Do you love to ski or snowboard, or for that matter, just love the outdoors? Well, I'll bet most of you did not even think about the fact that the ski resorts we all rely on and love have a substantial impact on the environmental problems of today's world. Fossil fuels are used to power lifts, snowcats, snowmobiles, buses, among other vehicles, and a fairly large amount of trees are cut down regularly for new trails and buildings. Clearly, Vermont is a prevalent ski destination for the East coast, which brings this issue to the forefront of our state's concern. Many Vermont ski resorts are highly invested in finding ways to reduce their impact on our environment in anyway they possibly can-though some more than others-and we need these places to be doing all they can to reduce their carbon footprint, conserve energy, and keep native species safe and still be able to live in the environment.
As I mentioned, one of the huge impacts that ski resorts have on our environment is that many of them are using fossil fuel diesel, or petroleum diesel, in order to run their chair lifts, snowcats, snowmobiles, shuttles, and other off road vehicles. Running all of these different modes of transportation, for what most of the time is quite a large area, releases an astonishing amount of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. The bad part about this is that "Burning fossil fuels releases more than 6 billion tons of CO2 per year, twice as much as the biosphere can absorb.", "The excess CO2 is clogging the atmosphere, with the result that less solar heat is reflected away, more heat reaches the earth's surface, and global temperatures rise" (http://journeytoforever.org/biodiesel.html). Basically, the burning of these fossil fuels is one of the largest contributors to global warming and climate change, this is something all resorts should be trying to fix considering they all rely on the environment and cold weather for snow in order to even stay in business. One of the leaders in this area, along with many other areas of environmental awareness and protection is actually the nearby resort called Smuggler's Notch. They have started to use a blend of 20% Biodiesel and 80% fossil fuel diesel on all of their snowcats and other off road vehicles. Biodiesel is an alternate form of fuel requiring no modification to a diesel engine, it "runs 75% cleaner than regular fossil fuel diesel.", "The ozone-forming (smog) potential emissions is nearly 50% less than petro-diesel emissions."-(http://journeytoforever.org/biodiesel.html), and a U.S. Department of Energy study at the University of California at Davis found that using pure biodiesel instead of petro-diesel reduced cancer risks from exhaust emissions by 93.6%. This has reduced their carbon footprint, along with the use of only utility carts in the summer and their "electric compressed snow machines, instead of diesel compressors, reduced CO2 output by 390 tons just last year"-(http://www.smuggs.com/pages/universal/environment/awards.php), by about 431 tons annually. On top of all this, using this B20 blend is actually better for your engine, it will make it's life a substantial amount longer, and you will have to clean your engine about half the amount you do with pure fossil fuel diesel, not to mention this fuel is made from everyday natural, easy to access, sustainable substances like vegetable oil from Canola and various other commonly grown plants, as well as animal fat. Rudolf Diesel, the man who invented the diesel engine actually said in 1912, though nobody would listened at the time, that "The diesel engine can be fed with vegetable oils and would help considerably in the development of agriculture of the countries which use it."-(p.13, Biodiesel: Growing a New Energy Economy), and that "The use of vegetable oils for engine fuels may seem insignificant today, but such oils may become, in the course of time, as important as petroleum and the coal-tar products of the present time….Motive power can still be produced from the heat of the sun, always available, even when natural stores of solid and liquid fuels are completely exhausted".-(p.13, Biodiesel: Growing a New Energy Economy) Now look where we are today, just starting to learn about these alternate energy and fueling sources, when I'm sure plenty of people in later years, like Diesel, have tried to tell people or warn people and we have just been disregarding it until we saw the harmful effects of the burning of all this fossil fuel.
