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If you're thinking of hitting the slopes this winter, read this article first. There is a way to make your annual ski trip as green as possible, and we've got the details.
For those of us that can afford to take those yearly, monthly, weekly, or (if you live at a mountain) daily trips to mountain resorts, this short "Green Guide to Ski Resorts" will give you a little insight and information to perhaps influence your next ski vacation decision. This guide will give you an idea of which mountain resorts are making the extra effort to reduce their environmental impact and pave the way in making skiing and snowboarding a sustainable industry.
Where to Go:
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Apsen/Snowmass, CO: The first U.S. resort to be accredited as a "green" company by the International Organization for Standardization (IOS) for the resort's environmental management system. All diesel vehicles run on a biodiesel mix. Wind power credit purchases are equivalent to the resort's energy usage. And 80% of facilities have been retrofitted for energy efficiency.
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Jiminy Peak, MA: The first mountain resort in North America to install a wind turbine on site, providing nearly 1/3 of Jiminy Peak electrical needs.
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Jackson Hole, WY: The only other U.S. resort to be accredited as a "green" company by the IOS for their environmental management system. The resort uses biodiesel in all 11 off-road heavy equipment vehicles. It also replaced over 1,000 light bulbs with Compact Fluorescent Lighting, and bought green energy credits equivalent to the resort's energy usage.
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And, the Ski Area Citizens Coalition gives an environmental scorecard each year to most (unfortunately, not all) ski resorts in the United States and ranks them by their environmental performance.
Getting There:
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Check out SkiGreen.org. Here you can get information about which ski resorts support SkiGreen Tags. SkiGreen Tags can be purchased to equal the amount of wind power needed to offset greenhouse gas emissions sent into the atmosphere while traveling to the resort. One SkiGreen Tag offsets the emissions of driving 150 miles.
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Avoid flying if possible (if you live in the southeastern U.S., this might be difficult).
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Many resorts offer free shuttle services in and around the ski resort. Ask the front desk at your hotel, or look it up before you go so you can support public transportation (especially if it's free).
What to Do (or Not to Do):
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Avoid early season ski vacations (around Thanksgiving). During this time, resorts are using large amounts of energy, water, and chemicals for snowmaking to either open early or maintain early season snowfalls.
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Support local shops and restaurants by avoiding chains. Ski towns - the majority of the time - rely on tourism to survive. By supporting local shops and eating at local restaurants, you are contributing to the vitality of the ski town and local culture.
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Avoid motorized winter tours like snowmobile or snowcat tours.
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Go snowshoeing, cross country skiing, or for a horse drawn sleigh ride.
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While on vacation, use the same environmentally friendly principles you follow at home, like recycling, buying local, turning off the lights, and everything else you do to be eco-friendly.
To Find Out More:
About the Author:
Stefan Peter-Contesse is a recent college graduate from Colorado looking to find his way in the environmental and/or recreation fields in Nashville, TN. He is a skier, snowboarder, backpacker, runner, and overall outdoor recreation enthusiast. He couples these activities with his interests in social and environmental change. He can be reached at Stefanpc@hotmail.com
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