2015 SUSTAINABILITY REPORT ARAPAHOE BASIN ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY As stewards of an exceptional mountain environment, Arapahoe Basin Ski Area CONTENTS: is committed to providing quality outdoor recreation experiences. Our staff and guests realize Arapahoe Basin is a priceless natural treasure. We strive to continually improve our environmental performance in order to provide enjoyment of Arapahoe ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY Basin for future generations of snow and mountain enthusiasts. LETTER FROM ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGER AND CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER RESOURCE INVENTORY SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVES NEW KIDS CENTER ACHIEVEMENTS GOALS FOR THE FUTURE KEEP WINTER WHITE MEET OUR ENVIRONMENTAL PARTNERS EMPLOYEE ENVIRONMENTAL FUND DEAR FRIENDS OF THE ENVIRONMENT, The founders of Arapahoe Basin Ski Area set out to build a place where the spirit of freedom and big-mountain challenges create life-altering experiences—and they did it! Our community has held fast to those ideas and given this breathtaking mountain a well-deserved nickname, The Legend. An integral part of The Legend is our incredible mountain setting high in the Colorado Rockies. It’s no accident that this setting has remained as stunning as it has. Over the years there has been a strong commitment, from both staff and visitors, to preserve the natural beauty of these mountains for future generations of mountain enthusiasts. In recent years A-Basin has taken meaningful steps toward minimizing its environmental impacts, both at the mountain and in the community. We reduce our waste by composting and recycling; we reduce our energy use through efficiency projects and upgrades; we reduce our carbon footprint by supporting and incentivizing carpooling and the use of public transit. We support local environmental groups and community-based sustainability efforts. We also advocate for strong environmental leadership in our government at the regional and national levels. We incorporate environmental education into many of our on-mountain programs and events, and we even generate some of our own electricity from a rooftop solar array on our Kids Center! Do we generate greenhouse gases along the way? Of course. But through our efforts, both small and large, we feel we all can walk lighter on the planet—even in our ski boots. And you can too! Carpool to the mountain and we’ll give you a discounted lift ticket. Be mindful while enjoying the famous Black Mountain Lodge barbeque and help us divert compostable and recyclable waste from the landfill. Better yet, do it at home too! Many of the sustainability practices in use at The Basin can be easily added to your family’s routine. Help us keep The Legend legendary for years and years to come. Thank you for sharing our passion for this wonderful place and thanks for helping us keep winter white. We look forward to meeting you on the slopes! Sincerely, Sha Miklas, Sr. Manager of Sustainability Mike Nathan, Sustainability Manager Alan Henceroth, Chief Operating Officer ARAPAHOE BASIN RESOURCE INVENTORY Every ski area relies on a variety of resources to keep the lifts turning, snowcats grooming and the hot chocolate flowing. A-Basin is continuing to track how resources are used in order to see progress and discover inefficiencies. The goal is to keep tracking utilities, and analyze the data, in order to make necessary changes to the existing systems. All of these alterations minimize the impact on the natural environment while reducing resource consumption. CUMULATIVE CARBON EMISSIONS—GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS BY SOURCE Electricity: Water Treatment/Maintenance Shop 14% Electricity: Snowmaking 9% 26% Electricity: Chairlifts 6% Electricity: Buildings 11% 34% Gasoline/Diesel Propane ELECTRICITY Electricity is used primarily to turn chairlifts and to power our buildings. In buildings, electricity goes towards powering office and kitchen equipment, lighting, and in some cases, heating. PROPANE Propane is the main fuel source for heat in most buildings and for most cooking appliances. Although one of the cleanest burning fuels with limited greenhouse gas emissions, propane is still a non-renewable fossil fuel, which we strive to use less and less of each year. DIESEL AND GASOLINE Five snowcats, five pieces of heavy equipment, two UTVs, eight trucks and seven snowmobiles keep the mountain moving. Idle times are limited and regular maintenance ensures these vehicles run smoothly and burn as little fuel as possible. WATER: SNOWMAKING From October through December, highly efficient airless snowguns provide a head start to early season skiing and help to