Squaw Valley

Squaw Valley: green factor

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

Major Initiatives

ENERGY CONSERVATION

Squaw Valley Ski Corp has implemented revolutionary technology to reduce energy use throughout its major facilities. This includes installing a Silicon Control Rectifier (SCR) motor to run the Cable Car and a lighting retrofit (fiber optic lighting) in the Cable Car building, a hydronic heat system driven by lift motors, an incinerator that simultaneously disposes garbage and heats the Gold Coast Funitel complex, as well as a geothermal heat pump that heats the 12,000 sq. ft. Squaw Kids Childrens Center facility.

Cable Car Silicon Controlled Rectifier (S.C.R.) In December 2000 Squaw Valley installed a more energy efficient motor to run the 120 person Cable Car. The new motors technology enables the motor to shut off in between trips and use less power when there is less weight in the cabin. Therefore, the motor operates only a fraction of every hour throughout the day which significantly cuts back electricity use. Since its installation, the new SCR has turned out to be more than 96.85% more energy efficient, with a reduction of the overall kilowatt-hours used by 91.48%.

The Silicon Control Rectifier (SCR) motor that powers the Cable Car and lighting retrofit (fiber optic lighting) installed in the Cable Car building have greatly increased electrical energy savings. The electrical energy savings is measured by the amount of electricity used prior to installing the SCR minus current consumption for the 10 months the Cable Car operates each year. This amounts to energy savings of 363,600 kWh annually. By replacing the old generator-driven system with a new Silicon Controlled Rectifier (SCR) control Squaw Valley Ski Corp significantly reduced the amount of energy used to operate the Cable Car.

Ground Source Heat Pump Systems

Childrens Center Geothermal Heat Pump
In 1990, Squaw Valley installed a geothermal heat pump system in the 12,000 square foot Squaw Kids Childrens Center. The heat pump system is the only one of its kind in the United States and uses the earths natural heat, stored beneath the earths surface, to heat water, which is subsequently used to heat the entire building. This "ground source heat pump system" gathers heat from the ground by pumping a special liquid through loops of pipes underground. Inside the building, the thermodynamic process used for air conditioning, and a heat exchanger create up to 130 degrees of heat, which is then circulated through the floor of the facility.

The geothermal heat pump in the Squaw Kids Childrens Center facility supplies heat to the 12,000 sq. ft. building and results in 8000 sq. ft. of snow melt during winter operations. An electric water heater would cost approximately $90 per day. The heat pump uses approximately 200 kWh per day and an electric water heater uses 818 kWh per day, resulting in a savings of 618 kWh each day. The facility is open 5 months out of the year, therefore the geothermal heat pump results in a savings of 92,700 kWh each year.


Funitel Waterfurnace System

In 1997, following the success of the geothermal heat pump in the Childrens Center facility, another Waterfurnace system with snow melt was installed in the Funitel. Every 34 seconds a Funitel cabin departs from its base platform. To keep the platform free of snow and ice from skiers boots, it uses a 10-ton water-to-water unit that supplies radiant heat via hot water to the lifts loading platform. This unit also produces the hot water used for the snow melt on the stairs leading up to the platform and the service sidewalk at the side of the building. Two 3-ton water-to-air Premier units in the equipment room below the deck are used to cool the electric panel. The rejected heat from these two air conditioners is put back into the ground-loop to be used by the water-to-water units, thus simultaneously raising the loop temperature and reducing the amount of energy needed to heat the water for the radiant systems.


Heat Exchange Systems

Ice Pavilion and Swimming Lagoon Heat Exchange System The Olympic Ice Pavilion located at High Camp (el. 8,200) utilizes the most technologically advanced refrigeration system of its kind. A state of the art heat exchanger freezes the ice in the Olympic Ice Pavilion while simultaneously heating the Swimming Lagoon & Spa, the surrounding decks and walkways and the interior of the High Camp Bath & Tennis Club. The cold air that is generated as a by-product of the heat exchange system is recycled back and used to cool the ice rink.

