NSAA Sustainable Slopes Enivronmental Report

National Ski Areas AssociationSustainable Slopes

Environmental Report

Resort Information

Resort Name:
Squaw Valley USA

Resort City:
Olympic Valley

Resort State:
California

Resort Website:
www.squaw.com

Letter From the President/CEO/General Manager

Nancy Cushing
Chairman & CEO, Squaw Valley USA

Squaw Valley Ski Corporation recognizes preserving environmental quality as a top priority. The success of our business, as a four-season mountain resort, is directly tied to the alpine environment’s beauty. A beautiful and pristine mountain experience brings guests and employees to Squaw Valley. It is our duty to make every effort to protect that experience.

At Squaw Valley we truly cherish our environment, as it is our greatest asset. However, the privilege of access is accompanied by a responsibility to preserve many of the area’s fragile ecosystems. As stewards of our environment, Squaw Valley Ski Corp and our stakeholders take this responsibility very seriously. Squaw Valley is dedicated to utilizing new ways to preserve the surroundings where we live, work, and play to ensure that we will be able to do so for years to come.

Squaw Valley’s environmental program continues to be a work in progress. Through ongoing programs, research, and new plans for the future, our environmental initiative is never-ending.

Acknowledgements

There are many members of Squaw Valley’s team of employees who are instrumental in conducting the mountain’s environmental programs. Squaw Valley’s Technical Consultant, Hardy Herger, came to Squaw Valley in 1968 from Switzerland, and with him he brought a vision of environmental sustainability and energy conservation. Such initiatives as putting innovative geothermal heat pump systems in resort facilities, chair lift motor upgrades, and installing energy efficient night skiing lights on the mountain and energy efficient bulbs and fixtures throughout the resort’s facilities, have severely reduced Squaw Valley’s yearly energy usage. Hardy helps report Squaw Valley’s annual energy savings and is currently devising new renewable energy systems for the resort. Hardy successfully persuaded Squaw management of the benefits of geothermal technology before energy conservation was on the minds of industry operators. Hardy installed a 40-ton WaterFurnace geothermal system in the 12,000 square foot Children’ Ski School facility in 1992, and since then he has gone on to revolutionize Squaw Valley’s facilities and lifts, and the way everyone at Squaw Valley thinks about energy conservation. In 1997 Hardy followed up with installing another Water Furnace system for the Funitel and since implemented energy efficient technology in all the resort’s major facilities that save Squaw Valley millions of dollars and reduce Squaw Valley’s carbon footprint each year. Tom Kelly is Squaw Valley’s Facility and Operations Manager and he oversees all facilities around the resort. This includes placement of bins to separate recyclables as well as coordinating recycling pick-ups, the ordering of recycled paper and materials, the reuse of construction materials in building projects, and all other facility related waste programs. He also runs the trail map recycling program and reports on Squaw waste management.Erik Knudson has served many years as a member of Squaw Valley Ski Patrol, and in the summer he is the Director of Squaw Valley’s Environmental Department that is made up of a team of 8-10 employees who work diligently through the summer and fall months to preserve native and naturalized plant population and preserving and improving wetland areas within the resort, and implementing BMPs and projects that benefit the environment.

Squaw Valley’s Safety and Risk Manager, Michael Gross, plays an integral role in helping track and calculate water consumption and savings and landfill diversion and is also part of Squaw Valley’s team of employees that meet to discuss environmental issues and implement environmental programs.

Squaw Valley’s Sierra Pacific account manager, Johnny Hargrove’s role in Squaw Valley’s environmental improvement programs has proved to be twofold: Johnny is responsible both for tracking the resort’s energy consumption data and for helping the resort to launch a new program for this summer and the 2008/09 season. Squaw and Sierra Pacific worked together to provide each of Squaw Valley’s 1200 employees with a box a free box of CFL light bulbs (each box contains 6 bulbs). Employees are encouraged to replace all existing bulbs with CFLs and by providing them with these bulbs, Squaw is in turn, facilitating the spread of the company’s environmental mission to transcend the resort boundaries as employees are reducing their own carbon footprint when at home.

This year, Squaw Valley’s Development Director and Administrative Director worked diligently to support both local and state environmental policies and legislation. Carolyn Wallace-Dee (Administrative Director) lobbies state and federal legislation to advance public transportation, healthy forest management, clean air quality, and goods movement. She does this through direct interface and written testimony in support of the issues. Tom Murphy, Squaw’s Director of Resource Development, sits on the North Lake Tahoe Resort Association Infrastructure Board and he reviews and votes in favor of programs that support the forest management and clean air initiatives. He is currently working to pass a Free Mass Transportation act (Prop. 1b).

