Sugarloaf is committed to sustainability, and we're working hard to reduce our environmental impact at every level of resort operations. Over the next few years, we'll continue to utilize a combination of cutting-edge technology and old-fashioned Maine ingenuity to increase efficiency, reduce waste and emissions, and ensure the health of our natural resources for generations to come. Our efforts are in coordination with Forever Project, Boyne Resort's goal of reducing carbon emissions to net zero throughout North American operations by 2030.
GUIDING PRINCIPLES
Mindful Efficiency
Create and maintain a culture of reduction: energy use, waste output, water impact; balanced with maximized utilization of our human, technological, natural, and financial resources.
Tireless Conservation
Protect the natural environment unwaveringly, ensuring proper use for purposes related to outdoor recreation, and preserving or rehabilitating the land over which we are stewards.
INNOVATIVE COLLABORATION
Support and reward outreach and partnerships that extend beyond all traditional boundaries, providing deeply valuable impact among our team members, and in our communities, industry, and environment for the long term.
NET ZERO EMISSIONS
Boyne Resorts’ operations throughout North America will achieve 100% renewable energy for the 2020/21 Winter season and will maintain a commitment to clean power into the future.
- By sourcing a global purchase of renewable energy credits (RECs), all resorts and city facilities will reach 100% clean power
- Early 2021 installation of a large-scale solar array at Boyne Mountain Resort in Michigan will serve as a pilot for installation projects to take place at multiple locations in the resort network
- Strengthening relationships with suppliers committed to renewable energy becomes a priority along with guiding the outlying suppliers to develop and execute timely plans for use of clean power
NSAA CLIMATE CHALLENGE
Led by National Ski Areas Association (NSAA), Climate Challenge is a voluntary program dedicated to helping participating ski areas target and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, engage in advocacy on climate change solutions, and reap other benefits in their operations, such as reducing costs for energy use. As a member, Sugarloaf has access to formal training and tools to conduct a GHG inventory and identify opportunities for reductions and savings, and the ability to benchmark operations against others.
Participation requires endorsement of NSAA’s Sustainable Slopes program including a pledge to the following, as well as prioritized focus on areas such as water, waste, transportation, design and construction, forest health and habitat, and supply chain:
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Incorporate sustainability into all aspects of our resorts
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Lead by example, and educate employees and guests about sustainability
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Place collaboration over competition when it comes to sustainability
- Advocate for climate protection
Making a Difference
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On The Trails
We've recently purchased new low energy nozzle upgrades for many of our snowguns, which has the potential to reduce annual energy consumption by as much as 38,000 kWh. Next season we plan to upgrade six times as many nozzles, which all together has the potential to reduce our carbon footprint by as much as 161 metric tons of carbon (the equivalent of 34 cars driven for an entire year). In addition, we are working with partner organizations to explore renewable energy options that can be implanted in the coming decade. Additionally, all our trails are built and maintained in accordance with the most up-to-date sustainability standards. These efforts control erosion, reduce the environmental impact of trails, and work in harmony with the land.
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In The Community
Carrabassett Valley became home to the first Atomizing Freeze Crystallization facility, or Snowfluent Plant, in the world in 1995. Snowfluent technology utilizes the natural purifying properties of the freezing process to remove impurities and toxins from the area's water. The process is remarkably efficient, as the only pre-treatment required of the water is a few hours of retention in order to allow for the settling of larger solids. Throughout the winter season, visitors can see the immense piles of snow at the plant across the valley. In a nutshell, the plant treats roughly 26,000,000 gallons of wastewater per year by converting it to snow.
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At the Resort
In addition to new power sources and improved efficiency, we are also looking at the amount and types of waste we produce as a resort. Food waste is an issue for our resort, as it is for many companies and individuals around the world. To address this issue we are working toward partnerships that would allow us to reuse food waste through anaerobic digestion. This process could take all of our resort’s food waste, compost it, and use the methane byproduct to produce power. This removal of food waste from our traditional waste streams, along with the reduction of single use plastics, are key steps in addressing our overall environmental impact. In recent years we have removed plastic silverware and straws from the majority of our facilities, and in just one year kept more than 18,000 plastic straws out of landfills.
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Meet Zoe
Zoe Zeerip is Sugarloaf's Sustainability Coordinator. Hailing from Michigan, Zoe’s mid-western work ethic makes her a great addition to the Sugarloaf community. Leading up to Zoe’s time at the Loaf she coordinated waste minimization efforts at KeyBank Pavilion in Pittsburgh, built energy efficient straw bale homes in Moab, UT, and worked as the Michigan Field Representative for Protect Our Winters. Zoe plans to create a sustainability framework that will create a unified understanding of sustainability at Sugarloaf. Through innovative strategies learned throughout her years leading sustainability efforts, Zoe will lead sugarloaf's efforts to reduce its environmental impact. When Zoe isn’t working, she is likely mountain biking, petting a dog, or hitting the slopes.