build a base that lasts long into the summer. Water diversions are closely monitored and very limited to ensure healthy conditions downstream. WASTE: TRASH, COMPOST, RECYCLING Recycling and compost receptacles are provided for guests and employees wherever they may encounter a waste bin. Signage in each food venue helps identify which items are compostable and which items are recycleable. ARAPAHOE BASIN RESOURCE INVENTORY ELECTRICITY USE—PUBLIC BUILDINGS AREA-WIDE ELECTRICITY USE—BY FUNCTION kWh kWh 1,000,000 4,000,000 Operating Year 900,000 08/09 3,500,000 Function Area 800,000 Wastewater/ 3,000,000 700,000 09/10 Vehicle Shop 869,920 822,880 2,500,000 600,000 807,880 800,440 10/11 773,920 Snowmaking 717,920 500,000 671,109 2,000,000 664,320 623,440 11/12 634,240 400,000 1,500,000 Lifts 518,000 300,000 513,360 12/13 476,720 1,000,000 200,000 442,000 13/14 Buildings 100,000 500,000 14/15 Base Area Buildings Black Mountain Lodge 08/09 09/10 10/11 11/12 12/13 13/14 14/15 (kWh) (kWh) Operating Year Notes: Notes: 1. Base Area Buildings include the A-Frame base lodge, the Guest Services building, Snowmaking designation here also includes some non-snowmaking usage the Ticket Office, the Winter Sports Building, and the First Aid building. (Molly’s Magic Carpet lift, the top lift shack of Molly Hogan lift, Patrol Headquarters 2. Black Mountain Lodge opened mid-season 2007-08. Heating control issue in building, and the top lift shack for Lenawee lift) 2008-09 resolved in 2009-10. 3. Buildings not included in this graph are Patrol Headquarters, the vehicle shop/wastewater treatment plant, lift shacks, and the mid-mountain pumphouse. AREA-WIDE ELECTRICITY kWh 4,000,000 12.0 3,500,000 10.0 3,000,000 Total 8.0 2,500,000 Electricity Used (kWh) 2,000,000 6.0 1,500,000 Electricity 4.0 Per Skier 1,000,000 Visit 2.0 500,000 08/09 09/10 10/11 11/12 12/13 13/14 14/15 Operating Year ARAPAHOE BASIN RESOURCE INVENTORY WATER USED FOR SNOWMAKING AREA-WIDE FUEL USE Gallons Gallons 30,000,000 70,000 25,000,000 60,000 Fuel Type 50,000 Diesel 20,000,000 40,000 15,000,000 Total Gallons 30,000 Gasoline 10,000,000 20,000 5,000,000 10,000 08/09 09/10 10/11 11/12 12/13 13/14 14/15 08/09 09/10 10/11 11/12 12/13 13/14 14/15 Operating Year Operating Year AREA-WIDE PROPANE USE Gallons 50,000 .16 45,000 .14 40,000 .12 35,000 .10 Total 30,000 Propane 25,000 .08 Used 20,000 .06 15,000 Propane .04 Per Skier 10,000 Visit 5,000 .02 08/09 09/10 10/11 11/12 12/13 13/14 14/15 Operating Year ARAPAHOE BASIN RESOURCE INVENTORY AREA-WIDE WASTE AREA-WIDE COMPOST Pounds Pounds 300,000 .8 60,000 .14 .7 .12 250,000 50,000 .6 .10 200,000 40,000 .5 Total Total Pounds .08 Compost 150,000 .4 30,000 Pounds .06 .3 100,000 20,000 Pounds .04 Pounds .2 Per Skier Per Skier 50,000 Visit 10,000 .02 Visit .1 08/09 09/10 10/11 11/12 12/13 13/14 14/15 09/10 10/11 11/12 12/13 13/14 14/15 Operating Year Operating Year Notes: 1. Does not include solid waste sent to landfill or compost from our wastewater treatment plant. Estimated volume is 10 cubic yards annually, but tonnage measurement not available. 2. This chart reflects a revision in the 2010/11 season reported totals as compared to the last annual report. AREA-WIDE RECYCLING WASTE STREAMS AND DIVERSION RATE Pounds Pounds 100,000 .25 300,000 455 90,000 40% 80,000 .20 250,000 35% Landfill 70,000 30% Total 200,000 60,000 .15 Recycling 25% Recycling 50,000 Pounds 150,000 20% 40,000 .10 Compost 15% 30,000 Recycling 100,000 Pounds 20,000 .05 10% Per Skier 50,000 Diversion 10,000 Visit 5% Rate 09/10 10/11 11/12 12/13 13/14 14/15 08/09 09/10 10/11 11/12 12/13 13/14 14/15 Operating Year Operating Year SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVES RECYCLING POLICY REUSABLE TABLEWARE AND CUTLERY Recycling is part of every Arapahoe Basin employee’s All service containers that are not reusable are daily job responsibilities. Wherever there is a garbage compostable. “Hydration stations” encourage guests to receptacle, there is a recycling receptacle. In a positive refill their own bottles and to use reusable cups instead and friendly way, employees encourage guests to of disposable cups. recycle and are encouraged to share recycling and waste reduction ideas with their supervisors. SNOWMAKING Arapahoe Basin’s snowmaking system includes a COMPOSTING POLICY water storage pond and maximizes bypass stream Arapahoe Basin offers stations to dispose of flows. Steady diversions of this type minimize impacts compostable waste in all kitchen and dining areas at to aquatic habitat, wetlands and stream ecology. To the Legends Cafe, Black Mountain Lodge, 6th Alley Bar cut down on associated electricity use, the snowmaking & Grill, in the Snowsports lunch program and at system includes an automated pump system and all after-hours events.