, and furnishings, and the largest solar photovoltaic system in the ski industry.

Save Snow Campaign: Launched in the fall of 2006, the Save Snow campaign featured a series three full page ads that ran as part of Aspen Skiing Company's winter advertising campaign. In 2007 new ads were produced featuring local athletes. These ads are an integral part of ASC's overall marketing strategy and reflect ten years of environmental commitment. These ads are designed to spur debate, discussion and ultimately action by anyone who sees them. ASC's goal with this campaign is to create heightened awareness of Global Climate Change, to provide information and to encourage people to act. To this end, ASC created a new information resource, www.savesnow.com.

Climate Policy: As the first and only ski resort to join the Chicago Climate Exchange, ASC committed itself to legally binding annual reductions in its carbon dioxide emissions. In 2001, ASC adopted a climate change policy that commits the company's to proactively build green, improve energy efficiency, support mass transport, account for emissions annually, and reduce 2010 emissions to 1999 levels.

Amicus Brief: In August of 2006, ASC filed an Amicus Brief on behalf of MA v. EPA arguing that the EPA needs to regulate carbon dioxide pollution and has the authority to do so under the Clean Air Act. In April 2007, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Massachussetts, whose position our brief supported. At the time of this ruling Auden Schendler, ASC's Executive Director for Community and Environmental Responsibility, also testified in Congress on the threats climate change poses to the ski industry.

Biodiesel: All of ASC's snowcats run on B20 biodiesel, a mixture comprised of 20% biodiesel and 80% conventional diesel. Biodiesel reduces black tailpipe smoke and, because of its higher lubricity, enables snowcats to run more smoothly, extending the life of mechanical components. B20 biodiesel cuts hydrocarbon emissions by 20%, and carbon monoxide and particulate emissions by 10%.

Micro Hydro: To further reduce its CO2 emissions ASC developed a 115 KW micro-hydroelectric plant on Snowmass Mountain. Using water from a snowmaking pond, it generates 150,000 kWh annually, preventing the emission of 300,000 pounds of carbon dioxide.

Awards: In recognition of its leadership role, ASC won the Golden Eagle Award for overall environmental excellence in the ski industry an unprecedented five times, in 1998, 1999, 2001, 2004 and 2006. In addition, the company received:
* 2007 World Travel and Tourism Council - Tourism for Tomorrow Conservation Award Winner
* 2007 EPA Climate Leader Award
* 2007 Future Snowboarding Magazine: Steward of the Earth Award
* 2006 EPA/DOE Green Power Partner of the Year
* 2006 Accepted to EPA National Performance Track Program
* 2006 First Choice Responsible Tourism Awards, Best Destination
* 2006 Condé Nast Greenlist
* 2006 Golden Eagle Award for Overall Environmental Excellence
* 2005 City of Aspen Green Tree Award
* 2005 EPA/DOE Green Power Leadership Award
* 2005 Outstanding Sustainable Styles Award
* 2005 Wirth Chair Sustainable Business Award
* 2005 Silver Eagle Award for Water Conservation
* 2005 Colorado Renewable Energy Society Renewable Energy in Buildings Award, SM Golf Clubhouse
* 2005 U.S. Green Building Council LEED Silver Certification at the Snowmass Golf Clubhouse
* 2004 Jewelplace Award for Skiing and Snowboarding
* 2004 Ranked #1 Eco-Ski Resort in North America by Plenty Magazine
* 2004 ASC Achieves ISO 14001 Environmental Management Certification
* 2004 Colorado Ethics in Business Award
* 2004 American Hotel and Lodging Association Stars of the Industry Enviro-Management Award, Snowmass Club
* Nine-time recipient of the Mountain Sports Media Silver Eagle Award, including Energy and Water Conservation, Stakeholder Relations, Environmental Education, Community Outreach, and Wildlife Habitat Protection
* 2002 Recognized as a BEST Practices Company by the Conference Board's Business Enterprises for Sustainable Travel Program
* 2002 Accepted into Colorado Department of Health and Environment's Environmental Leadership Program
* 2001 ASC Environmental Programs recognized in the Congressional Record by Rep. Mark Udall
* 2001 Colorado Pollution Prevention Champion
* 2000 ASC President, Pat O'Donnell was recognized in Tomorrow Magazine's Environmental Leadership Award issue
* 2000 ASC Environmental Programs Recognized in the Congressional Record by Rep. Diana DeGette
* 2000 U.S. Green Building Council Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Bronze Certification for the Sundeck Restaurant on Aspen Mountain
* 2000 Travel Industry Association of America Odyssey Award, Environment Category
* 1999 British Airways Tourism for Tomorrow Award for Eco-tourism
* 1999 National Environmental Education & Training

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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