The Question: I’m planning a trip to your mountain and was wondering how environmentally green your area is?


Mountain 1: WY, LARGE AREA

First Contact: Automated machine. Chose “resort accommodations.”
Answering Phone: Young female
SAM: Stated question
Staff: Umm, I don’t, umm statistically…Umm, there’s probably about (hearing her count something…) like nine green trails.
SAM: Oh, I meant environmentally-conscious green.
Staff: Oh, oh, oh. What are you talking about though, in what way do you mean that?
SAM: Do you do anything with carbon offsets, or wind-powered operations or green promotions for customers, anything of that sort.
Staff: No, none of the above, no, not at all. I mean, what they do is they endorse the NSAA Sustainable Slopes program. And, uhh, obviously they’re trying to protect it as much as possible. I mean we have a car pool but there’s definitely no wind-powered lifts. What specifics are you looking for?
SAM: I guess just in terms of general operations.
Staff: I know they do replanting of trees which are native to the mountain. I mean you have to cut SO many trees down to clear for trails and they make a real effort to replant those trees for the natural environment. I think we may also use biodiesel for our cats. But, uhh yeah, that’s about it that I know.
SAM: OK, well thanks so much.

Rating: 3
Comment: This resort has several of its lifts operated by wind energy and they boast a 100% wind power initiative. Yet she has no idea. Pick up the newspaper, girlfriend. And ouch on the tree cutting.


Mountain 2: B.C., Large Area

First Contact: Automated machine. “Reps are all busy.”
Answering Phone: Young male, couldn’t have sounded more happy to answer the phones. Who knows, maybe it’s his calling. Get it?
SAM: Stated question
Staff: Um, well. Let’s see, we were one of two resorts in North America that is ISO 14001 certified. Yeah, and the other one is in the States, but we’re the only two North America. So, I mean specifically, we do a lot. Stream run-off prevention, sustainable logging practices, every type of recycling and lots of energy efficient fuel usage, I mean I could keep going but it’s all audited by the ISO. They come in every year and re-certify us. We’ve been able to hold that for four years so far.
SAM: Well geez, there you go. I was looking for the basics, but I guess that encompasses just about everything. So then I’m guessing with that certification you obviously enable yourself to purchase carbon offsets, or I know a lot of places allow customers to include themselves in resort projects where part of their purchase goes toward environmental efforts.
Staff: Well, sure, but I guess for us that’s the way we’ve always chosen to run our business. We don’t actually allocate any particular chunk of our bottom line to environmental efforts, but instead we’ve always automatically spent our profits on making sure we operate in ways to meet the highest standards possible regarding environmental sustainability. So customer inclusion is definitely a bonus and it’s great to have everyone involved, but we don’t rely on customers. We’ve managed to figure out a way to operate day to day to maintain a healthy relationship with the environment, while also fortunately being profitable.
SAM: That’s great to hear. Thanks so much.
Staff: No problem, thanks for calling, have a great day.

Rating: 9.5
Comment: Awesome amount of information partnered with an outstanding attitude.


Mountain 3: AZ, medium Area

First Contact: Young female, friendly enough.
SAM: Stated question
Staff: Um, I guess I don’t understand what you’re asking.
SAM: Well, any environmentally friendly operations, such as carbon offsets or solar panels or recycling programs, etc.
Staff: I don’t believe so. But let me transfer you to someone who might know more than me.
Answering Phone: Male, not all that happy sounding.
SAM: Stated question
Staff: We do the things that are financially feasible, but unfortunately in this part of the country, we’re not as progressive. We’d like to do something, but if you don’t have the resources, you can’t. You can be as green minded as possible, but can only do as much as economically possible. You can easily want to start a recycling program, but if you don’t have anyone to pick it up, there’s nothing you can do.
SAM: OK, that’s understandable.
Staff: Yeah, I mean the electric company is trying to go green and we would work with them, but they haven’t gotten back to us. They’re set up on a residential level, but haven’t done anything on a commercial level. So there is a lot that is cost prohibitive. The whole green thing is great, but as long as it is economically beneficial to the business.
SAM: That’s true, I guess. I know the area I’m from is extremely environmentally conscious and it’s a priority to make resources available to resorts so that they are feasibly able to take advantage of them and make it worth their while. You don’t think, though, there’s anything you can do on your own?
Staff: Not when it will prohibit you from paying the bills. And if you look at us out here, we have about 20,000 people in our county, not even our town. And we’re located a good distance from things. So when you try and expect that number to spread out enough and make sustainable resources a priority as well as affordable, it’s a big expectation that has yet to be met at all. So really, that’s kind of the dead horse we’re beatin’ here.
SAM: Well, that does sound like quite the hurdle. But thanks for letting me in on that information.
Staff: No problem.

