A hotel on the ski slopes close by St Moritz has won an award for producing more energy than it uses.

The Romantik Hotel Muottas Muragl up on the ski slopes of the Engadin has recently been awarded the Swiss Solar Award 2011 and the PlusEnergieBau® (PEB) Solar Award 2011. The latter is the only prize in the world for buildings that generate more energy than they need themselves.

The 104 year-old hotel was fully renovated in 2010 with a particular focus on environmental-friendliness with the aim of creating the first ‘plus-energy’ hotel in the Alps and proving that this can be done in old buildings as well as new.

Besides constructing the building according to the principles and requirements of the Swiss "Minergie" ecological label, this project went several steps further.

Although the surface area of the building was extended from 1,700 sq. metres to 2,700 sq. metres, despite the 50% increase in size, it was possible to reduce the energy consumption by 64%, from 436,000 kWh/a to 157,400 kWh/a. This was achieved by insulating the building in line with the latest standards and by generating renewable energy from five different sources.

Hot water is obtained by means of solar energy produced by the 60 sq. metres of pipe solar collectors installed in the glass window panes in the basement. Sixteen thermal loops with an average length of 200 metres, making 3,200 metres in total, supply the entire building with geothermal energy.

In addition, all the necessary electricity is generated by the most efficient photovoltaic system in Switzerland, extending 228 metres along the railway line. Any excess of solar energy is stored in the ground via the thermal loops, thus regenerating the geothermal mass.

The recovery of the waste heat from the cooling units, exhaust air and the machine room are further measures to transform the new building into a sustainable and environmentally-friendly enterprise that, taken over the entire year, even produces more energy than it actually needs.

The hotel’s requirements before renovations of approximately 40,000 litres of heating oil and 36,600 kWh/a of electricity are now entirely covered by solar energy.

Veronica adds “This just shows what can be done – even in old buildings through retrofitting – and in a difficult location up 2456 metres up the mountain!”
 
 
Doppelmayr Italy have begun work to replace the 60-70 year old cable cars on the Italian side of Mont Blanc.

The new installation is located on the Italian side of Mont Blanc and will replace the connection between Courmayeur with the Pointe Helbronner at approximately 3,500m above sea level in two new sections, replacing the former three.

The lift which feature two sets of revolving round cabins with floor to ceiling glass, each capable of holding 80 passengers and travelling at a fast 9 metres per second. Doppelmayr has already implemented this advanced technology in other famous resorts including Engelberg in Switzerland’sTitlis mountain but never before has a rotating cabin been used in such height.

Glass and steel will set architectural highlights for the station buildings and the futuristic cabins. The stations are spacious and allows for views over the impressive mountain scenery by means of observation platforms.

While building the new ropeway, special attention is being paid to efficiency and sustainability in order to keep the energy consumption as low as possible. Thus, materials with high thermal insulation capacities will be used, as well as photovoltaic installations and a heating system with heat pumps for heat recovery.  This shall approximately reach the standard of a zero-power building.

The bottom station in Pontal d'Entreves even fulfils the criteria for a so-called "active house": More energy is generated than consumed.

The lift is scheduled to be completed by in 2014.

Veronica adds “This shows how far lift technology is moving on.   Dopplemayr is one of the world’s leading lift manufacturers.   Every year they are creating lifts that are either more energy efficient than previous, run off renewables or, in this case, generating their own power.   Whilst, of course, everyone realises that a new lift is a large capital investment, and not something that can be done easily, it is good to know that technological improvements are likely to reduce enormously the consumption and therefore impact of the lift.”
 
 
The Aspen Skiing Company (ASC) says it is on track to achieve pioneering greenhouse gas emissions goals this year and will unveil several new energy saving projects, including a ban on incandescent light bulbs (an industry first), an installation of a new solar array at The Sundeck, the energy efficient remodel of the Merry-Go-Round restaurant on Aspen Highlands and a retrofit of boilers at The Little Nell hotel.

In 2010, ASC’s CO2 emissions were already successfully decreased by 2.1 per cent to from 2000, despite significant growth in the size of the resort and the company, which attracts nearly one out of every five destination visitors coming from outside the U.S.A, has set an ambitious goal of reducing total C02 emissions by 10 per cent by 2012 and 25 per cent by 2020.