Squaw Valley Ski Corp is excited to take on any new projects as possible California Alpine Resort Environmental Coalition (C.A.R.E.C.) tasks. Squaw is a member of this progressive environmental group that quantifies results of new techniques to establish sustainable methods. Last season, Squaw Valley established a test plot for C.A.R.E.C. to measure erosion mitigation techniques. From this test plot Squaw Valley and C.A.R.E.C. have since established new tilling techniques incorporating mulch and wood chips to recondition the soil. Through C.A.R.E.C., participating resorts can evaluate the success and failures of other resort’s C.A.R.E.C. tasks in order to undergo projects with minimal impact to mountain ecosystems by adopting the most sustainable method for similar projects.

I. Executive Summary

To complement and expand upon Squaw Valley’s existing environmental programs, Ski Corp joined other resorts across the country in adopting the National Ski Areas Association’s Environmental Charter—Sustainable Slopes in 2000. By providing a set of voluntary principals for protection of the environmental area, the Charter formalized Squaw Valley’s commitment to environmental sustainability. It has served as a way for Ski Corp to measure its environmental efforts against other resorts as well as demonstrate Squaw Valley’s devotion to environmental protection and stewardship while meeting the expectations of the public.

Squaw Valley recognizes the importance of stewardship in managing the forests and vegetation that support ecosystems. Sound forest and vegetative management can benefit fish and wildlife habitat, water quality and viewsheds and reduce erosion, pollution, and greenhouse gases. Squaw Valley is active toward protecting the quality of local watersheds by preventing vegetation impact which increases soil erosion. To combat this, Squaw Valley has created an environmental improvement department devoted to projects such as erosion control, revegetation, and the implementation of Best Management Practices (BMPs) for construction projects.

Each summer the Environmental Improvement Department takes on new projects and focuses on different areas. The team of eight employees who form the Environmental Improvement Department work throughout the summer and fall months to preserve native and naturalized plant populations, preserving and improving wetland areas within the resort, and implementing BMP throughout the resorts construction and maintenance.

In 2007/08 a switch to non-disposable tableware in Food & Beverage, and the shift to sustainable practices in the resort’s concessions has significantly reduced the amount of waste generated by resort restaurants and shops. Prior to the switch to non-disposable dishware, approximately 3000 pounds of food-contaminated paper and plastic items were generated from our food and beverage concessions and picked up by our waste hauler. Since the switch, that waste is eliminated completely.

This past season, Squaw Valley began a multi year effort to replace the resort’s 250 old snowmaking guns (40s) with new more efficient B3s and extremely efficient SMI fan guns. An old 40 uses as much energy as approximately 2 B3s and 15 SMI fan gun uses. As of this season Squaw Valley has replaced 160 of the old 40s with 90 B3s and 2 fan guns. Therefore, approximately 64% of the old snowmaking machines have been replaced and only 40 are still used. Those 160 old 40s were either re-sold or recycled (aluminum).

Over the past year, Squaw Valley purchased 8 new bear proof recycling bins/trash receptacles to increase both the number and visibility of recycling bins around the resort, making recycling more accessible for guests. Squaw Valley made trail map recycling bins available in high traffic areas asking guests to recycle trail maps (in decent condition) for future guests to use. Each day 30-100 trail maps are collected from the bins and redistributed.

Also in 2007/08 season, the resort’s Environmental Improvement department completed the Parking Lot Storm Water Run-off Treatment System. The new parking lot storm water run-off treatment system reduces sedimentation particles in parking lot snowmelt down to 50 microns, prior to being discharged into Squaw Creek. The system filters out snowmelt sediment, oil, and pollutants (from cars in the parking lot). Snowmelt runs through a system of weirs and baffles to remove constituents down to particle size of 50 microns. The treated effluent (an outflow of water) is then released into the creek.

This summer the Environmental Improvement Department will continue re-vegetation of disturbed areas to reduce erosion and maintain water quality. To facilitate natural vegetation growth, hundreds of pounds of seed will be planted in disturbed areas, as well as thousands of shrubs and seedlings. Additional efforts include adding mulch to lift terminals and towers to maintain soil quality, seeding and eradicating unused portions of road, controlling erosion and preserving water quality by maintaining wetlands and riparian areas, lining runoff channels with rock and installing sediment basins. During the upcoming summer and winter, Squaw Valley Ski Corp will continue its mission to act as stewards of the environment and eco-systems in which the resort exists and depends upon.

Squaw and Sierra Pacific worked together to build a new program for the 2008/09 season, in which each of Squaw Valley’s team of twelve hundred employees is provided with a free box of CFL light bulbs (each box contains 6 bulbs). Employees are encouraged to replace all existing bulbs with CFLs and by providing them with these bulbs, Squaw is in turn, facilitating the spread of the company’s environmental mission to transcend the resort boundaries as employees are reducing their own carbon footprint when at home.

