Skivermont

Air Quality

Killington's Air Quality Implementation Plan will continue to reduce the NOx (oxides of nitrogen) emissions from diesel compressors. NOx are created in diesel engines when nitrogen is first exposed to high temperatures. The oxides released as exhaust then react with sunlight to form smog, technically referred to as ground level ozone (O3).

While ski experience is unique, the mountain’s business model of sustainability and mission of protection and preservation are downright revolutionary. Mad River Glen has long positioned itself as the ski industry’s environmental conscience with their simple philosophy to not create the “footprint” in the first place.

A businesses “carbon footprint” is the watchword in terms of global warming. On average Mad River Glen uses a mere 442,700 kilowatt hours of electricity and burns only 32,000 gallons of fuel oil, propane, kerosene and gasoline. This usage represents 322 tons of green house emissions. Many other resorts use even more energy to run slopeside lodging, mountain villages and other base area development which represent things that Mad River Glen’s business model disdains, thus minimizing the environmental impact. The idea being if you don’t build it in the first place you won’t have to offset its long-term environmental effects. (1/07)

Okemo Mountain Resort is powered entirely by wind energy. Okemo’s purchase of Renewable Energy Certificates to offset 100 percent of its electrical needs with clean wind-generated electricity, will save an estimated 18,800 tons of carbon dioxide from being released into the atmosphere. This is equivalent to emissions produced by the annual electricity consumption of approximately 2,200 average homes or carbon dioxide emissions associated with the combustion of 1.9 million gallons of gasoline.

Smugglers' Notch Resort has implemented the SkiCool program, which encourages skiers and boarders to purchase green passes and badges. The proceeds from these sales are applied to offset carbon dioxide pollution contributing to global warming and are used to purchase renewable energy credits that help to finance wind farms and farm methane generators, alternative energy sources that are environmentally friendly.