Every resort understands that sound environmental policies play well with visitors. But green programs can also produce cost savings. Through pollution prevention (P2), resorts can “save on costs and improve efficiency while protecting the environment and minimizing liabilities,” says Tania Del Matto, chair of the Ontario Snow Resorts Association (OSRA) P2 Task Force.

Most Ontario ski resorts are intermediate or small compared to the majority of resorts across North America. These areas can find frameworks such as the National Ski Area Association’s Sustainable Slopes intimidating. So, in fall 2003, the Canadian Centre for Pollution Prevention, Environment Canada and interested OSRA members formed the Environmental Best Practices Task Force to address environmental concerns.

The Task Force developed a ski resort resource webpage, delivered presentations on Environmental Best Practices at OSRA events and launched a seminar series which started with an Energy Auditing Workshop, followed by one on Green Purchasing Tools. Future seminars include: Lodging and Restaurants Workshop, and Environmental Education Programs for Staff. The Task Force also published environmental best practices templates (water use, energy use, waste reduction) as part of the larger OSRA Best Practices Manual.

“The Task Force provides a forum where ski operators can exchange information on P2 successes and best practices,” says Del Matto. “Exchanging pollution prevention information and resources is very, very important. We’ve made great strides in identifying P2 opportunities. Without the taskforce, this whole process of learning, exchanging information, and benefiting from P2 would not have happened.”

Participating resorts have discovered that pollution is waste, and waste costs money. Resorts can reduce regulatory requirements, resource use, and costs by adopting practices that reduce waste in the first place. In doing so, they set a responsible example for local businesses and the community. By ensuring their own compliance with or even exceeding environmental regulations, resorts show leadership and gain valuable PR.

In light of these benefits, the OSRA and many Ontario ski resorts are embracing P2.


P2 at Blue Mountain
Blue Mountain Resorts Ltd, located in Collingwood, Ontario, has endorsed Sustainable Slopes since its inception. “We drafted a policy outlining our commitment to environmental and social sustainability,” explains Naomi Barratt, Blue Mountain’s former environmental coordinator. “A cross-departmental green team, guided by our Green Plan and the Sustainable Slopes Charter, works on identifying opportunities and implementing P2 projects resortwide. Our P2 projects have centered on conserving energy, waste management, and improved transportation options.”

Blue Mountain automated its snowmaking system (see related story on page 56) and adopted new technology. High-efficiency snowguns make the same amount of snow in 382 hours as the old guns did in 650 hours, a 30 percent increase in electrical efficiency. The resort uses dirt foundations for its superpipe, which used to require 13,080 cubic yards of snow. Using dirt foundations decreases snow/water requirements and energy for snowmaking by approximately 20 percent.

In winter 2004, the resort implemented a Sort@Source pilot recycling program in the village and hotel. Guests were provided with in-room recycling boxes. In one month, the project diverted 180 cubic yards of recyclables from the garbage. The resort launched its first Carpooling Incentive Program for staff in winter 2004 as well. Staff carpooled almost 2,800 times reducing CO2 emissions by 15 tons.

The resort also installed a combined heat and power system to reduce facilities operating costs. Recovered thermal energy from power generation heats incoming water for 90 hotel rooms, laundry services, and dishwashing. The system is yielding efficiencies of 85 percent by providing 30 kWh of electrical energy and 55 kWh of thermal energy, or 190,000 BTUs per hour.

The resort works cooperatively with suppliers, and contracts with companies able to supply environmentally friendly products, e.g. items made from recycled materials, efficient appliances, compact florescent lighting/LED lighting. It works with suppliers to reduce packaging waste, and switched to a dairy supplier that used reusable shipping containers, reducing cardboard waste by 14 tons each winter.

“Blue Mountain is committed to improving its environmental performance. Its goal is to have 100 percent of staff working towards sustainability,” says Barratt.


Elsewhere in Ontario
Other Ontario ski resorts are also pursuing P2 opportunities. Initiatives undertaken by Osler Bluff Ski Club, Collingwood, Ontario, include replacing a Varsol parts washer with an aqueous one; converting incandescent lighting to fluorescent; installing timers and motion sensors for security lighting; using ‘no touch’ sensor activated faucets and urinals in public washrooms; stepping up maintenance on all refrigeration and cooling condenser coils; and adding a heat recovery system in a new snowmaking compressor building.