Rating: 6
Comment: He was very honest and patiently explained the problem. Could use a bit of optimism though, or maybe a drink.


Mountain 4: WI, mEDIUM Area

First Contact: Friendly, friendly female.
SAM: Stated question
Staff: Well, geez, I’m not sure what you mean exactly.
SAM: Well, do you have any recycling programs or shuttle services or green efforts that customers can take part in, or maybe even solar panels?
Staff: Well, we do recycle, oh yes. We recycle all glass, aluminum, cardboard, paper and metal. As far as shuttle services go, we don’t provide any, but the hotels do. Alrighty then?
SAM: Well, is there anything else you do?
Staff: No not really, I mean we try our hardest to take care of our environment and do as much as we can, at least as far as recycling goes.
SAM: OK then, thanks.
Staff: Oh, you’re very welcome. Thanks so much for calling and have a lovely afternoon.

Rating: 5
Comment: Sweet as candy, sure, and that got the points. But there’s a whole world beyond recycling.


Mountain 5: COLORADO, Large Area

First Contact: Automated machine. Chose “0.”
Answering Phone: Young female. A little distant sounding.
SAM: Stated question
Staff: Umm, I don’t know specifics. I know a lot of the new buildings, um, are, um, pretty efficient with energy, they hold in the heat quite well. We do have shuttle services for our guests to use to keep cars off the road. The people that live around here also carpool a lot and use public transportation. Ummm…
SAM: Well that’s a good start, anything else?
Staff: Yeah, and I believe we use hydroelectric power.
SAM: Could you explain what that is exactly?
Staff: It uses water. Or wait, maaaaybe it’s wind. Hmm. It’s used instead of fossil fuels.
SAM: OK, whichever I guess. What do you use it for?
Staff: Running the resort.
SAM: Any resort operation in particular?
Staff: Umm, no. We just use it. Do you want some lodging prices?
SAM: I’m good for right now.
Staff: OK, no problem, thanks for calling, have a good one.

Rating: 2
Comment: Water, wind... P.S.: these guys offset 100% of their energy usage with wind power credits. Or maybe it’s water credits.


Mountain 6: MA, Medium Area

First Contact: Automated machine. Chose “0.”
SAM: Stated question
Staff: Hold on one second, I’ll transfer you to our reservation department.
Answering Phone: Super nice, young female.
SAM: Stated question
Staff: Ah, well, we’re the first resort in the country to have a wind turbine if that tells you anything. We actually have our Forever Green campaign going on and the area actually spearheaded that. You can read more about that at xxx.com. We also have a printed publication of Forever Green that goes out to the public and really informs people in the area of what we’re trying to do here for the environment. Because you know, we kind of rely on it, he he he.
SAM: Yeah, that all sounds great, especially the giant turbine, that ought to help out a bit. How can I read that green magazine?
Staff: Oh, so simple. Go to xxx.com and scroll to the bottom of the page and look for the “environment” link, which will give you all the info about the turbine, access to the publication and the other projects going on at the mountain. It also includes our slope improvement project, started in 1985, which works to control storm water to protect the stream water quality as well as erosion control to aid and protect slope construction. We recycle used motor oils as well, for much of our heating usage, and also recycle day-to-day products, like plastics and paper cups, which we reuse at the mountain. (overload, can’t type that fast, take a breath…) We have our own reservoir right here at the mountain that helps with our water usage and conservation. We also have waste treatment here as well.
SAM: Holy cow.
Staff: Oh yeah, lots of things! Another neat thing we put in last year was waterless urinals so we don’t have to use any more water than we absolutely need. I think it saves us around 40,000 gallons of water. So, yeah, we’re working to be as green as we can.
SAM: Well, yeah, it all sounds amazing, that’s great you’re doing so much.
Staff: Yeah, it’s certainly incredible and I strongly suggest you go to our website and check out all the details. I mean the turbine itself will supply our mountain with 33 percent of our electrical demands, which really is a huge step.
SAM: Yeah, quite the leap I’d say. Thanks so much for all the info.
Staff: Oh, no problem, thanks for calling and you have a fantastic day!

Rating: 10
Comment: I will have a fantastic day, thank you very much! Not only a plethora of information (that was given before I asked), but was beyond excited to tell me all about it. Sure it’s hard to beat having your own turbine, but this was still the best customer service.

Identity Revealed: Wind turbine? Obviously, Jiminy Peak.