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Funitel Heat Exchange System

Compressors and hydronic heating in the Funitel building is yet another energy saving tactic that Squaw Valley has implemented. The heat from the compressors is used to heat water for hydronic flooring in the Funitel building and for snow melt. The cold air that is generated as a by-product of the heat exchange system is recycled back in the engine room to cool the motors

Gold Coast Incinerator

In 1990 an incinerator was installed in Squaw Valleys mid-mountain lodge with the objective of reducing the amount of energy used in the busy Gold Coast Complex. The Gold Coast incinerator efficiently disposes of solid waste, reducing the amount of garbage sent to landfills. Furthermore, the heat that is generated is used to heat the Gold Coast complex, reducing the need for fossil fuels. The heat recovered through the incineration process amounts to over 1,500,000 BTUs per hour, enough to heat the entire 35,000 sq. ft. Gold Coast Building, provide hot water for the facilitys kitchens and restaurants, as well as heating the hydronics for the 20,000 sq. ft. sun deck.

The incinerator that heats the boiler that provides heat for the 35,000 sq. ft. Gold Coast complex provides vast energy savings. The incinerator operates daily during winter operations. When the incinerator is in operation the electric water heater is not used, saving electrical consumption of 109,000 kWh per month, for 5 months. The heat pump costs approximately $22 per day to operate and saves 545,000 kWh each year.

Examples of Breakdowns in Energy Savings

Squaw Valley installed a Silicon Controlled Rectifier or S.C.R. control and retro fitted fiber optic lighting for the resorts Cable Car to replace an older generator-driven drive system and traditional lighting. Since its installation, the new system has proven to be 96.85% more energy efficient, with a reduction of the overall kilowatt-hours used by 91.48% and a cost savings of almost 50%. Using the new system, Squaw Valley has reduced kilowatt hour consumption by 363,600 which results in approx. $40,000 annually in financial savings.

Hardy Herger, Squaw Valleys Technical Consultant, has designed and implemented a geothermal heat pump system at the 12,000 square foot Squaw Kids Childrens Center facility. The heat pump system is the only one of its kind in the United States and uses the natural energy of the earth (heat stored beneath the earths surface) to heat water, which is subsequently used to heat the entire building. The heat pump costs approximately $22 per day to operate and provides heat to the 12,000 sq ft building, plus 8000 sq ft of snow melt during winter operations. An electric water heater would cost approximately $90 per day. Assuming a kWh costs .11 and the heat pump uses approximately 200 kWh per day and an electric water heater uses 818 kWh per day, during the five months that the facility is open the Ski Corp is saving 618 kWh per day (or 92,700 over the five months). The cost savings is approx. $10,197 every winter.

Compressors and hydronic heating in the Funitel building - heat from compressors is used to heat water for hydronic flooring in the Funitel building. 12 ton boilers displace 144,000 BTU's. 1 Wh = 4.31 BTU's. kWh consumption for 144,000 BTU's is 620,640 kWh x $.12 per kWh total cost $74,476. Current yearly consumption amounts in approximately $38,181, a savings of $36,295.

The incinerator heats the boiler that provides heat for the 35,000 sq. ft. Gold Coast complex. And when the incinerator is in operation the electric water heater is not used, saving electrical consumption of 109,000 kWh per month, for 5 months. The heat pump costs approximately $22 per day to operate and saves 545,000 kWh each year.

Energy conservation through electronic product selection:

Squaw Valley installed retrofit (fiber optic) light bulbs and fixtures in the resort's Cable Car building and in the corporate offices. The lights that are used to light the Mountain Run for night skiing are also retrofit fiber optic lights. All lights that are not necessary are turned off during the day and all office lights are turned off at night.

*As early as 1980, Squaw Valley put power factor correction and harmonic filter units in all the big lifts, resulting in vast energy savings that continue today. The power compensation filters ensure that only the energy that is necessary to run the lifts is used and has resulted in a savings of over $2.1 million since their installation.

WASTE REDUCTION

Squaw Valleys waste management program incorporates the "REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE" philosophy of waste management to help ensure materials are being used efficiently and disposed of only after consideration is given to reusing or recycling them.

All Ski Corp offices are equipped with recycling containers for paper. Each year Squaw Valley Ski Corp recycles over 4 tons of paper products. In vehicle shops all copper, steel, and iron is recycled and reused.

At Squaw Valley food and beverage facilities real dishware and silverware replace paper and plastic products in an effort to reduce waste. At Squaw Valley concessions guests are encouraged to use mugs rather than paper coffee cups through a Mug Club program, in which the re-useable mug is provided by the concession.

