Going green

[ski diva]

This is the stuff I love to see -- more resorts going to wind power.

You may have heard this summer that Vail is going wind power for all its energy needs. And recently Okemo (VT), Crested Butte (CO), and Crystal Mountain (MI) have announced they'll be doing the same. In fact, according to the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA), about 30 percent of U.S. ski resorts currently buy wind power. In the NSAA Sustainable Slopes Environmental Charter: Sixth Annual Report 180 ski resorts have now endorsed the Environmental Charter and are taking steps toward improved environmentally friendly policies.

This is a great way for ski resorts to take a pro-active role in reducing the emission of greenhouse gases. Now if the rest of the world would just do the same.....

 

[Snowbird]

I'm a big proponent of wind power, too. Can't understand why it isn't more widely used. Every little bit helps!

 

[dburdenbates]

Count me in as a BIG supporter of alternative energy sources. My home in Texas is 100% powered by wind, solar, and biomass fuel.

I hope Vail and the others inspire other ski areas to make the switch.

 

[Lynn]

Okay, this is just padding, but it makes me a Diva. Recycle, don't buy things just to go shopping. Use less, be conscious. Oh, and shoot your friends if they insist they need a Hummer.

 

[Jilly]

Way to go Lynn. As for green, I'd like to see more. I work in the construction area and LEED's is just coming to Canada. We quoted on a building this summer that is to qualify for LEED's accrediation. Most of the local contractors and supplier didn't have a clue. Thanks to our international organization I knew exactly what the architect was looking for and told him that the locals would be wondering as most hadn't seen this stuff before. Now I'm after the construction association to bring in a speaker to talk about LEED's. Leadership in environmental engineering design LEED. The construction industry is starting to wake up and recycle. Now if the automobile companies would get it in gear and produce a better vehicle, lower emissions, low price we could make the world a better place. I really don't want to drive a SUV, but I need to.

 

[Lynn]

Some SUV's are better at gas mileage than others. We have a '98 Mercedes SUV. It gets 17-18 in the city and 22-24 on the highway. Not too shabby. From what I understand, they began to make it heavier a few years later and the gas mileage plummeted. Ford makes a hybrid version of its top SUV seller. If we ever buy a new car, it will be a hybrid. My husband decided this year that it isn't worth it to buy new, they depreciate so quickly. The only thing I care about is having manual, fairly comfortable, decent gas mileage and a place to put my skis/bike

 

[Marigee]

We have always been great recylers at our house. We have been trying to teach the kids that you don't always need to get the latest or newest thing if the old one works just fine - too wasteful. We have been replacing all our lightbulbs with compact flourescent bulbs as they go out. Hubby is big on setting the thermostat on 68 in the winter and 74 in the summer. All of these are just little things, but I suppose every little bit helps! No Hummer for this household!

 

[ski diva]

Count me in as a BIG supporter of alternative energy sources. My home in Texas is 100% powered by wind, solar, and biomass fuel.

I hope Vail and the others inspire other ski areas to make the switch.

Wow, that is truly impressive! Wish more buildings were like that. You're an inspiration!

My daughter is going for her ph.d in Oceanography/Geology, and her field of study is climate change. She keeps me VERY aware about all this sort of stuff. The more we can do, the better.

 

[dburdenbates]

Wow, that is truly impressive! Wish more buildings were like that. You're an inspiration!

My daughter is going for her ph.d in Oceanography/Geology, and her field of study is climate change. She keeps me VERY aware about all this sort of stuff. The more we can do, the better.

If I had to do it over again, I think I would have studied Geology too. I've always been fascinated by it.

Actually, don't give me too much credit on the green house. Texas deregulated the power companies and we have the right to choose who provides our power. We just went with a company that produces all of their power with green options. When we finally build our cabin in Colorado, we want to build an entirely eco-friendly house. Of course, we have to win the lottery before we can get started. :p

 

[Jilly]

An interesting post on Skipressworld. The VANOC is looking at housing IOC people and media on a cruise ship. The ship would be docked at Squamish, 1/2 way between Whistler and Vancouver. VANOC is saying that it is a green idea. Didn't Greece use cruise ships as hotels during the summer olympics??

 

[ski diva]

Another ski area is going to wind power!

Grand Targhee Resort in Wyoming has just committed to purchasing 10,500 MWh of renewable energy certificates over the next three years through a partnership with the Bonneville Environmental Foundation's (BEF) SkiGreen program.

Yet another example of the ski industry doing what it can to reduce greenhouse gases to help offset global warming.

Two ski poles up!

 

[Snowsong]

I'm a big proponent of wind power, too. Can't understand why it isn't more widely used. Every little bit helps!

This is a HOT topic in my area right now. A wind farm is being constructed within view of my area. Unfortunately, I don't think my ski area or my home is benefitting from the wind farm. We are on a rural electric co-op and do not have the option to buy our power elsewhere yet. Gamesa, a windmill manufacturer from Spain, built a facility in the industrial park where I work to make the windmill blades. The people in this area aren't very progessive, and most of the surrounding communities are fighting the proposed windmill farms. (Steel and coal used to be king here, so there are still a lot of those people left). The biggest reason against the windmill farms? People say they will spoil the view by being on all the ridgetops.

Personally, my home was still very much in the 70's when I bought it (including the wall to wall shag carpet - yuk!). As I remodel, I am trying to use green materials and methods. I get looked at like I'm from outer space when I inquire with contractors and building supply stores about stuff like cool metal roofing, cork flooring, etc.

 

[ski diva]

Believe it or not, the same problem exists here in Vermont, which people think of as a pretty liberal state. A movement to erect wind turbines on top of some of the mountains around Londonderry has been met by some pretty fair resistance. People don't want the wind mills spoiling their view of the ridge line. I guess they'd rather global warming spoiled the climate, instead.