The First "Green Village" at a US Ski Resort
Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort maintains its award-winning environmental reputation with the development of the new Village at Northstar located at the base of the mountain. A former ‘WRAP of the Year' (Waste Reduction Awards Program) and NSAA Silver Eagle award winner, the resort continues its environmental commitment by teaming with East West Partners, also a WRAP award recipient, to create the first ‘Green Village' at a U.S. ski resort.
Northstar Resort and East West Partners have constructed the new Village at Northstar using guidelines of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system established by the U.S. Green Building Council. LEED certification is a coveted designation and one that Northstar Resort and East West Partners are proud to achieve. The new Village will be open for the 2006-2007 season.
Northstar Resort Supports Clean Energy with Green Tags
In February 2004, the non-profit Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF) announced that Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort had off set approximately 215,600 pounds worth of greenhouse gas emissions associated with the ski area's electrical energy use through a substantial purchase of Green Tags (also known as Tradable Renewable Energy Credits) from BEF. Northstar Resort's Green Tags purchase represents over 150-megawatt-hours of renewable energy produced from non-polluting wind resources located in the Pacific Northwest, equivalent to the annual electricity used by about 180 homes.
Through the partnership, Northstar Resort offers its customers a chance to purchase a full or Mini-Green Tag along with their lift ticket in order to help off set the vehicle emissions associated with their trip to the ski area. Green Tags help reduce the harmful environmental effects of burning coal and natural gas to produce electricity, by providing energy consumers with a way to support clean renewable energy entering the energy grid and to displace fossil fuel energy. One Green Tag represents 1,000 kilowatt-hours of renewable energy (such as wind or solar power) entering the energy grid and displacing an equal amount of fossil fuel energy.
Northstar Resort Goes Greenwith Biodiesel Fuel
Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort is the first known ski resort in California to sell biodiesel fuel to the public. Biodiesel is a cleaner burning fuel made from renewable domestic resources such as vegetable oil. It can be used in any diesel engine with few or no modifications.
In comparison to 2005, 10,680 more gallons of biodiesel fuel have been sold at Northstar Resort this year. In fact, Northstar Resort does not only sell this environmentally friendly fuel to the public, it also uses it in the majority of its shuttle buses and snow removal equipment. Biodiesel is registered with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a fuel and fuel additive and meets clean diesel standards established by the California Air Resources Board (CARB). For more information, visit www.westernenergetics.com.
More Information on Northstar's Environmental Programs >>
http://www.northstarattahoe.com/info/ski/media/environment.asp