In 2008/09 Squaw Valley Ski Corp will continue its commitment to a multi-million dollar environmental improvement program which has instituted extensive revegetation and erosion control projects to ensure the health and quality of the immediate surroundings. Squaw Valley Ski Corp plans to focus on improving the resort’s current comprehensive recycling program and energy conservation efforts through exploring revolutionary innovations and implementing new alternative energy techniques to reach the resort’s goals of minimizing depletion of natural resources and significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

II. Vision, Goals and Strategy

Squaw Valley USA is committed to a multi-million dollar environmental improvement program which has instituted extensive revegetation and erosion control projects to ensure the health and quality of the immediate surroundings. A group of eight employees form Squaw Valley’s Revegetation Department, working during the summer months to preserve native and naturalized plant population and wetland areas within the resort. Squaw Valley has also instituted a comprehensive recycling program and revolutionary innovations in energy use to guarantee minimal depletion of our natural resources and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This includes installing a Silicon Control Rectifier (SCR) motor to run the Cable Car and a lighting retrofit (fiber optic lighting) in the Cable Car building, a hydronic heat system driven by lift motors in the Funitel building, an incinerator that simultaneously disposes garbage and heats the Gold Coast complex, as well as a geothermal heat pump that heats the 12,000 sq. ft. Squaw Kids Children’s Center facility. Also, the Olympic Ice Pavilion located at High Camp (el. 8,200’) utilizes the most technologically advanced refrigeration system of its kind. A state of the art heat exchanger freezes the ice in the Olympic Ice Pavilion while simultaneously heating the Swimming Lagoon & Spa, the surrounding decks and walkways and the interior of the High Camp mountaintop facility. Squaw Valley put power factor correction and harmonic filter units in all the big lifts to ensure that only the energy that is necessary to run the lifts is used. Upgrades to the resort's Cable Car and lifts, as well as innovative geothermal heat pump systems have enabled the resort to significantly reduce the use of propane and electricity in heating resort facilities which has resulted in vast energy savings while simultaneously offering a safer and cleaner environment for resort guests.

Squaw Valley’s environmental effort aims to educate guests and employees, improve environmental programs, and get involved in the local community. Squaw Valley educates guests and employees through fliers, the web and company newsletters about reducing wastes generated at the area and encourage all to follow the "Leave No Trace Principles:”

Plan ahead and prepare: Know the regulations and special concerns of the area, prepare for winter weather, and consider off-peak visits when scheduling your trip.
Dispose of waste properly: Recycle your glass, plastics, aluminum and paper at resorts. Reuse trail maps on your next visit or recycle them rather than throwing them away. Never throw trash, cigarette butts or other items from the lifts.
Respect wildlife: Observe trail closures, seasonal closures, and ski area boundaries. These closures are in place not only or your safety, but the well being of plants and animals located in sensitive areas. In summer, stick to designated trails when hiking and biking to avoid disturbances to vegetation and wildlife.
Be considerate of other guests: Respect other guests, protect the quality of their experience, and let nature’s sounds prevail.

Squaw Valley has ambitious plans for new environmental programs for the future. Next season Squaw will be building on the successful Squaw Ecology program that has been integral in educating guests about the ski area’s natural environment and the importance of environmental preservation. In a wooded area at the top of the mountain, children can take a break from their ski day to learn about the trees, animals, and streams that make up Squaw’s eco-system as well as learn fun tips on what they can do to preserve the natural beauty around them.

Next season Squaw will make an aggressive air quality initiative to protect air quality by reducing air emissions from resort operations, increasing energy efficiency, and upgrading to cleaner burning (4-stroke) snowmobiles. We also intend to enforce a 5 minute idling time limit policy for all vehicles on property to help emissions reductions.

We hope to build a formal board of Squaw Valley managers to lead a new environmental management program. Board members will provide objectives for improving practices concerning environmental education, water and energy conservation, watershed restoration, and teach and enforce the 3 Rs (reduce-reuse-recycle) amongst different departments. Next season Squaw Valley will increase its transportation initiatives by offering a free daily shuttles (47 passenger bus) to and from Sacramento, to add to the daily free shuttle busses the resort is already running to and from South Lake Tahoe and Reno. This will increase efforts toward reducing vehicle miles traveled through transportation initiatives.

This past year, Squaw Valley USA reduced greenhouse gas emissions by number%. Within the next years Resort Name plans to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by number%.