Deforestation is another large problem that ski resorts present for the environment. They cut down trees all over the place in order to clear out new trails, create new buildings in the villages, or edify new lodges etc. This is a huge problem for the natural ecosystem of the forests they are cutting down; many native species habitats are being completely destroyed, along with their predators and prey. Disturbing an ecosystem like this can and does cause many species to become endangered, or even worse, extinct. At Smuggler's Notch they are tracking Black Bears and Bicknell's Thrush, a high altitude song bird, so as not to harm them during new construction and trail maintenance. At Magic Mountain in Vermont there is a lot of focus on the use of natural resources. They do not simply cut down hundreds of trees for wide open trails, almost all of their trails are glades with only most dangerous obstacles cleared out from under the snow, so that the skiers can enjoy nature and the mountain with little harm to the natural ecosystem. Another huge effect of deforestation is the amount of carbon dioxide that is being released into the atmosphere, on top of that which comes from the burning of our fossil fuels. Trees absorb carbon dioxide and use it for photosynthesis, and with the rate the world is cutting down these forests and the help from all these massive ski resorts, there are not enough trees to absorb all this carbon dioxide, creating even more of a problem with climate change. Along with absorbing the carbon dioxide and putting it to good use, trees also are a integral part of the water recycling process. Water conservation is another huge problem at these ski resorts, mostly because of trees being cut down at such a rapid rate. To help this, ski resorts like Magic Mountain rely mostly on natural snow for their business, snow guns are used at a bare minimum. Other places in Vermont have taken action with this as well, with Smuggler's Notch installing low flow appliances in buildings on resort property in order to not completely drain the streams, etc. during the winter, when they are low on water anyways. "Killington Resort and Pico Mountain also purchased hundred of new low energy snow guns for the 2011-12 season"-(http://www.skivermont.com/about-us/press-room/press-release/id/242), this is a huge step for such a large mountain resort and will help conserve a great amount of water and energy through out this coming winter season. It is difficult to make every mountain like Magic Mountain, due to the fact that not many people would get to enjoy it, so each mountain that does their share in deforesting the wild has to be making up for it in any way they possibly can.
With all of the large buildings, base villages, snow guns, etc. that are used at these large Vermont ski resorts, one can imagine that a big impact on our environment would be the amount of energy ski resorts are using up to power these often times small towns incorporated within. Many resorts are buying these low powered snow guns, as well as ones with air compressors to make them run. A few of the Vermont resorts have started to make all of their new condominiums and living quarters into environmentally friendly places, for example Smuggler's Notch "Made a building called falcon that won Vermont EnergyStar Homes "Best of the Best" Award, due to its amazing design and energy efficiency. Environmentally friendly features of the Falcons include: energy efficient fluorescent lighting, LED exit lights, high efficiency HVAC plants, water conservation fixtures, high insulation values, appliances that save up to 35% on operation costs, water conservation appliances such as front-loading clothes washers that save as much as 50% on water consumption, and the highest rated sound attenuation possibilities."-(http://www.smuggs.com/pages/universal/environment/awards.php). Other places have taken action with this energy conservation problem, for example Bolton Valley, "The resort became the nation’s second ski area to install its own wind turbine. The 121-foot-tall Northwind 100 Wind Turbine is now producing 300,000 kilowatt hours of power annually—about one eighth of Bolton Valley’s total energy needs"-(http://www.skivermont.com/about-us/press-room/press-release/id/242). Although one eighth does not seem like much, this wind turbine is a new and innovative idea for ski resorts and has potential for further advancement. Some ski resorts are using solar power or geothermal heating and cooling, in addition to keeping the buildings as air tight as possible to keep usage of heating and cooling systems to a minimum. Killington and Pico Mountain are planning on "offsetting 100% of the resorts’ electric usage through the purchase of Renewable Energy Credits" this winter season. These resorts are have set the example for other resorts to follow, to put in effort and find ways to make themselves more environmentally sustainable and friendly. If they can do it, why can't all of them?
All of these problems that many ski resorts are continuing to create are important, whether they realize it or not, to every single snowboarder and skier out there. The issue of too much carbon dioxide being put into the atmosphere is huge. With global climate change leaning increasingly towards the warmer side, we will not have these snowy cold winters as we have almost always had. Without these necessary ingredients, skiing and snowboarding will be a thing of the past, not to mention the damage done to the organisms living here, including trees, plants, animals, and even humans! The outdoors that we all know and love so much as a part of our skiing and riding experience will eventually no longer be the same. If we go at the same rate as we have been in the past, we won't have anymore beautiful green trees, fascinating (and oftentimes entertaining) furry animals hopping around, birds flying overhead-instead we might have an ugly looking wasteland that is only an echo of what used to be a rich land full of life and color. In fact, if we keep going at this rate, mankind probably won't be around for too much longer to ruin to an even broader extent. People who do not even enjoy the outdoors will still be strongly effected by this-their very very life, their very world is at stake.
