Environmental Commitment

Environmental Commitment

"The Canyons Resort commits to being stewards of our environment in order to preserve our ecosystem for future generations"

The Canyons Top 10 Environmental Initiatives

Establish and execute an Environmental Management Plan.
Conduct baseline studies of resort Total Waste Stream, Resource Consumption and Carbon Footprint.
Continue support of Green Team and Environmental Initiatives.
Establish a Purchasing and Procurement Plan that supports the Environmental Management Plan.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.
Develop/support innovative transportation systems, including guest/employee shuttles and use of alternative fuels.
Best Management Practices in all construction.
Responsible land use practices and adherence to the Natural Resource Management Plan.
Staff and Community outreach including reward/recognition for green practices, programs to offset construction (Plant a Tree programs), continued support of nonprofits.
Wind and solar power initiatives.

The Canyons is a member of the Sustainable Slopes Environmental Charter through NSAA.

The Canyons enforces NSAA's No Idling Policy in regards to all company driven and employee vehicles. We are dedicated to educating resort guests about the benefits of reducing unnecessary idling emissions
with respect to fuel efficiency, air quality, climate change and quality of experience. Click here for complete guidelines of NSAA's policy.

Wind Power

The Canyons supports the development of renewable resources in the US by purchasing approximately 22% of its total energy as renewable wind energy from Rocky Mountain Power through its Blue Sky Program. This is equivalent to 282 blocks of Blue Sky Energy. Purchasing one block of Blue Sky energy over one year is equivalent to offsetting more than a ton of carbon monoxide emissions. By purchasing Wind Power The Canyons supports wind projects in Oregon, Wyoming, and Washington.

Biodiesel
The Canyons has transitioned all of the rubber and tracked diesel vehicles to a B20 Biodiesel mix beginning in 2006. This program has been a success throughout the season and we will continue our commitment to purchasing alternative fuel vehicles.

Recycling
The Canyons currently offsets approximately 20% of it’s waste through recycling and re-use programs, offsetting over 75 metric tons of carbon equivalent.

All Anti freeze (50 gallons per year), oil (750 gallons per year), and tires (40) were recycled within the Vehicle Maintenance Department
2400 lbs of electronic equipment Newspaper, colored paper, white paper, toner cartridges, batteries, glass, plastic, cardboard, and aluminum within individual departments.
As many materials as possible are reused within Building Maintenance.
Glass, aluminum, and cardboard from Smokie’s Restaurant and Banquets.
Recycled 90% of all of the resorts old trail maps and brochures through an annual clean up day.
We have committed to use recycled paper for all trail maps, brochures, and collateral again for the 2009/2010 season.
Cardboard and plastic compactor: we compact the items for recycling purposes.

Low Energy Snowmaking Guns
The Canyons continues to purchase more efficient snowmaking guns, which offer a variety of benefits.

HKD Rangers – Low air use allows more efficient coverage; pumps the same amount of water with less air and less power Techno Alpin – Lowers overall horsepower use for fan guns. The resort will be capable of pumping more water for less horsepower (energy consumption) than fan guns that have guns that have been used in the past. The guns are controlled remotely, eliminating the need to waste fuel traveling on the mountain.

Other
All common areas within the Grand Summit Hotel have converted to energy efficient bulbs and approximately 85% of the guest rooms are complete. Red Pine Lodge lighting has also converted to low energy lighting. With this conversion The Canyons has reduced carbon emissions by over 43,000,000 lbs of CO2 in the life cycle of the bulbs (est. 20 yrs).

The Canyons Resort continues to use ELC, or extended life coolant. Rather than requiring a coolant change every year on every vehicle, resort vehicles can go 5 years. In 5 years the resort generates approximately 100 gallons of waste coolant for its entire fleet. If The Canyons used conventional coolant, it would generate 500 gallons of waste in the same amount of time, or 100 gallons every year.

The Canyons has also formed a partnership with Recycle Utah, annually hosting the Free Haz Mat Collection Days, Alternative Energy Seminars, and the Green Building Seminars. The resort has also made a commitment to Recycle Utah Education and Outreach programs by donating funds to the programs.

The Canyons has created a Resort Sustainability Team that will develop an Environmental Framework for both employees and guests. This framework will be the basis for future business operations.

Hotels
All common areas within the Grand Summit Hotel have converted to energy efficient bulbs and approximately 85% of the guest rooms are complete.

The Canyons Grand Summit Hotel and the Sundial Lodge are using flat plates eight months out of the year for cooling the building. The flat plate system which is like a radiator in your car takes the place of the chiller's which between the two hotels would be 625 tons of cooling power.

We have installed one hour timers on all guest room fireplaces in both the Grand Summit and Sundial. Many guests walk out of their room and leave the fireplace burning all day. The timer will shut the fireplace down in one hour. This is huge savings in gas consumption.

We have started installing motion sensors in some areas of the Hotels for lighting.