One of the waste management mechanisms in our food and beverage facilities incorporates a solid waste incinerator. All solid waste from Squaw Valleys mid-mountain complexes, Gold Coast and High Camp, is vaporized in an incinerator, which is 99.99% efficient. Recyclable materials are recovered prior to incineration.

For the base area food and beverage facilities there is a state-of-the-art trash compactor (know as a Waste Reduction System). This system greatly reduces the size of trash to be removed from the premises.

In Squaw Valleys vehicle shops the staff recycles all (100% of) oil and hydraulic fluids, tires and batteries. Squaw Valley also uses only MTBE free gasoline. An on-site system also recycles all anti-freeze products.

In an effort to minimize water usage Squaw Valley has replaced 90% of all sinks with automatic shut off faucets or battery operated motion sensor faucets that only come on when needed.

In conjunction with the Tahoe Truckee Sierra Disposal Company, recycling bins for glass and aluminum have been strategically placed in key, high traffic areas throughout the resort. We have recently placed trail map recycling bins in high traffic areas asking guests to recycle trail maps (in decent condition) for future guests to use.
Waste Diverted from Landfills in the 06/07 Season:
Food waste: 168,000 pounds of solid waste from our mid-mountain complexes is vaporized in an incinerator which is 99.99% efficient.

Office paper: 4 tons of paper products generated by employees are offered for reuse and then collected for recycling.

Scrap metal and lift parts: all materials generated from lift maintenance or upgrades are either reused on other lifts or mountain projects or recycled to a scrap metal facility

Oil, hydraulic fluids, and batteries: 9041 gallons of wastes oil, paint thinners, and anti-freeze and 156 batteries used in the vehicle shop are recycled (100%).

Packaging: cardboard and bubble wrap from deliveries of office supplies and brochures is saved and reused for other shipping, storage or packaging needs.

Squaw Valley reduces unnecessary consumption of resources and materials (e.g., office paper, supplies, and/or furniture, raw materials, etc.) by:

Purchasing recycled paper products
Reusing scrap paper in fax machines and printers
Making pads out of scratch paper
Print and copy two sided documents whenever possible
Utilizing company internet and email to cut down on paper distribution of in-house information

Squaw Valley reduces the amount of disposable material sent to land fills by:

Encouraging vendors to offer "take backs" for used products
Reusing newspapers and magazines by donating them to area hotels, coffee shops and other businesses where they can be re-read.
Reusing boxes and packing supplies
Re-selling dated rental skis at the end of the season
*Sending old uniforms to Mongolia through a program called SCHWAG

Squaw Valley reduces the amount of landscaping waste by:

Collecting pine needles on the mountain and from the community and using it for eco-friendly mulch on the resort's slopes.

Collecting tree, shrub, grass and flower seeds. The tree and shrub seeds are germinated at local nurseries and returned to Squaw Valley and planted. The grass and flower seeds are dried and shipped back to Squaw Valley where they are redistributed.

Collecting water from winter run-off in snow melt catch basins and using gravity fed irrigation lines to promote growth of revegetation projects.

Food Waste Management

Squaw Valley Ski Corp owns and operates three restaurants at the upper mountain High Camp facility. It is time intensive and complicated to transport all food materials to the restaurants and minimizing food waste in this facility is a huge concern. High Camp Food & Beverage Staff have implemented several methods for minimizing waste:

In the restaurant and cafeteria, the staff offers daily specials designed to maximize food consumption, prevent spoilage and cut down on waste.

The banquet manager works diligently to not over order when planning group menus and after a party or function the left over food is either taken home by the group or offered to any and all staff working at the facility. All trash (paper and food mix) is transported to the incinerator for disposal.

All packaging materials generated from food service operations, such as cans, bottles, paper and plastic are recycled through the resort's general recycling program.

Squaw Valley switched from plastic to regular utensils to cut down on trash and in some restaurants has cut back on linen usage whenever possible to reduce the need for additional detergent and water usage.

All other restaurants on Squaw Valley property may take advantage of the resort's incinerator and compactor, and recycling programs Electronic Waste Management

Computers are reused in different departments when new equipment becomes available. Once a computer is no longer useful to anyone in the company it is either recycled or sent to a scrap dealer. All toner cartridges are mailed back to the manufacturer to be recycled or reused.