Even if this does not destroy our planet in our lifetime, it will with out a doubt ruin a lot of things that we love about it. For example, Vermont's huge draws are it's large, beautiful, snowy mountains, it's fall foliage, and it's incredible wildlife-these things will not continue to be so incredible if the climate keeps changing at the rate it is today. People travel from all over the East just to see and experience the incredible nature in Vermont, which is a large contributor to why so many people live and stay here. Clearly, skiers and snowboarders will be affected just as harshly. I do not think that people fully realize that it is not just going to qffect the people using these mountain resorts for their sports, it will effect everything around us, starting with skiers and snowboarders and spreading to all other types of nature lovers: outdoorsmen, etc. No matter what, we need to make sure these places are each doing everything they can to slow the cycle and prevent this from going too far before we take notice.
Another effect this could have on all of us, whether we realize it or not, is depleting our water resources by using too much for resort operations. Resorts use an incredible amount of water, from their snow guns, to their condominiums and housing buildings, to their lodges with big bathrooms. I could go on with this list forever but, this is a huge problem, especially combined with the fact that all the trees are being cut down, because they play a hugely important role in the recycling process of water. With no trees to absorb the water, much of it gets left behind and never gets recycled. If this continues to happen, places like Vermont where there are a lot of large scale ski resorts will begin to run low on water resources. This is clearly an absolute necessity to all living things, including humans, and would be a devastating effect of these resorts that is so preventable with just some brain power and effort put in, as exhibited by many of the Vermont ski resorts that are active about water conservation today.
Although Vermont has had some great breakthroughs and has put lots of effort into this issue at some well known resorts, there are still many resorts outside of Vermont, as well as a number inside of Vermont, who could be doing a lot more than they are. Clearly, Smuggler's Notch really excels in most every region of environmental awareness, as does a place like Magic Mountain, though on a smaller scale, but there are so many other resorts that are only trying to cover one area of environmental protection. Sugarbush is really only concerned on the B20 biodiesel blend they are using, which is wonderful, but there is clearly a lot more they could be focusing on, such as the amount of energy they are using, the energy efficient condos with super airtight windows and doors, making sure their native species are not harmed in new construction or cutting down of trees. The National Ski Area Association has countless great suggestions for what all ski resorts could be doing, and that some are doing in order to keep their environmental impact to an extreme minimum, some of them being, "Use solar heating or geothermal heat pumps for radiant heating", "install high efficiency windows, ensure that all windows and doorways are properly sealed, and use insulation to prevent heating and cooling loss.", "Minimize energy used to heat water by using low-flow showerheads, efficient laundry equipment, and linen and towel re-use programs", "Use on-mountain reservoirs and ponds to gravity feed snowmaking systems"-(www.nsaa.org/nsaa/environment/sustainable_slopes/Charter.pdf). They give suggestions on how to keep wildlife safe from endangerment and able to enjoy their normal habitat untarnished by the physical pursuits of man, "Limit access to, or set aside, certain wildlife habitat areas", "Use wildlife-proof dumpsters or trash containers", "Create or restore habitat where appropriate, either on- or off-site"-(www.nsaa.org/nsaa/environment/sustainable_slopes/Charter.pdf).
One main thing that I believe all resorts should be required to use is biodiesel alternative fuel. I think that even the B20 blend is better in the everyday, if we can reduce the amount of carbon dioxide, keep our engines cleaner, and have it be a more sustainable source of fuel, there should be every reason to look more into it. I believe it may have even more potential than we realize now, and either way, whether this is true or not, it has already saved Sugarbush alone 41 tons of carbon dioxide emission annually, which alone should be enough to convince all resorts to be using this great alternative. The fact that it is made from such easy to access, plentiful and sustainable products in itself is another huge benefit that should not be ignored. Fossil fuels are soon to run out, but these sources are replenishable, environmentally friendly when grown right, and better than using fossil fuels in every single way! It can be grown from a variety of plants including safflower, mustard, hemp, corn, soybean, peanuts, canola, sunflower, jatropha, oil palm, and coconuts, as well as made from used cooking oil, animal fat, algae-(Biodiesel: Growing a New Energy Economy). These are some very common, easy to obtain substances that, when grown organically, have no negative environmental impact and can always be renewed.