III. Performance Indicators

Squaw Valley utilizes an efficient snowmaking process that uses 100% recaptured water rather than extracting water from a domestic water supply and a shift toward replacing existing systems with new water minimizing sinks, sprinklers, washing machines, toilets, etc. has helped the resort to reduce its water consumption this season. Squaw Valley employs revolutionary energy conservation systems such as a SCR drive motor in the Cable Car (which is 96.85% more energy efficient), heat exchange systems in the Children’s Ski School facility, the Funitel, Gold Coast Mid-Mountain Lodge, and High Camp. Squaw Valley’s comprehensive recycling program encompasses paper, aluminum, glass and vehicle fluids, along with a 99% efficient trash incinerator and compactor enables the resort to divert a large percent of its waste from landfills. Through transportation initiatives such sponsorship of the Tahoe Area Rapid Transit service and sponsorship of daily shuttle bus service from Reno and South Lake Tahoe, Squaw Valley is able to provide free environmentally-sensitive transportation for employees and guests commuting to the resort.

III.A. Water Conservation

Squaw Valley acknowledges that water is an important resource for ski areas as well as the surrounding natural environments and communities, and should be used as efficiently and effectively as possible. Last season (May 2006 to April 2007) Squaw Valley’s total water consumption was 5,635,581 gallons and this season (May 2007 to April 2008) the resort used 4,712,780 gal. Through increased water conservation efforts throughout the resort, Squaw Valley reduced its water consumption this season (May 2007 to April 2008) from the previous season (May 2006 to April 2007) by 923,801 gallons.

Squaw Valley implemented water conservation efforts by optimizing the efficiency and effectiveness of water use in snowmaking operations, on mountain and base area facilities, use of recaptured water, installation of water.

Squaw Valley snowmaking utilizes a natural snowmaking process that uses 100% recaptured water (snowmelt) rather than extracting from the domestic water supply. This results in significant non-consumptive water conservation each season.

Squaw Valley began a multi year effort to replace the resort’s 250 old snowmaking guns (40s) with new more efficient B3s and extremely efficient SMI fan guns. An old 40 uses as much energy as approximately 2 B3s and 15 SMI fan gun uses. As of this season Squaw Valley has replaced 160 of the old 40s with 90 B3s and 2 fan guns. Therefore, approximately 64% of the old snowmaking machines have been replaced and only 40 are still used. Those 160 old 40s were either re-sold or recycled (aluminum).

Two years ago Squaw Valley began replacing old sinks with low flow, motion sensor faucets, with the objective of retrofitting 100% of resort facilities. With the exception of the sinks in the Gold Coast Complex (soon to be retrofitted), 90% of all resort facilities are currently retrofitted with low flow, motion sensor faucets. This percentage was determined by the Building Maintenance Department’s tally the # of sinks in Gold Coast and the total # of resort sinks. This past season, Squaw replaced the old washing machine used in the Uniforms Department with an upgraded machine that uses 40% less water per cycle.

Squaw Valley’s efforts to improve the mountain’s natural vegetation, riparian areas, and wetlands all contribute positively to water quality. The Valley’s forested and revegetated land absorbs rain, refills underground aquifers, cleanses water, slows winter runoff, reduces flooding, and overall, sustains watershed stability and resilience.

Ski Corp engages in substantial water quality monitoring within the watershed in order to ensure the ongoing health of the Squaw Valley ecosystem and of Squaw Creek and the Truckee River. The Resort collects water samples from several sites during periods when runoff occurs. The sampling sites and schedule for collection were determined in coordination with State regulatory authorities, which have helped the company to ensure that the program yields useful data.

Water monitoring ensures water quality

After the samples are collected, they are shipped to an independent analytical laboratory that analyzes them for constituents of concern. (In Squaw Valley, the most important potential pollutant is sediment, which naturally enters the water through snowmelt and runoff.) Ski Corp uses the sample data diagnostically, in order to identify areas that may benefit from further environmental enhancement, drainage improvement, or revegetation.

Over time, it is possible to see the effects of many of the Ski Corp’s Environmental Improvement efforts, and to identify new avenues for improvement.

One method of controlling the effect this erosive process has on the natural environment is to stabilize areas of runoff. By adding a protective mound of stones to the existing channels of runoff, the water is controlled and basins can be built to collect sediment from runoff in order to preserve water quality.

Sediment Basins promote water quality

The resort has installed numerous "sedimentation basins" where water is collected and slowed down in its natural course down the valley. These basins collect water flows, allowing sediment to fall to the bottom of the ponds before water is discharged from the holding areas.

During the late summer and fall, the sediment basins are emptied and the material is removed to areas where it will not be prone to re-erode. The cleaned basins are then available to capture sediment from water flows during the upcoming season.

The following table represents the quantitative and corresponding cost savings due to water conservation efforts.