Squaw Valley leases most fax machines and copiers so that the leasing company can reuse the machines and when upgrades are needed we can trade the old machine for a new version. All toner cartridges are mailed back to the manufacturer to be recycled or reused.

Squaw Valley leases a stamp machine which can print postage directly onto all letters. This cuts down on stamps.

In addition, Squaw Valley has 33 chairlifts and actively recycles and re-uses most parts and machinery including cables, assembly units, chairs, towers, lift shacks, electrical components including motors and even chair cushions. When lifts are replaced and/or upgraded the older lifts are sold so they can be reused at other resorts or the metal and electrical parts are recycled.

Purchase/use of products made with post consumer recycled content:

Squaw Valley purchases bio-diesel for use in all snow cat grooming machines.

Squaw Valley purchases recycled paper for use in office copiers, faxes and printers (we also reuse paper in these machines whenever possible).

Squaw Valley prints all resort brochures and collateral on recycled paper. As printing companies change so do the paper companies that supply the paper products.

Squaw Valley purchases tires and vehicle, machine and chairlift parts whenever possible to cut down on waste.

Squaw Valley recycles and reuses all antifreeze for vehicles.

The following efforts are made to reduce packaging waste:

Squaw Valley orders office supplies and other products in bulk to eliminate packaging.

The ticket backs (the paper left behind once the ticket is peeled off) are printed with coupons and savings offers so they can be reused by guests. Squaw Valley's only products that are distributed are lift tickets.

Squaw Valley reuses all packaging materials including boxes, packaging bubbles and paper for other shipping needs. Anything that can be reused is stored and utilized for a variety of purposes. Any boxes that are damaged and cannot be reused are recycled. In addition, as the resort business is seasonal and there is a high influx of people for just a few months at a time, we offer the boxes and packing materials to our employees for moving purposes.

Squaw Valley works to reduce CO2 Emissions through the following methods of Waste Management:

Purchasing new snow cat grooming machines and snow mobiles each season. These new machines are more fuel efficient than older versions. The older versions are phased out and sold.

Replacing truck use in the base area with smaller, more environmentally friendly mules (similar to a golf cart but more sturdy for our rugged mountain environment). This has cut down on fuel consumption and emissions.

Purchasing bicycles for employee transportation use during the spring, summer and fall.

Restricting truck and vehicle use on mountain roads. During the winter snowmobile traffic on mountain has also been restricted. This safes fuel, creates less impact and increases safety.

Recycling all oil and hydraulic fluids, tires, batteries and use only MTBE free gasoline. An on-site system also recycles all anti-freeze products.

Rebuilding motors in all heavy equipment and electrical lift motors so that it is more fuel efficient.

Operating daily shuttles to and from the ski area to reduce road traffic and cut down on fuel consumption and emissions.


TRANSPORTATION INITIATIVES

Through transportation initiatives Squaw Valley has not only eased congestion, but helped lessen impacts to air quality. Squaw Valley offers daily shuttles from areas around Lake Tahoe, including Reno. Squaw Valley also works with a waterborne ski taxi that transports skiers from South Shore to North Shore across Lake Tahoe, using a paddlewheeler.

Shuttles

Squaw Valley Ski Corp extends a serious effort toward getting its own employees to use environmentally sensitive modes of transportation to and from work by paying the bill for Tahoe Area Rapid Transit (TART) passes, to ensure that the resorts employees can ride the TART free of charge . In total, Ski Corp provided approximately $30,000 to the TART system in 2006, covering the cost for employees to freely access their services as well as a fee for providing a Squaw Valley stop on the TARTs daily route. For guest commuting to Squaw from South Lake Tahoe or Reno, Squaw Valley runs free shuttles from both of these locations, arriving daily at 9:30 am and leaving at 4:30 pm.

Carpooling

Squaw Valley offers carpooling incentives both to guests and employees. Periodically, throughout the season employees who carpool to work with 3 or more passengers in the vehicle receive Squaw Bucks (money that can be used for food and retail around the mountain). A similar program urges guests either to carpool or to ride shuttles rather than drive their cars to the mountain. Guests who arrive at the mountain with 3 or more passengers in their car receive $10 off their lift ticket at Squaw that day. Guests who commute to Squaw Valley by shuttle are asked to keep their shuttle pass and bring it with them to the ticket window when they purchase their lift ticket. With their shuttle pass, guests receive $10 off the cost of a full price lift ticket.

