Contact: Troy Hawks
NSAA Communications
(720) 963-4215
thawks@nsaa.org

Environmental Database Details “Green” Projects at Ski Resorts

LAKEWOOD, Colo.–February 13, 2006–Additional information and detailed case studies about specific environmental practices at U.S. ski and snowboard resorts have been added recently to “The Green Room–the ski industry’s environmental database, which is the most-visited area of the National Ski Areas Association’s website, www.nsaa.org. Since 2002, the Green Room, part of the industry’s Sustainable Slopes program, has provided a vital, and growing, list of specific projects implemented by ski areas to help reduce impact of operations on the environment.

“The Green Room started as more resorts began implementing the Sustainable Slopes principles,” says Geraldine Link, NSAA director of public policy. “The industry needed a place to exchange information on specific environmental projects that have been proven effective.”

Snowmass, Colo., saved three million gallons of water by building its halfpipe from dirt instead of snow. Keystone, Colo., is powering lights and lifts used at night with wind energy; the resort is purchasing enough renewable energy certificates to prevent the emission of nearly 500 tons of carbon dioxide per year for the next three years. Jiminy Peak, Mass., plans to erect a one-Megawatt wind turbine near its summit reservoir that will be capable of producing enough electricity to power more than 350 homes, or approximately 30 percent of the resort’s annual demand for electricity. Details of these, and myriad other environmental projects at nearly 90 resorts (and counting), can be found at The Green Room, where visitors can search by topic or resort name. Topics include water resources (including snowmaking use), energy conservation, waste management, wetlands and riparian areas, forest and vegetative management, visual and air quality, fish and wildlife, and transportation, as well as a breakdown of various environmental education programs at resorts.

The ski industry’s Sustainable Slopes Initiative, which also includes the Environmental Charter of Ski Areas, was adopted in 2000 as a collaboration between resorts and industry members to demonstrate their commitment to environmental stewardship. Sustainable Slopes provides guidance to resorts in the effort to “green” all aspects of operations. For more information on environmental projects at U.S. resorts, log onto www.nsaa.org, click “Environment” on the home page, and then click “Green Room.”

 THE NATIONAL SKI AREAS ASSOCIATION, LOCATED IN LAKEWOOD, COLO., IS A TRADE ASSOCIATION FORMED IN 1962 FOR SKI AREA OWNERS AND OPERATORS NATIONWIDE.

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