Research Topic

Topic:  Ski resorts, although people do not usually think of this, use a ton of fossil fuels in order to run their lifts, gondolas, snowcats etc, they also have a lot of deforestation going on and just things that are not so great for our environment.  A few ski resorts have started to use other means of powering their lifts, if we can get them all to start using these other more environmentally friendly methods, it could reduce a great deal of fossil fuel emission.

What Will be Covered:  I am going to research the amount of fossil fuels an average east coast ski resort uses, as well as an average west coast mountain.  I will find out about what percent of fossil fuel emission is coming from ski resorts in the USA.  I will be researching other means of running the lifts and such efficiently, for example Mount Cranmore has already started using biodiesel instead of their normal fossil fuel diesel.  I will be researching the benefits of this biodiesel they have started to use and will be looking for other options that people have started to think about to be more environmentally friendly at ski resorts.  Another piece I want to cover is to find out what ski resorts are doing to keep deforestation to a minimum and not destroying the native animal's habitat.

Audience:  Mty audience will be the ski resorts of vermont as well as the skiers and snowboarders.  I will be sending a letter to a bunch of the big ski resorts here who are still using fossil fuels and have very bad deforestation rates.  I would like to let them know that people really do care about this and possibly be a small influence towards more resorts in vermont to become more environmentally friendly.  I will connect to the skiers and snowboarders by posting a panflit or poster of somekind around the champlain campus.  I believe this will make our community more aware of the true effects on the environment of all these ski resorts that they, and I, love to go to so much.  I believe it could spark people's interest and perhaps be a start to a more environmentally friendly ski country for vermont!