By providing public transportation to guests and employees as well as carpooling incentives for guests, Squaw Valley Ski Corp is able help save a lot of vehicle miles traveled (VMTs). The way this is measured is by multiplying the assumed distance traveled by the number of passengers by the number of trips. For employee shuttles the amount of VMTs saved is 283,210. The same equation can be made applied to guest shuttles (617,010 VMTs) and carpooling incentives (9,330). The VMTs saved by all three forms of transportation is 909,550 VMTs each year. By providing free public transportation for Ski Corp. employees and alternate modes of transportation as well as carpool incentives for guests, Squaw Valley is greatly reducing the negative impacts of travel to and from the resort.

FOREST AND VEGETATION MANAGEMENT

Squaw Valley Ski Corp devotes an entire department, the Environmental Improvement Department, to forest and vegetation and environmental management. The Environmental Improvement Departments tasks year after year are: Water sampling, Erosion control monitoring and parking lot monitoring, snow conditioning, chemical report, snowmaking chemicals report, and noxious weed eradication. Common revegetation projects include seeding terminal areas and reseeding roads and erosion control projects that include road eradication and drainage improvements. The department also utilizes heavy mulch application as part of revegetation efforts. The pine needles used for this type of mulching, in addition to protecting the plants, decay in time and enrich the soil, restoring the natural Ph and adding humus to the earth. The amount of humus affects the structure, color, texture, and moisture-holding capacity of the soil, which improves the ability for plants to thrive. Mulch application, whether it is pine needles, wood chips, or straw, creates a physical barrier protecting soil from damage by rainfall or runoff.

Each summer the Environmental Improvement Department takes on new projects and focuses on different areas. During 2007 they will be working on the new parking lot storm water run-off treatment system that reduces sedimentation particles in parking lot snowmelt down to 50 microns, prior to being discharged into Squaw Creek. The system filters out snowmelt sediment, oil, and pollutants (from cars in the parking lot). Snowmelt runs through a system of weirs and baffles to remove constituents down to particle size of 50 microns. The treated effluent (an outflow of water) is then released into the creek.

During the summer, Squaw Valley Ski Corp revegetates disturbed areas to reduce erosion and maintain water quality. In an effort to increase natural vegetation, Squaw Valley plants hundreds of pounds of seed to disturbed areas. Staff also plants thousands of shrubs and seedlings. Additional efforts include adding mulch to lift terminals and towers to maintain soil quality, seeding and eradicating unused portions of road, controlling erosion and preserving water quality by maintaining wetlands and riparian areas, lining runoff channels with rock and installing sediment basins.

Squaw Valley Ski Corp works to preserve native and naturalized plant populations and their communities by collecting tree, shrub, grass and flower seeds from around the resort. The tree and shrub seeds are germinated at local nurseries, returned to Squaw Valley, and planted. The grass and flower seeds are dried and shipped back to Squaw Valley where they are redistributed. The seed is mixed with water and fertilizer and then the solution is distributed onto a seedbed. The material is then covered with a blanket of mulch and/or straw followed by a biodegradable netting to protect the seeds and enhance growth. It can take anywhere from a few months to several years for the vegetation to become completely established, depending on the type of seed, the slope aspect and pitch, soil composition and water availability.

Erosion Control

Erosion is the removal of rock and soil material by natural processes, such as snow, water, ice and wind. Erosion transports earthen material after the process of weathering has broken bedrock down into smaller, moveable pieces. One method of controlling the effect this erosive process has on the natural environment is to stabilize areas of runoff. By adding a protective mound of stones to the existing channels of runoff, the water is controlled and basins can be built to collect sediment from runoff in order to preserve water quality.
The resort has installed numerous "sedimentation basins" where water is collected and slowed down in its natural course down the valley. These basins collect water flows, allowing sediment to fall to the bottom of the ponds before water is discharged from the holding areas. At the end of each summer, the sediment basins are emptied and the material is removed to areas where it will not be prone to re-erode. The cleaned basins are then available to capture sediment from water flows during the upcoming season.

