We live, work and recreate in a mountain setting and we want to continue this lifestyle for years to come. Therefore, we along with others in our industry, have adopted a policy to reduce emissions generated by our operations, actively investigate and implement additional ways that we can pro-actively address this matter and educate others on how they can help.

Lodges
Remodel

All of our lodges feature efficient lighting, waterless urinals, low-flow faucets, and energy star appliances.

2009 - Installed solar thermal panels at Mid-Mountain Lodge

2011 - LED lights were installed on the 2nd floor of Legacy Lodge

These upgrades reduce our carbon emissions by over 940 tons of carbon dioxide per year.

Snowguns
Energy Efficient

Efficient snowmaking fans allow us to make snow at slightly warmer temperatures and eliminates the need to run air compressors, which saves electricity.

2005 - Installed 67 new energy efficient snow guns, which are responsible for 30% of the resort’s snowmaking.

These efforts reduce our carbon emissions by over 800 tons of carbon dioxide per year.

Chairlifts
Wind Turbines

2004 - Began purchasing enough renewable energy to power chairlifts.

2008 - Began purchasing enough wind power renewable energy credits to offset 100% of electricity use.

2011 - Installed a solar array and vertical wind turbine, which are expected to produce 30,000 kWh's annually.

Our purchasing of renewable energy credits has reduced our carbon emissions by 37,617 tons to date, which is equivalent to over 4 million gallons of gasoline.

Snowmobiles
Carbon Reduction

We have reduced our fleet by 30%, which reduces our carbon emissions by 31 tons of carbon dioxide per year.

Half of our fleet has been replaced with 4-stroke rather than 2-stroke engines, which reduces pollutants and greenhouse gases. One department reduced their gas consumption by 1,000 gallons in one year.

Snowcats
Bio-Diesel

2004 - Initiated a ‘no idle’ policy for all vehicles.

2005 - Began using B20 bio-diesel in 100% of our diesel powered vehicles and equipment.

This has reduced our carbon emissions by 1,472 tons in the last six years.

Park City Mountain Resort's Environmental Efforts in Detail (last updated November, 2011)

Overall energy consumption and carbon footprint:

Wind Power:

-       We purchase wind power to annually offset 100% of our electrical consumption

-       We have purchased 60,175,000 kWh’s of wind power to date

-       Our wind power purchases have avoided 37,600 tons of CO2 released into atmosphere

Energy Efficiency Measures:

-       We have completed 30 power reduction Energy Efficiency Measures, totaling $1,415,289. We annually save $158,413 in energy costs from these upgrades, with a total reduction of 2,746,113 kWh’s.

      Our Carbon Footprint since 2005:

-       We have reduced our carbon footprint by 59.8% since 2005

-       We have reduced 15,716 tons of CO2 through our Energy Efficiency Measures and offset 37,617 tons by purchasing wind REC’s for a total of 53,333 tons of CO2 reduced.

-       This total reduction is equivalent to not driving 84,208,200 miles

Facilities and lodges:

      Lodges and buildings:

                  - When upgrading our buildings, we make them as energy efficient as possible.

                  - All of our buildings feature CFL lighting

                  -Air doors have been installed to reduce heat loss

                  - When upgrading appliances, energy star appliances are used

- We have reduced our energy consumption through programmable thermostats, motion sensors for lights, dimmers, and more efficient lighting, heating, and appliances

- All but one of our restaurants use washable plates and utensils, saving approximately 450,000 disposable plates, bowls and utensils from the landfill every ski season

- Our restrooms feature waterless urinals (59 total), each of which saves 40,000 gallons of water per year. We use toilet paper and paper towels from recycled paper. We also have battery operated sinks and efficient faucets.

-  Our recent Mid Mountain Lodge improvements include:

• The installation of CFL’s, which will save approximately 11,000 kWh’s annually. A reduction of over 20,000 pounds of CO2
• The installation of Solar Thermal Panels will supply hot water at Mid Mountain Lodge and avoid 19,444 lbs of CO2 emission annually

- Our recent Mountain Patrol improvements include:

• The installation of programmable thermostats, which helps to reduce energy by heating more efficiently
• The installation of a fan on wood burning stove to more effectively heat building
• This project cost $1000 and saved 12,120 kWh’s and $970 in the first season

LED Christmas lights on the plaza:

- In the Fall of 2009 we upgraded the 1,100 Christmas lights from incandescent to LED.

- This project cost $1,100 and will annually save $1,141 in electricity costs by avoiding 14,263 kWh’s annually.

- We will reduce our carbon footprint by over 23,000 pounds of CO2

Heated plaza:

- We recently increased our footprint by 550 tons by installing a heated plaza to reduce ice and improve safety for our guests

- However, by using natural gas rather than electricity we avoided 1,905 tons of CO2 annually

Daily mountain operations:

Biodiesel fuel:

- We use biodiesel fuel in all of our snowcats, heavy equipment and lift apu’s, which has reduced our carbon emissions by 1472 tons over the last six years

Efficient snow making equipment:

- We recently installed 67 new energy efficient snow guns, which are responsible for 30 percent of the Resort’s total snowmaking operations.

- These fans allow us to make snow at slightly warmer temperatures, as well as eliminate the need to operate our air compressors to run them, therefore saving electricity.

Snow mobile fleet: 

- We have reduced our snowmobile fleet by 30%, reducing carbon emissions by over 62,000 pounds per year.

- We have replaced 47% of our snowmobile fleet with 4 stroke engines rather than 2 stroke engines to reduce air pollutants and greenhouse gases. This upgrade has resulted in 1000 gallons less gas used in Patrol compared to same period in one season.

      New PayDay lighting:

- We have recently replaced the lighting for night skiing on PayDay.

- We upgraded the old 1500W quartz bulbs to new 150W metal halide bulbs.

- These new bulbs will more consistently light the run from top to bottom, and save, 140,000 kWh’s annually

Recycling and Reducing:

- Here at PCMR, we make an effort to recycle or reuse everything possible. We either reuse or recycle all aluminum, glass, plastic, cardboard, tires, antifreeze, batteries, paper, rubber, among other materials.

      Cardboard:

- Since the 2007/2008 season we have recycled 163,000 pounds of cardboard, which we bale in our own facility.

      Comingled:

- Since the 2007/2008 season we have recycled 165,000 pounds of comingled material that would have been taken to the landfill

      Waste Oil:

- The Resort generates between 1500 to 1700 gallons of waste oil per year and uses this waste oil to heat the maintenance shop, instead of using nearly 2600 gallons of propane to heat the same building.

Save our Snow:

In 2006 Powdr commissioned the first-ever comprehensive scientific study looking at the effects of global warming on the climate at Park City Mountain Resort and the community of Park City, Utah. The results of this study—presented at a community-wide meeting on January 9, 2007—were both frightening and clear: if carbon emissions remain as they have over the past several decades, by 2075 the climate in the Park City area will be cool enough to support an all-winter snow pack at only the highest reaches of Park City Mountain Resort, or from approximately 8,500 to 10,000 feet above sea level, cutting the resort’s skiable/ridable terrain by as much as two-thirds

Powdr followed up Save Our Snow I with a second climate change study in 2009, this time focusing on the economic impacts the resort and town would suffer as a result of the forecasted diminished snow pack. Save Our Snow II’s findings were as alarming as the first study: by as early as 2050 the potential economic impacts of a retreating snowpack could be as high as $392.3 million in lost output, $66.6 million in lost earnings and 3,717 lost jobs.

Global Cooling Paper

2007 vs 2009 Climate Change Compare

Sept 29, 2009 Climate Change Assesment