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.”
 
 
Austria’s twinned ski resorts of Zell am See and Kaprun are highlighting their ongoing efforts to do more to minimise the environmental impact of their successful tourism industry.

The 'Electro Drive' traffic concept of Zell am See-Kaprun means that guests and locals alike can already recharge their electro vehicles at public service stations. Now the twin towns are planning to offer emission-free transportion hire to guests such as electro bicycles, scooters, and Segways for rent.  The resorts also promote car free days.

The Gletscherbahnen Kaprun AG lift company has made environmental protection a priority for a number of years now, especially the sensitive ecosystem of the glacier on Kitzsteinhorn.  The company was the first lift operator in Austria to fulfil the high environmental standards of the international ISO 14001 environmental management certification.

Down in the resort many other businesses have already been awarded the Austrian ecologo for their commitment to the environment. The 'Amiamo Familotel', 'Romantikhotel' and 'Pension Hubertus' have all been so recognised for acting in an ecosensitive way and at the same time meet highest standards when it comes to service and quality.

The hotels reduce waste, save water and energy and thus are able to minimize environmental harm, while at the same time they pamper their guests with local and organically farmed food. The Austrian Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management has awarded these three enterprises its ecoseal and the 'Pension Hubertus' has also received the EU ecolabel.
 
 
The SkiWelt region in Austria - which includes the resorts of Soll, Westendorf and Kitzbuhel - has just opened the first solar powered drag lift - appropriately named the Sonnenlift. The solar panels have been fitted to the south-facing side of the new valley station.  The Sonnenlift can be 100% operated by the power of the sun through the solar panels and even when the weather is bad, the facility will have stored enough energy to be operated exclusively by solar power.

A small step in the right direction – but with great symbolic effect. “With our photovoltaic system we will be generating some 12,000 kilowatt hours per year – during the winter the lift needs some 9,000 kWh – so, with this solar energy, we are even producing a small surplus which we will feed into the power grid,” explains Rudi Köck, in charge of the installation at the Brixen im Thale Bergbahnen. “Of course it is only a minor part of the consumption of a large lift or indeed of a whole ski area, but our solution points a possible way forward for other ski areas too,” says the lift manager regarding the fine example set by the investment.