Monitoring Water Quality

Ski Corp engages in substantial water quality monitoring within the watershed in order to ensure the ongoing health of the Squaw Valley ecosystem and of Squaw Creek and the Truckee River. The Resort collects water samples from several sites during periods when runoff occurs. The sampling sites and schedule for collection were determined in coordination with State regulatory authorities, which have helped the company to ensure that the program yields useful data.
After the samples are collected, they are shipped to an independent analytical laboratory that analyzes them for constituents of concern. (In Squaw Valley, the most important potential pollutant is sediment, which naturally enters the water through snowmelt and runoff.) Ski Corp uses the sample data diagnostically, in order to identify areas that may benefit from further environmental enhancement, drainage improvement, or revegetation.

Squaw Valleys efforts to improve the mountains natural vegetation, riparian areas, and wetlands all contribute positively to water quality. The Valleys forested and revegetated land absorbs rain, refills underground aquifers, cleanses water, slows winter runoff, reduces flooding, and overall, sustains watershed stability and resilience.

THE GREEN TEAM

Squaw Valley Ski Corps collaborative effort to Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle There are many members of Squaw Valleys team of employees who are instrumental in conducting the mountains environmental programs. Squaw Valleys Technical Consultant, Hardy Herger, came to Squaw Valley in 1968 from Switzerland, and with him he brought a vision of environmental sustainability and energy conservation. Such initiatives as putting innovative geothermal heat pump systems in resort facilities, chair lift motor upgrades, and installing energy efficient night skiing lights on the mountain and energy efficient bulbs and fixtures throughout the resorts facilities, have severely reduced Squaw Valleys yearly energy usage. Hardy helps report Squaw Valleys annual energy savings and is currently devising new renewable energy systems for the resort.

Tom Kelly is Squaw Valleys Facility and Operations Manager and he oversees all facilities around the resort. This includes placement of bins to separate recyclables as well as coordinating recycling pick-ups, the ordering of recycled paper and materials, the reuse of construction materials in building projects, and all other facility related waste programs.

Erik Knudson has served many years as a member of Squaw Valley Ski Patrol, and in the summer he is the Director of Squaw Valleys Revegetation Department. The Reveg Department is made up of a team of eight employees who working diligently through the summer months to preserve native and naturalized plant population and preserving and improving wetland areas within the resort.

Squaw Valleys Safety and Risk Manager, Michael Gross, plays an integral role in helping track and calculate water consumption and savings and landfill diversion and is also part of Squaw Valleys Environmental Board. This team of employees meets monthly to discuss environmental issues and implement environmental program.

Clean Up Day
Each summer, after the snow melts, one day is entirely devoted to cleaning up the mountain. The entire team of summer and year round employees spend a full day scouring the mountain and picking up trash and lost belonging that have surfaced after the snow melts. As a new ski season begins, Squaw Valley takes pride in knowing that beneath the snow, the mountain is free of trash and debris from seasons past.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: Employee Training

Ongoing training takes place in all departments and employees are trained to utilize the waste reduction programs in place in their specific departments. All employees are trained as to the location of all recycling bins for cans, bottles, paper, etc. Vehicle shop employees are trained in the proper recycling methods for all oil and hydraulic fluids, tires, batteries and procedures for recycling and re-using anti-freeze. Building maintenance staff members are instructed on the proper operations of the Gold Coast incinerator and the base area trash compactor/Waste Reduction System. Janitorial staff is trained to separate all recyclable materials. All office staff members (marketing, administration, engineering, accounting, etc.) recycle paper and cardboard in bins located in each office area, and are also encouraged to reduce paper use by printing on both sides of the paper and making double sided copies. In the Ski Corp offices there are community bikes that all employees are urged to use instead of driving their cars to and around the base village. Squaw Valley Ski Corps monthly newsletter often includes information about environmental improvement projects as well as tips on how to efficiently reduce waste.

Employee Incentive

Through Squaw Valleys Employees Incentive Program, employees are given the opportunity to win prizes such as skis, snowboards, and gift certificates for displaying outstanding efforts in areas including recycling and waste reduction.

There are bins in offices and department buildings for cans and plastic bottles and when the bins are full, employees bring the bottles and cans from their department to the supermarket to be recycling and Ski Corp allows the employee who takes that initiative to keep the money.

