Ski vacation destinations, no matter how big or small, need to be ecological and sustainable. These tourist magnets must support recycling and other earth-friendly measures to help Mother Nature. Thankfully, such need for eco-friendly alternatives doesn’t go unnoticed. Most ski resorts now utilize wind turbines and on-mountain micro-hydro power plants. Other ski areas employ uber-efficient snowmaking systems as well as electric vehicle plug-in stations. Aside from that, some resorts even recycle ski boots that are left unused and lying around for long time.
Anyhow, here’s how some ski destinations are getting green:
4,600,000 kilowatt hours – The amount of electricity produced by the wind turbines at Jiminy Peak in Massachusetts each year. This energy is enough to power a 75 million miles drive using a conventional automobile.
30 gallons – The amount of manure a single Vermont cow produces each day. This is later used to power Killington’s K-1 Express Gondola and Peak Lodge, a resort facility that sources its power from local dairy farms.
775 – The number of families comprising the Beaver Valley Ski Club in Ontario, Canada. The 91 acre ski area strictly implements an organics program geared towards reducing Greenhouse gas emissions.
$5.5 million – The amount of money Aspen Snowmass invested on its first ever large coal mine project. This endeavor hopes to reduce the resort’s overall CO2 emissions by 25 percent by 2020.
285, 000 gallons – The amount of water Mount Hood Meadows saved as a result of using low-flow toilets, waterless urinals, as well as other water-efficient appliances.
1.7 million – The number of vehicle miles saved annually by snow riders and skiers who utilize Mt. Bachelor’s shuttle service on their way to/ from the summit.
12 hours – The length of time Las Vegas Ski and Snowboard Resort runs on nothing but solar energy during winter. This prevents 428,000 pounds of carbon dioxide from being released into the air. It is also important to note that this popular ski destination operates in Las Vegas runs entirely on solar power during summer.
1% - Jackson Hole of Wyoming was the first ski resort to commit to 1% for the Planet, an endeavor where member companies give 1% of their sales for the protection of the environment and promoting positive environmental change.
$100 to $2,000 – The monetary grant Boreal Mountain of California gives in support of projects geared towards the protection of natural playgrounds. The funding is given to help identify and develop solutions for various environmental issues within the community.
Article Source: http://www.streetarticles.com/ski-resorts/trivia-time-how-environmentally-friendly-are-ski-areas
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