“It’s amazing how implementing one or two simple changes in your operation can start to save you money right away,” says Doug Wansbrough, Osler Bluff’s manager of operations.

Snow Valley Ski Resort initiatives include an energy-conscious snowmaking plan. The area improved its snowmaker training program, added 30 high-efficiency snow guns and more than 100 airless snowmaking towers. It also adopted use of compact fluorescent lamps and added parking lot lighting sensors and timers. It may soon add an environmental education program for children.

The area has also switched to four-stroke snowmobiles. “With the recent higher gas prices, we’re glad we changed our snowmobiles from two-stroke to four-stroke. They’re cleaner and we save on gas,” notes Ole Petersen, Snow Valley Resort’s operations manager. Fuel economy for two-stroke sleds ranges from 9 to 13 mpg, compared to 28 to 40 mpg for four-stroke biles, based on fleet observations in the U.S. Yellowstone Park area.

Mount St. Louis Moonstone has improved its energy efficiency through new snowgun technology and computer automation and reduced electric heater usage at ski lifts. And it may soon generate its own power. According to Andre Huter, director of operations, “In December 2004, we installed a wind tower on land behind the top of the ski hill to collect wind data for one year. . . . [to] determine if our site is suitable for wind generation towers.”

Last year, Horseshoe Valley Ski Resort installed a combined gas energy turbine/heat recovery system for $22,200 to reduce energy costs. "We’ll recover our installation costs in about two and a half years. Conservatively we estimate our payback at $10,300 a year, even without considering increasing energy and peak demand costs," says Horseshoe’s Martin Kimble, vp of operations and development. To reduce energy costs, waste turbine heat is recovered and used to heat the building and domestic hot water.

P2 has challenges. For a ski resort, they include knowing what activities have significant environmental impacts, recognizing cultural barriers to change, and then addressing them. But as Ontario resorts have shown, ski areas can overcome the obstacles—and even save money in the process. P2 makes sense socially, environmentally and financially—the triple bottom line.



Six Potential P2 Targets
Pollution prevention shifts environmental protection focus from ‘control’ to ‘prevent’ by eliminating the causes of pollution rather than treating symptoms. P2 practices and techniques generally fall into six areas:

1) Product design and reformulation, so that pollutants and waste are reduced or eliminated (e.g., some soap and cleaning companies have reformulated their products to contain less toxic compounds).

2) Materials and feedstock substitution (source elimination), using materials and feedstock that are less polluting or non-polluting (e.g., switching from regular diesel to cleaner biodiesel).

3) Equipment modifications and process changes, which eliminate or reduce the use of certain substances, or offer efficiencies (e.g., newer, more energy efficient snowguns and lighting).

4) Inventory management and incorporating environmental considerations into purchasing and inventory management practices (e.g., purchase materials in bulk, returnable, or reusable containers, rather than in small, throw away containers) can significantly reduce waste, risk and costs.

5) Operating efficiencies and training often yield substantial benefits through improvements in work procedures, such as preventive maintenance on cooling units and more effective toxic-spill response.

6) On-site reuse and recycling (e.g., compost food wastes onsite for use on landscaped areas).



Do It Yourself
Here are some examples of what you can do, taken from the Getting Started fact sheet at www.c2p2online.com/ski.

• Create an environmental team at your ski resort with representatives from operations, hospitality, purchasing and food services.

• Write an environmental policy for your ski resort, signed and approved by management.

• Visit the Canadian Centre for Pollution Prevention’s website for resources and information on environmental programs for the ski industry (www.c2p2online.com/ski ). Also, check out the National Ski Areas Association’s Sustainable Slopes program for excellent environmental resources in the Green Room at www.nsaa.org.

• Set achievable environmental priorities, goals and objectives to work toward over the next few years. It is important to track environmental performance—establish baseline data and collect data to measure progress.

• Develop a staff training program to support the environmental priorities, goals and objectives, as well as encourage the participation from staff in all departments.

Resorts can also use the on-line resources above to develop detailed P2 options for water and energy use, solid waste and hazardous materials management, transportation issues, and other programs.

For more information on the Ontario task force, contact Tania Del Matto at Tania@c2p2online.com, call 1-800-667-9790, or visit www.c2p2online.com/ski.