Each August, after the snow melts, one day is spent cleaning up the mountain. Every summer and year-round employee spends the day scouring the mountain and picking up trash and lost belonging that have surfaced after the snow melts. At the end of Clean-Up Day employees who participated are treated to a BBQ and raffle with great prizes.

Employee and Guest Commute Reduction Programs

Squaw Valley Ski Corp extends a serious effort toward getting its own employees to use environmentally sensitive modes of transportation to and from work by paying the bill for Tahoe Area Rapid Transit (TART) passes to ensure that the resorts employees can ride the TART free of charge . In total, Ski Corp provided approximately $30,000 to the TART system in 2005-2006, covering the cost for employees to freely access their services as well as a fee for providing a Squaw Valley stop on the TARTs daily route.

Squaw Valley runs free shuttles for guest commuting to Squaw from South Lake Tahoe or Reno, arriving daily at 9:30 am and leaving at 4:30 pm.

Squaw Valley offers carpooling incentives both to guests and employees. Periodically, throughout the season employees who carpool to work with 3 or more passengers in the vehicle receive Squaw Bucks (money that can be used for food and retail around the mountain).

A similar program urges guests either to carpool or to ride shuttles rather than drive their cars to the mountain. Guests who arrive at the mountain with 3 or more passengers in their car receive $10 off their lift ticket at Squaw that day. Guests who commute to Squaw Valley by shuttle are asked to keep their shuttle pass and bring it with them to the ticket window when they purchase their lift ticket. With their shuttle pass, guests receive $10 off the cost of a full price lift ticket

STAKEHOLDER RELATIONS

Squaw Valley environmental effort aims to educate guests and employees, improve environmental programs, and get involved in the local community.

Efforts to get involved in the local community are exemplified through participation in local community environmental programs such as Friends of Squaw Creek and the Truckee River Watershed Council. This includes sponsorship of highway clean up, hosted facility eco-tours, and involvement in Outreach events such as the Tahoe Truckee Earth Day Festival. Each spring, Squaw Valley USA teams up with the Tahoe Earth Day Foundation to help raise environmental awareness through a celebration of Mother Earth at theTahoe Truckee Earth Day Festival. Squaw Valley hosts the annual event which features educational and environmental booths, earth-friendly vendors, and hands-on activities such as the Push, Pull or Pedal Eco Parade where kids show off eco-conscious transportation (the best entrant wins a Squaw Valley Season Pass for the following season). This year the festival includes music and entertainment on a solar powered stage.

Throughout the season, Squaw Valley puts an emphasis on educating local school groups, employees, and guests on environmentally sustainable practices like recycling and geothermal and solar heating designs.

Minimizing Guest and Community Impact

Squaw Valley makes recycling easy and convenient for guests and community members by placing recycling bins in high traffic areas throughout the resort and posts signage, encouraging guests and employees to dispose of their waste responsibly. Squaw Valley has recently placed trail map recycling bins in high traffic areas asking guests to recycle trail maps (in decent condition) for future guests to use.

Squaw Valley encourages homeowners to clear the defensible space around their houses by offering free pine needle collection in the community. The pine needle collection is then turned into mulch and used for revegetation on the resorts slopes.

Squaw Valley offers hand air dryers in all restrooms to encourage guests and employees to reduce paper towel waste. .Squaw Valley educates guests and employees through fliers, the web and company newsletters about reducing wastes generated at the area and encourage all to follow the "Leave No Trace Principles" (see below)

Through web and brochure information, Squaw Valley encourages guests visiting the resort to consider the Principles of Outdoor Ethics:

Plan ahead and prepare: Know the regulations and special concerns of the area, prepare for winter weather, and consider off-peak visits when scheduling your trip.

Dispose of waste properly: Recycle your glass, plastics, aluminum and paper at resorts. Reuse trail maps on your next visit or recycle them rather than throwing them away. Never throw trash, cigarette butts or other items from the lifts.

Respect wildlife: Observe trail closures, seasonal closures, and ski area boundaries. These closures are in place not only or your safety, but the well being of plants and animals located in sensitive areas. In summer, stick to designated trails when hiking and biking to avoid disturbances to vegetation and wildlife.

Be considerate of other guests: Respect other guests, protect the quality of their experience, and let natures sounds prevail.

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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