Non-consumptive Savings:
kgal

Consumptive Savings:
624272 kgal

Cost Savings:
N/A

III.B. Electric Energy Savings and Renewable Energy Use

Squaw Valley Ski Corp has implemented revolutionary technology in each of the resort’s facilities to reduce annual energy consumption. This includes installing a Silicon Control Rectifier (SCR) motor to run the Cable Car and a lighting retrofit (fiber optic lighting) in the Cable Car building, a hydronic heat system driven by lift motors in the Funitel building, an incinerator that heats the Gold Coast complex, a heat exchange system that freezes the ice in the Olympic Ice Pavilion while simultaneously heating the Swimming Lagoon & Spa and surrounding walkways at High Camp, as well as a geothermal heat pump that heats the 12,000 sq. ft. Squaw Kids Children’s Center facility.

Squaw Valley installed retrofit (fiber optic) light bulbs and fixtures in the resort's Cable Car building, corporate office building, Olympic Village Lodge, as well as T12 metal halide lights in both upper and lower vehicle shops, and in the ice rink’s compressor room and in the Olympic House. The lights that are used to light the Mountain Run for night skiing are also retrofit fiber optic lights.

In December 2000 Squaw Valley installed a more energy efficient motor to run the 120 person Cable Car. The new motor’s technology enables the motor to shut off in between trips and use less power when there is less weight in the cabin. Therefore, the motor operates only a fraction of every hour throughout the day which significantly cuts back electricity use. Since its installation, the new SCR has turned out to be more than 96.85% more energy efficient, with a reduction of the overall kilowatt-hours used by 91.48%. As of the 2007/08 season the Cable Car elevator was upgraded and CFL lights light the entire building. During the 2007/08 season (December through April), the CFL lights and SCR motor that power the Cable Car and light the Cable Car building reduced the facility’s kWh usage by 50% over a 5 month period.

The Silicon Control Rectifier (SCR) motor that powers the Cable Car and lighting retrofit (fiber optic lighting) installed in the Cable Car building have greatly increased electrical energy savings. The electrical energy savings is measured by the amount of electricity used prior to installing the SCR minus current consumption for the 10 months the Cable Car operates each year. This amounts to energy savings of 440,500 kWh annually. By replacing the old generator-driven system with a new Silicon Controlled Rectifier (SCR) control Squaw Valley Ski Corp significantly reduced the amount of energy used to operate the Cable Car. As early as 1980, Squaw Valley put power factor correction and harmonic filter units in all the big lifts, resulting in vast energy savings that continue today. The power compensation filters ensure that only the energy that is necessary to run the lifts is used and has resulted in a savings of over $3.2 million since their installation.

In 1990 an incinerator was installed in Squaw Valley’s mid-mountain lodge with the objective of reducing the amount of energy used in the busy Gold Coast Complex. The incineration process is one of the most efficient ways of disposing solid waste and reducing the amount of garbage that Squaw Valley sends to landfills. Furthermore, the heat that is generated is used to heat the Gold Coast complex, reducing the need for fossil fuels. The heat recovered through the incineration process amounts to over 1,500,000 BTUs per hour, enough to heat the entire 35,000 sq. ft. Gold Coast Building, provide hot water for the facility’s kitchens and restaurants, as well as heating the hydronics for the 20,000 sq. ft. sun deck. The incinerator generates 1,500,000 BTUs per hour or 12,000,000 Btu per day. 1 BTU = .000293 kWh, therefore it generates 3516 kWh each day.

The incinerator that heats the boiler that provides heat for the 35,000 sq. ft. Gold Coast complex provides vast energy savings. The incinerator operates daily during winter operations. When the incinerator is in operation the electric water heater is not used, saving electrical consumption of 109,000 kWh per month, for 5 months. The heat pump costs approximately $22 per day to operate and saves over 575,000 kWh each year.

The geothermal heat pump in the Squaw Kids Children’s facility supplies heat to the 12,000 sq. ft. building and results in 8000 sq. ft. of snow melt during winter operations. An electric water heater would cost approximately $90 per day. The heat pump uses approximately 200 kWh per day and an electric water heater uses 818 kWh per day, resulting in a savings of 618 kWh each day. The facility is open 5 months out of the year, therefore the geothermal heat pump results in a savings of 92,700 kWh each year.

The Olympic Ice Pavilion utilizes the most technologically advanced refrigeration system of its kind. A state of the art heat exchanger freezes the ice of the Olympic Ice Pavilion while simultaneously heating the Swimming Lagoon & Spa, the surrounding decks and walkways and the interior of the High Camp Bath & Tennis Club.