From 2000-2010, ASC was able to reduce C02 emissions from electricity use by 6.5 per cent.  The company is currently on target to achieve a 5 per cent reduction of total C02 emissions in 2011.

ASC’s incandescent bulb ban reads as follows: “Lighting accounts for about 15 per cent of energy use in ASC hotels and office buildings, and 34 per cent of total electricity use in the U.S. In the last twenty years, new technology means replacing incandescent bulbs with efficient and aesthetically acceptable fluorescent or LED bulbs is possible and will  be implemented.’

ASC recently installed its sixth solar array at The Sundeck restaurant on the top of Aspen Mountain. The 2kW array, using super high efficiency Sunpower panels is accompanied by an educational display.

ASC will also cut its natural gas consumption by an estimated 25-30 per cent by proactively retrofitting boilers at The Little Nell Hotel. This estimated saving will prevent 305-365 tons of CO2 from entering the atmosphere.
 
 
Lots of ski resorts around the world have been talking about cutting energy consumption, but few have actually put hard figures on what they’ve achieved.

Heavenly by Lake Tahoe in California has however, published some stats recently.  They report that  company wide energy reduction of electricity, gasoline, diesel, propane and natural gas stood at 7.2%.

In 2008 resort owners Vail Resorts initiated a company-wide energy use reduction program called Target 10%.  The program’s goal is to achieve a 10% reduction in overall energy use across the company by 2010, using 2008 as the baseline year.

Heavenly has replaced older, less-efficient snow guns with high-efficiency fan and “stick” guns which are estimated to save over 1,686,000 kilowatt hours of electricity annually.

Heavenly has also been implementing a host of eco-friendly business practices designed to protect and preserve the area’s unique natural beauty.

Heavenly employs a Master Plan to determine whether there is an overall trend of improvement in environmental conditions for forest, soil, air, and water resources. The use of an innovative water-treatment system provides the highest levels of effectiveness in a commercially available product, with the objective of meeting nearly the same water-quality standards as safe drinking water.

As the founding member of the Coordinated Transit System, Heavenly transports more than 450,000 passengers on low-emission shuttles every season, saving nearly 1.6 million vehicle miles of travel.

The resort has also taken a leadership role in recycling and conservation.

“The environment is everything at Lake Tahoe. Heavenly’s proximity to the Lake makes it one of the most unique and awe-inspiring places to visit, but it also means that our actions can impact the Lake, and the resort must act as an environmental steward to preserve our precious gift.” said a statement from the resort.

Veronica adds “Heavenly is looking at every area of their business and setting clear plans and targets.   Not only are they achieving them, they are continuing to look for new improvements.”
 
 
A brand new residence de tourisme from MGM of 250 ski-in, ski-out apartments and an adjacent 28 bedroom hotel, is described as a state of the art example of sustainable development.

It forms part of the €150 million transformation of the old village of Tignes les Boisses into a modern ski centre re-named Tignes 1800. When it opens for business at the end of 2014, Tignes 1800 will, in effect, be a new gateway to all the established areas of the wider Tignes ski resort.

The new eco-village was planned in response to the need for new accommodation for 1,500 skiers in one of the most popular skiing areas in Europe while responding to the challenge of building a sustainable development.

Each apartment will have exceptionally high levels of insulation with low cost under floor heating being supplied by an innovative new plant, the first of its type in the French Alps, run on wood waste pellets fuelling a 4,000 kilowatt boiler supplying heat to all the buildings in Tignes 1800.  The development will be finished externally in traditional stone and timber.

The family orientated pedestrianised village of Tignes 1800 will include a tourist information centre, ten shops and a ski school. There will be a choice of bars and restaurants with frontages both on the village square and the piste. A conference centre will be located within the new hotel and full fitness and health and beauty facilities are being developed.

Veronica notes “Purpose built developments have come a long way in France since the low cost, inefficient, unattractive projects of the 1960’s.   That MGM, one of the largest developers in the French Alps, is now addressing the concerns of Responsible Skiing and is even creating Biomass heating for its developments shows how far the message has spread.   Whilst the direct economic benefit of purpose built ski centres to local community will always raise questions, together with their ability to offer a range of activities (both sporting and cultural), it is pleasing to see that at least their visual impact and resource impact will be much less.”
 
