Going green can save you green. And while this prompts resorts to find ways to nurture nature, there’s more to the motivation than that. Successful eco-programs offer another bonus: a trickle-down effect that provides a just plain good feeling from executive offices to the staff to, ultimately, the consumer.

Kevin Stickelman, president and general manager of the Las Vegas Ski and Snowboard Resort (LVSSR), knows this well. The ski area has instituted a wealth of environmental programs that basically take parts of the resort off the grid, and consumers have taken note.

“It makes people feel good,” says Stickelman. “You should see the number of people who come up here and take pictures of our solar array. That starts a conversation, and builds a great relationship. People like to see we care about the land and the world.”

That’s lovely. But good feelings don’t fund payrolls. That’s why resorts in the know take smart, planned, small steps towards greening up operations.

Las Vegas: Cutting the Cord
At LVSSR, efforts began a few years back to find ways to lessen dependence on fossil fuel. The resort landed on solar power as its best bet.

It first put in a small 15kW solar system as a test, with a goal of generating enough power to run the IT infrastructure. Back-ups were in place, and the resort went live, hoping it would be a successful first step. It was, and proved to management that the resort could save money with it without hampering the functionality of the resort. LVSSR expanded the system to power more critical infrastructure, by doubling the battery bank. Total cost for the system was $140,000.

Now, says Stickelman, “We power engine heaters for our generators and snowcats, IT infrastructure, phone system, security systems, webcams, office computers, servers, and a few refrigerators and freezers. We are able to even power our refrigerators on solar 24/7 if we have to, as well as our maintenance area.”

The first year the expanded system was in place, it saved the resort 100,000 gallons of diesel fuel, translating to $300,000 in savings from a $140,000 initial investment. No, that’s not a typo. A less than one year return of investment.

Beyond energy, LVSSR has added recycling programs, installed low flow toilets, and more. And it’s all adding up to make it a top eco-friendly resort in the eyes of many.

“Our motivation is two-fold,” Stickelman says. “Obviously, there is the financial aspect of it. But also, we are in a very unique and delicate ecosystem. We have indigenous species and plants here that are important. Our stakeholders want to protect them and protect the land for future generations. If we are going to grow in this area, it’s got to be a symbiotic relationship. We have to care, and we do.”


Mont Sutton: Ecology-Minded
At Mont Sutton, Quebec, emphasis on ecology came before the trails. According to resort spokesperson Nadya Baron, Mont Sutton was founded with the goal of subtly incorporating outdoor recreation into nature. Rather than clear wide trails, the resort has always worked to provide paths down the mountain tucked between trees and other natural elements.

The resort has been successful, and in recent years has stepped it up even more. “We are always on the lookout for new ways to help this effort, and we always want to implement the best we can,” says Baron.

That’s been visible in two ways in recent years: Mont Sutton’s stepped-up carpooling program, and its innovative “1 Like—1 Tree” Facebook program that launched a year ago. The resort was flooded with “likes” after vowing to plant a tree for each like; it’s now in the process of planting thousands of trees—and not just willy-nilly.

“It takes some time,” says Baron. “We want to study the land and plant trees where they do the best. We want to make sure the trees we plant really make a difference, so we keep working at it to do it the smart way.”

The program was so successful, the resort followed it up with another Facebook campaign called “Share and Reforest,” this time planting a tree each time someone shared the resort’s environmental efforts. The effort generated thousands more trees.

Carpooling is a more recent step. Mont Sutton launched a carpool page on Facebook a few years back in hopes of getting more people to use less fuel to get to the mountain. “Getting to the resort might be the biggest impact on the environment,” Baron points out. However, the page saw little traffic, and the traffic decrease was just as small.

Frustrated, the team members put their thinking caps on and revamped the approach, making it more interactive and fun. Sutton fans were asked to share on social media five things Mont Sutton does for the environment, giving folks a fun way to think about, explore, and share the resort’s efforts.

Response was overwhelming, with more than two million impressions and 1,836 shares (remarkable for Canada). Many shared the carpool page. And at the end of the season, the resort realized a whopping 182 percent increase in carpoolers, at very little cost.

Smaller ways to make an impact were also found, and in ways that have delighted customers and also saved money.

“People often think ‘recycled’ means ‘more cost’,” says Baron. But the resort staff found unique ways to recycle that are just plain cool, as well as economical.