In 1997, following the success of the geothermal heat pump in the Children’s Center facility, another Water furnace system with snow melt was installed in the Funitel. Every 34 seconds a Funitel cabin departs from its base platform. To keep the platform free of snow and ice from skiers’ boots, it uses a 10-ton water-to-water unit that supplies radiant heat via hot water to the lift’s loading platform. This unit also produces the hot water used for the snow melt on the stairs leading up to the platform and the service sidewalk at the side of the building. Two 3-ton water-to-air Premier units in the equipment room below the deck are used to cool the electric panel. The rejected heat from these two air conditioners is put back into the ground-loop to be used by the water-to-water units, thus simultaneously raising the loop temperature and reducing the amount of energy needed to heat the water for the radiant systems. 12 ton boilers displace 144,000 BTU's. In 2007/08 season, over a 5 month period the compressors and hydronics in the Funitel building displaced boilers amounting in savings of approx. 320,640 kWh. Breakdowns in Energy SavingsSquaw Valley installed a Silicon Controlled Rectifier or S.C.R. control and retro fitted fiber optic lighting for the resort’s Cable Car to replace an older generator-driven drive system and traditional lighting. Since installation, the SCR motor has proven to be 96.85% more energy efficient, with a reduction of the overall kilowatt-hours used by 91.48% and a cost savings of over 50%. The SCR motor has reduced the Cable Car’s energy consumption by 440,500 kWh which results in approx. $48,000 annually in savings. Hardy Herger, Squaw Valley’s Technical Consultant, has designed and implemented a geothermal heat pump system at the 12,000 square foot Squaw Kids Children’s Center facility. The heat pump system is the only one of its kind in the United States and uses the natural energy of the earth (heat stored beneath the earth’s surface) to heat water, which is subsequently used to heat the entire building. The heat pump costs approximately $22 per day to operate and provides heat to the 12,000 sq ft building, plus 8000 sq ft of snow melt during winter operations. An electric water heater would cost approximately $90 per day. Assuming a kWh costs .14 and the heat pump uses approximately 200 kWh per day and an electric water heater uses 818 kWh per day, during the five months that the facility is open the Ski Corp is saving 618 kWh per day (or 92,700 kWh over the five months). This winter the geothermal heat pump amounted in a savings of approx. $12,236.

Compressors and hydronic heating in the Funitel building - heat from compressors is used to heat water for hydronic flooring in the Funitel building. 12 ton boilers displace 144,000 BTU's. 620,640 kWh x $.14 per kWh total cost $74,476. Current yearly consumption amounts in approximately $38,181, a savings of $43,554.

The incinerator heats the boiler that provides heat for the 35,000 sq. ft. Gold Coast complex. And when the incinerator is in operation the electric water heater is not used, saving electrical consumption of 109,000 kWh per month, for 5 months. The heat pump costs approximately $24 per day to operate and saves 545,000 kWh each year. This winter, utilizing the incinerator heat exchange system to heat the Gold Coast Mid-mountain lodge amounted in a savings of approx. $76,300.

The following table represents the quantitative and corresponding cost savings due to energy conservation and renewable energy efforts at Squaw Valley USA.

Electric Energy Savings:
1,428,840 kWh

Renewable Energy Generated or Purchased:

Cost Savings:
$180,090

III.C. Waste Reduction

Squaw Valley’s waste management program incorporates the "REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE" philosophy of waste management to help ensure materials are being used efficiently and disposed of only after consideration is given to reusing or recycling them. Over the past season, Squaw Valley’s enhanced recycling/waste management program successfully diverted an estimated 155.2 tons of waste from the landfill. Last season Squaw Valley recycled 22.5 tons of consumer use products through the company’s comprehensive recycling program which includes recycling 100% of all bottles, cans, aluminum, plastic, newspaper, and other recyclable materials that are disposed of on-site. One of the waste management mechanisms in our food and beverage facilities incorporates a solid waste incinerator. All solid waste from Squaw Valley’s mid-mountain complexes, Gold Coast and High Camp, is vaporized in an incinerator, which is 99.99% efficient. Recyclable materials are recovered prior to incineration. Last season approximately 126.72 tons of waste was incinerated. A Squaw Valley employee logs the # of lbs. of waste incinerated each day.In Squaw Valley’s vehicle shops the staff recycles all (100%) oil and hydraulic fluids, tires and batteries. Squaw Valley also uses only MTBE free gasoline. An on-site system also recycles all anti-freeze products. Over the past season 5,370 gallons of waste oil, paint thinners were recycled. Additionally, 2900 gallons of oil was picked up and recycled by Asbury Environmental Services, 25 drums (55 gallon drums) of miscellaneous oils, paints, glue and 9 drums of car oil were picked up by Ramos Environmental, and 102 batteries (100%) were recycled on-site in the vehicle shop. An on-site system also recycles all anti-freeze products. Last season 600 gallons (100%) of anti freeze was recycled.

Squaw Valley recycles 100% of packaging materials including boxes, packaging bubbles and paper for other shipping needs. Ski Corp offices are equipped with recycling bags for all paper products. A company called ‘Eastern Regional Landfill’ collects and recycles all of Squaw’s paper products and reports back how many lbs. are collected. Last season 4.5 tons of paper products generated by Ski Corp were recycled.