Resorts like Mount Snow, Sugarbush, Stratton, and others that we all know around Vermont should be putting effort into all of the areas that they possibly can at present. That is why I am going to send a letter to the Vermont ski resorts and inform them on my findings and opinions concerning the fact that some of them could be taking further initiative. I think that they may need the reminder, not only from me, that this is going to turn into a real dilemma for their whole industry and they should be doing everything in their power to slow this cycle down. With all of this information being put right in front of their faces it is just so hard for me to imagine why any place would not be practicing at least most of these ideas. This is why my second social media idea is to put a paper or flyer around champlain giving some basic interesting facts about the environmental impacts of our beloved ski resorts and get people to be more aware of them, because the less ignorant people are about a problem, the more of a chance it will get fixed.
I find it truly mind blowing that we have all of these ways of reducing a ski resort's environmental footprint and are not using them everywhere, in Vermont and elsewhere! Everyone knows the dangers that such an energy consuming establishment brings to the table with the state of our environment today. It is shocking that people do not care enough to take these extra steps in order to preserve that which we will not have forever. Thankfully, more and more resorts are realizing they need to do their part just as much as these other resorts. Recently many resorts have been taking great steps to go green, from installing new snow guns that do not use fossil fuels, to leaving wildlife as undisturbed as possible in order to maintain the natural ecosystem of the mountain, to any number of things that the various mountains are acting upon. We are seeing great steps here in Vermont, and I believe all these places need is that extra push and it could make an enormous impact, or lack there of, on the beautiful natural environment that humans, animals, and plants all need and love.
Bibliography:
Source #1: "Smugglers' Notch, Vermont - Environmental Awards." Winter Vacations at Smugglers' Notch Vermont. Smuggler's Notch Vermont. Web. 06 Nov. 2011. <http://www.smuggs.com/pages/universal/environment/awards.php>.-
Source #2: Butson, Jen. "ENVIRONMENTAL EFFORTS AT VERMONT RESORTS | Ski Vermont." Ski Vermont - Winter With Heart. Ski Vermont. Web. 06 Dec. 2011. <http://www.skivermont.com/about-us/press-room/press-release/id/242>.
Source #3: The Environmental Charter for Ski Areas. National Ski Areas Association. Web. 06 Nov. 2011. <www.nsaa.org/nsaa/environment/sustainable_slopes/Charter.pdf>.
Source #4: Book-Pahl, Greg. Biodiesel: Growing a New Energy Economy. White River Junction, VT: Chelsea Green Pub., 2005. Print.
Source #5: "Sugarbush Biodiesel Program." Sugarbush Vermont Ski Resort and Golf Club in the Mad River Valley. Sugarbush. Web. 06 Nov. 2011. <http://www.sugarbush.com/content/cm.asp?pid=190>.-
Source #6: "Biodiesel: Journey to Forever." Journey to Forever: Hong Kong to Cape Town Overland - An Adventure in Environment and Development, Join Us on the Internet, All Welcome, Participation, Online Education, School Projects, Free of Charge. Journey to Forever. Web. 06 Nov. 2011. <http://journeytoforever.org/biodiesel.html>.-
Source #7: "The Environment at Smugglers' Notch, Vermont." Winter Vacations at Smugglers' Notch Vermont. Smuggler's Notch Vermont. Web. 06 Nov. 2011. <http://www.smuggs.com/pages/universal/environment/index.php>.
Source #8: Book-Brown, Lester Russell. World on the Edge: How to Prevent Environmental and Economic Collapse. New York: W.W. Norton, 2011. Print.
Source #9: "America Deforestation, Deforestation of America." Effects of Deforestation, Deforestation Effects. Web. 06 Dec. 2011. <http://www.effects-of-deforestation.com/america-deforestation.php>.
Source #10: Book-Rogers, Peter P., and Susan Leal. Running out of Water: the Looming Crisis and Solutions to Conserve Our Most Precious Resource. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2010. Print.
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