The resort’s owners come from a dairy farming family. Now, in its new boutique, helmet containers are actually old milk crates from the family farm. And the décor above the cash register area? Used chocolate milk bottles from that same farm. It’s a wonderful blend of history, décor, and reusing. “People just love it,” Baron says.


Sugarbush: Eco-Culture Mission
For Sugarbush, Vt., owner Win Smith, caring for, and even improving, the eco-culture in and around Sugarbush is more than a business plan; it’s a mission.

“The whole reason we are here is we love this land,” says Smith. “We are the caretakers, not just now but for the future; for our kids and their kids.”

Sugarbush has won accolades for its environmental work, most recently the Vermont Governor’s Award for cleaning and re-energizing one of its many streams. Smith says many of the stream’s issues—silt and other run off—came from decisions made by past owners. Cleaning it up, he adds, impacts not just the resort, but millions, since the stream feeds into a river and keeps on going.

Sugarbush, as a resort, is committed to overall ecological pro-action. One of its largest efforts is to become more energy efficient in snowmaking. The result of last year’s upgrade in equipment saved the resort a whopping 1.3 million kW of energy. (See “Vermont’s Great Snow Gun Round-Up,” SAM March 2015). Since Vermont has an energy efficiency surcharge of four percent, the resort got its money back in the first year.

“Last year we purchased 414 new low energy towers,” says Smith. “That resulted in using 17 percent less electricity than the prior year. This year we are purchasing another 75 low energy ground guns, which we will use on some of our trails where towers are not effective.

“It has to do with being environmentally sound, but sustainable for us as well,” says Smith.

Sugarbush takes it further, too, with a team of employees called the “Safety, Environment, and Wellness Committee.” The team comes up with innovative ideas to help the resort treat the land and air better.

One program it initiated is called “Trash Talkers.” Students from local schools, who are educated in recycling, were brought in on busy weekends to stand at trash receptacles and help guests understand what is recyclable. This came from a realization that putting out bins and signage was not enough.

The resort is now doing full composting out of its kitchens, and its next move will be to educate guests on how to compost from their own homes. “It’s going to be a learning curve,” says Smith, but Sugarbush is committed to it.

Smith believes that many Sugarbush customers appreciate the efforts, particularly the Millennial generation. “They are far more focused on values like stewardship of the environment,” he adds.

Smith feels deep pride in these efforts, but he also sees another benefit: The perception they create.

“Not only is it the right thing to do; it also builds your credibility with the agencies [in charge],” says Smith. “If you happen to make a mistake along the way, and you’ve worked hard at these initiatives, they understand that you are trying. It’s a valuable way to be seen.”

Sugarbush is also looking at erecting a carport with a solar roof that would create 500 kW of power. It would be the first such facility in the industry.


Mount Bachelor: Protecting the Land
Mount Bachelor, like LVSSR a member of the Powdr Corp. family, is also serious about protecting its environment. According to resort marketing and communications manager Drew Jackson, it’s been tackling challenging projects with the goal of protecting the land.

“The easiest sustainability initiative for Mt. Bachelor to add has been the purchase of enough wind energy credits to offset 100 percent of our chairlifts’ electrical power usage,” says Jackson. “The most challenging initiative has been to upgrade old buildings and make them more energy efficient.”

But that’s not the only challenge. “It is an ongoing goal to tell our sustainability story in a more effective manner,” he says. “Oregonians are passionate about their outdoor playgrounds. Any opportunity to educate about our sustainability initiatives is a positive.”

The resort takes a team approach to its environmental initiatives, with decision-making coming via its Green Team of employees and managers. The Green Team reviews initiatives and brainstorms ideas on how the ski area can be more energy efficient going forward. From there, ideas are sent to Brent Giles, the chief sustainability officer at Powdr. Giles and the Powdr executive team decide which are worthiest of funding and implementing, and in what priority.

How do they define that? “A reduction in our carbon footprint, reduced costs due to reduced energy consumption, and an improved experience for our guests and employees,” says Jackson.

One completed project is the installation of an “air lock” on the slopeside entrance to Bachelor’s main West Village Lodge. With the extra set of doors and windows, less heat exits the building, and less cold air enters the building, satisfying all three goals.

Another example is the replacement of all lighting in the vehicle maintenance shop. The new lights have reduced the carbon footprint and energy costs, and made the shop brighter for employees.

The overall message seems to be: Resorts have a duty to work toward sustaining, even improving, the environment. Balancing that duty with financial improvement for the resort is possible, even probable. And that’s a win-win.