Cardboard and packaging materials that can be reused are stored and then utilized for a variety of purposes. In addition, as the resort business is seasonal and there is a high influx of people for just a few months at a time, we offer the boxes and packing materials to our employees for moving purposes. Any and all (100%) of boxes that are damaged and cannot be reused are recycled. 100% of packaging materials generated from food service operations, such as cans, bottles, paper and plastic are recycled through the resort's general recycling program.

Squaw Valley has 33 chairlifts and actively recycles and re-uses most parts and machinery including cables, assembly units, chairs, towers, lift shacks, electrical components including motors and even chair cushions. When lifts are replaced and/or upgraded the older lifts are sold so they can be reused at other resorts or the metal and electrical parts are recycled. Scrap metal and lift parts: all materials generated from lift maintenance or upgrades are either reused on other lifts or mountain projects or recycled at a scrap metal facility. In vehicle shops 100% of copper, steel, and iron is recycled and reused.

Squaw Valley Ski Corp owns and operates three restaurants at the upper mountain High Camp facility. It is time intensive and complicated to transport all food materials to the restaurants and minimizing food waste in this facility is a huge concern. In 2007/08 a switch to non-disposable tableware in Food & Beverage, and the shift to sustainable practices in the resort’s concessions has significantly reduced the amount of waste generated by resort restaurants and shops. Prior to the switch to non-disposable dishware, approximately 3000 pounds of food-contaminated paper and plastic items were generated from our food and beverage concessions and picked up by our waste hauler. Since the switch, that waste is eliminated completely.

Squaw Valley Ski Corp has implemented several other effective methods for minimizing waste in mountain Food & Beverage facilities: In the restaurant and cafeteria, the staff offers daily specials designed to maximize food consumption, prevent spoilage and cut down on waste. The banquet manager works diligently to not over order when planning group menus and after a party or function the left over food is either taken home by the group or offered to any and all staff working at the facility. All trash (paper and food mix) is transported to the incinerator for disposal. All packaging materials generated from food service operations, such as cans, bottles, paper and plastic are recycled through the resort's general recycling program.

For the base area food and beverage facilities there is a state-of-the-art trash compactor (know as a Waste Reduction System). This system greatly reduces the amount of trash sent to landfills that is generated on the premises. All other restaurants on Squaw Valley property may take advantage of the resort's incinerator and compactor, and recycling programs.

Squaw Valley makes recycling easy and convenient for guests and community members by placing brand new bear proof recycling bins in outdoor areas throughout the resort. Trail map recycling bins are available in high traffic areas asking guests to recycle trail maps (in decent condition) for future guests to use. Each day 30-100 trail maps are collected from the bins and redistributed. The lift ticket backs (the paper left behind once the lift ticket is peeled off) are printed with coupons and savings offers so they can be reused by guests. Squaw Valley offers hand air dryers in all restrooms to encourage guests and employees to reduce paper towel waste. .Squaw Valley educates guests and employees through fliers, the web and company newsletters about reducing wastes generated at the area and encourage all to follow the "Leave No Trace Principles.”

The following table represents the quantitative landfill diversion due to reduction, reusing, and recycling efforts at Squaw Valley USA.

Landfill Diversion:
155.2 tons

III.D. Transportation Demand Reduction

Each season Squaw Valley USA invests hundreds of thousands of dollars into transportation initiatives that ease traffic and congestion and, most importantly, lessen impacts to air quality. By providing public transportation to guests and employees as well as carpooling incentives for guests, Squaw Valley Ski Corp helped reduce approximately 1,245,492 vehicle miles traveled (VMTs) last season.

Squaw Valley Ski Corp extends a serious effort toward providing incentive for its own employees to use environmentally sensitive modes of transportation to and from work by paying the bill for Tahoe Area Rapid Transit (TART) passes so all Squaw Valley employees are able to ride the TART free of charge. In total, Squaw Valley Ski Corp paid over $30,000 to the TART system during 2007-2008 – the cost for its employees to ride the TART for free, and also to pay a fee to have a Squaw Valley stop on the TART route. Squaw Valley also pays for daily roundtrip bus service to Squaw from South Lake Tahoe and Reno so guests can commute daily to Squaw Valley from both locations via free bus service, arriving daily at 9:30 am and leaving at 4:30 pm. Squaw Valley also works with a waterborne ski taxi that transports skiers from South Shore to North Shore (across Lake Tahoe), using an eco-friendly paddlewheeler.