 
A new hotel built entirely of wood has opened at the Austrian resort of Leogang, part of the Saalbach-Hinterglemm ski area which is one of the country’s largest, with 200km of runs.

The new four star Fortsthofalm is located slopeside with ski in/out access and was constructed using hundreds of tonnes of wood, all of which was sourced locally.

The hotel has been built as a passive construction, meaning it has low energy requirements and therefore contributes to the protection of the environment. It uses alternative energy sources whenever possible.

Along with the eco philosophy, the hotel  has also got an interesting architectural design and will highlight the arts, with a different visiting artist’s work on display each year, plus good cuisine in its restaurant and offers a well-being in the spa to create what the hotel describes as, “a harmonious whole.”

Veronica Tonge explains “This is a great example of a hotel integrating all the principles of Responsible Skiing and sustainable hotel development and, importantly, showing that it can be a really compelling and quality experience.   It is giving the business competitive advantage whilst reducing environmental impacts and running costs.  Showcasing local artists’ work really integrates the hotel with the local community and creates a distinctive alpine experience."
 
 
Spruce Peak at Stowe Mountain Resort in Vermont has earned the Sustainable Community Certification from Audubon International, a non-profit environmental organisation, becoming the first ski resort in the U.S. to merit this environmental achievement.

Members of Audubon International’s Sustainable Communities Program are eligible for certification, which recognizes dedication to the process of becoming a more sustainable community and beginning to act on a sustainability plan. The plan covers 15 focus areas, and members must choose timelines and measurable goals. Once progress is documented, members become certified.

“As the first Private Sector Track member to receive the certification, Stowe Mountain Resort has demonstrated a strong commitment to the ideals of sustainability – economic vitality, environmental protection, and social responsibility,” says Suzi Zakowski, Manager of the Sustainable Communities Program. “The strong environmental commitment is to evident employees, guests and the surrounding community.” 

“The Spruce Peak at Stowe project is the result of many years of collaborative planning and coordination with many varied interests, including all of Vermont’s major environmental organizations,” said Robert Apple, the resort’s Planning Manager.

Stowe Mountain Resort’s accomplishments include supporting local farmers and community supported agriculture in food operations resort wide and the local economy by reducing reliance on food that increases the carbon footprint of the resort by using local products whenever possible. To date, 83% of vendors provide 100% locally produced agricultural, artisanal and other similar products that are produced locally.  

Through a pair of conservation easements donated to the Vermont Land Trust and the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife, over 2,000 acres of wildlife habitat has been permanently protected.  Those protected lands include 10 acres of summit ski terrain on Spruce Peak that have been restored to their natural state, providing crucial habitat for the Bicknell’s Thrush, and dense forests adjacent to the base village that provide nesting sites for Peregrine falcons, and habitat for moose and black bear.

Spruce Peak’s mountain cabins have been built to the maximum 5-star rating of the EPA’s Home Energy Rating System.  Each cabin is expected to save $3,500 per year through extensive energy efficiencies. All future buildings are being designed to exceed Vermont’s stringent commercial construction energy guidelines.

The resort has seen annual improvements in the water quality of its streams and conducts quarterly monitoring of selected stream segments. Current storm water runoff from the development area is collected, stored, and reused for snowmaking. The mountain trail system is managed under management plan directed at improving the hydrologic characteristics of the trail system.

Since 2000, Stowe has installed energy efficiency improvements that are resulting in annual electrical use savings of 8,033,645 kW per year, or enough power to support 715 homes annually.

In a commitment to address transportation impacts in the Stowe Valley, Spruce Peak and Stowe Mountain Resort contributed $40,000 for the operation of the municipal public Mountain Road Trolley system which experienced a 7% increase in ridership in 2009.  The construction of a new transfer gondola between the Spruce Peak and the Mount Mansfield base area has eliminated the need for a fleet of diesel buses to shuttle skiers between the two locations and a new employee ride share program that enables employees to park in lots located at the base of the mountain if they travel with 3 or more individuals.