Aspen/Snowmass Offers Climate-Friendly SkiGreen Program to Resort Guests
by: First Tracks 12 December 2006
Aspen Skiing Company (ASC) announced yesterday that it will partner with the Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF) to sell 100 percent Green-e certified SkiGreen Tags to resort guests who wish to offset their travel-related global warming emissions to and from the resort with wind energy. SkiGreen Tags can be added to a season pass for $20, or guests can purchase a single day SkiGreen Tag with each lift ticket for $2.
"We see this as a customer service program," said Auden Schendler, Director of Environmental Affairs for Aspen Skiing Company. "In this case, it's not a hot lunch or a free cookie, but an opportunity to protect the future of the sport."
SkiGreen is a program of the Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF), a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization with the mission of supporting the development of clean, sustainable and domestic renewable energy across North America. Each $20 SkiGreen Tag represents one Megawatt-hour of renewable power generation and offsets approximately 1,400 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions, primarily measured as carbon dioxide. Each $2 SkiGreen Tag represents 100 kilowatt-hours of renewable generation and is the equivalent of approximately 150 miles driven. Participants in the program will receive acknowledgement of what their contribution represents along with SkiGreen stickers for his or her helmet or gear, and a coupon for Aspen/Snowmass services.
"Aspen/Snowmass is in the unique position to help educate and influence the winter sports community at large," said Patrick Nye, director of sales at Bonneville Environmental Foundation. "Through programs such as SkiGreen and SaveSnow, Aspen will create a larger positive impact beyond greening their own operations."
In addition, BEF has committed to reinvest 20 percent of all consumer sales from Green Tags sold in Aspen into the community for new local renewable energy projects through a partnership with The City of Aspen's Canary Initiative.
Aspen/Snowmass' participation is SkiGreen is added to a long list of activities the company has engaged in to stop global warming. ASC's efforts include a commitment to purchase renewable energy credits and offset 100 percent of their electricity use. The company built one of the first 11 Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified buildings in the world, developed the ski industry's first climate policy and is the only resort to become a member of the Chicago Climate Exchange. The company also developed the industry's two largest on-site renewable energy systems. Aspen Skiing Company has received over 30 awards recognizing its environmental commitment, and became the only company in the snow sports industry to submit an Amicus Brief to the Supreme Court arguing that the EPA should regulate carbon dioxide under the Clean Air Act.