Squaw Valley offers carpooling incentives both to guests and employees. Periodically, throughout the season employees who carpool to work with 3 or more passengers in the vehicle receive Squaw Bucks (money that can be used for food and retail around the mountain). A similar program urges guests either to carpool or to ride shuttles rather than drive their cars to the mountain. Guests who arrive at the mountain with 3 or more passengers in their car receive $10 off their lift ticket at Squaw that day. Guests who commute to Squaw Valley by shuttle are asked to keep their shuttle pass and bring it with them to the ticket window when they purchase their lift ticket. With their shuttle pass, guests receive $10 off the cost of a full price lift ticket. Employees who carpool to work with 3 or more passengers during holiday/busy periods receive Squaw Bucks (money that can be used for food and retail around the mountain).

Squaw Valley is one of 8 ski resorts in the country that sponsor the Alternaride nationwide rideshare service. By sponsoring Alternaride, guests are provided with a free rideshare service to Squaw Valley, in which guests use the service to find others who also want to carpool to Squaw Valley. The Alternaride service to Squaw Valley has proved especially successful in off-setting vehicle miles traveled to Squaw from San Francisco, by providing Bay Area skiers a comprehensive carpooling option for their 300 mile commute to Squaw.

Reduced VMTs are calculated by multiplying the distance traveled by the number of passengers times the number of trips (distance x passengers x trips). For employee shuttles the amount of VMTs saved is 679,290. The same equation can be made applied to guest shuttles (625,472 VMTs) and carpooling incentives (10,730). The VMTs saved by all three forms of transportation is 1,245,492.

Reduced Vehicle Miles Traveled:
1,245,492 miles

IV. Accomplishments

In the 2007/2008 winter season, Squaw Valley USA made improvements geared toward improving the skier and rider experience however, environmental sustainability remained a primary focus; in an effort to preserve the area’s precious ecosystems, Squaw Valley is refraining from expansion beyond the natural footprint. All projects that did involve construction were carried out through use of best management practices and the utmost regard for the environment.

In summer 2007, one of the Squaw Valley’ most popular lifts, Shirley Lake (built in 1984), was replaced with a state-of-the-art High Speed 6 Pac). After 23 years, Squaw Valley replaced the old Shirley Lake Express lift with a new chairlift. Shirley Lake is the most ridden chair at the ski area; it opens first, closes last and is the oldest detachable quad in the country. Squaw Valley Ski Corp redesigned the lift profile several times to ensure the least amount of impact. Less than 166 cubic yards of material will be excavated (impressive for installation of new chairlift). 11 of the existing towers and concrete footing were reused, two towers were replaced and the previously disturbed top and bottom terminal footing was incorporated into the new terminals. All lift towers were flown to a mid mountain staging area and refitted for the new chair. The 2 new towers and lower and upper terminals were be flown to a mid mountain staging area and refitted for the new chair. Use of a helicopter to bring in new towers and terminals is a sustainable method, as it eliminates the environmental impact incurred by using trucks to drag the large parts. All BMP's were be monitored regularly to insure the highest quality care. After completion, any disturbed areas were treated and nursed back to pre-construction state.

Last summer, Squaw Valley constructed a new in-ground superpipe. The new Riviera superpipe was trenched in the same location as the original in-ground constructed pipe (that was no longer large enough to classify as a halfpipe), making it the least intrusive place for the project. In addition to the pre-existing trenching, this area is already serviced by night lights and has access to snowmaking. Squaw Valley Ski Corp was excited to take on this project as a California Alpine Resort Environmental Coalition (C.A.R.E.C.) task. Squaw is a member of this progressive environmental group that quantifies results of new techniques to establish sustainable methods. New tilling techniques incorporating mulch and wood chips to recondition the soil will be implemented, as will “monitoring techniques” that use the adaptive management process. Through C.A.R.E.C., Squaw evaluated the success and failures of other resort attempts at halfpipe trenching in order to adopt the most sustainable method for the Riviera Superpipe project.

Last summer the parking lot storm water run-off treatment system was constructed with environmental consideration being the sole purpose. The new parking lot storm water run-off treatment system reduces sedimentation particles in parking lot snowmelt down to 50 microns, prior to being discharged into Squaw Creek. The system filters out snowmelt sediment, oil, and pollutants (from cars in the parking lot). Snowmelt runs through a system of weirs and baffles to remove constituents down to particle size of 50 microns. The treated effluent (an outflow of water) is then released into the creek.

Squaw Valley purchased 8 new bear proof recycling bins/trash receptacles to increase both the number and visibility of recycling bins around the resort, making recycling more accessible for guests.

Squaw Valley made trail map recycling bins available in high traffic areas asking guests to recycle trail maps (in decent condition) for future guests to use. Each day 30-100 trail maps are collected from the bins and redistributed.

V. Contact

Name:
Savannah Cowley

Mailing Address:
Squaw Valley Ski Corp, PO Box 2007, Olympic Valley, CA 96146

Telephone Number:
(530) 452-7130

Fax Number:
(530) 581-7106

Email Address:
savannah@squaw.com

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