FOUNDATIONS OF SUSTAINABILITY

Foundations of Sustainability



Foundations of Sustainability

Introduction

Aspen Skiing Company - Approach to Sustainability

The top three environmental stewards in Colorado, in descending order, are Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands, and Buttermilk Mountain. Snowmass comes in at a respectable seventh to round out all of Aspen Skiing Company's mountains. According to Matt Hamilton, Aspen's Sustainability Manager, the ski company's commitment to the environment began in 1994 when Pat O'Donnell came on board as the CEO. O'Donnell had worked with other values-based companies (Patagonia, Yosemite Group) before taking the helm at Aspen. He is often referred to as a visionary for his emphasis on protecting the environment over the bottom line. 

A decade and a half later, Aspen is still trailblazing. According to Hamilton, the social mission of Aspen is to create a livable and workable environment in the Roaring Fork Valley. The list of projects, policies, and initiatives is long, but one highlight is the Environment Foundation, which is comprised of Aspen's employees. Funds for this foundation are raised through matching dollars of voluntary payroll deductions. In its 13 years of existence, it has donated over $1.5 million dollars to health care initiatives, early childhood education, and of course, green projects. In more tangible terms, Aspen became the first mountain to install an on-mountain array of solar panels. The 2.3 kilowatt array is part of the Aspen Highlands patrol headquarters at the top of the Loge lift (Julian & Toffel, 2005). The solar panel system provides enough energy to run an average home for half a year. In the summer, the system runs the electric meter backwards, creating a credit for the next year.

Aspen Skiing Company also works on the federal level to address a growing national concern: climate change. Aspen is a member of Business for Innovative Climate and Energy Policy (BICEP), which works with Congress to pass meaningful energy and climate change policy that is consistent with core green principles (Andres, 2005).

Is green profitable?

Certainly, installing solar panels and switching to biodiesel fuels cost money. But what Aspen gets in return is market differentiation. Guests at Aspen's mountains indicate that they like spending their money at a resort that is truly dedicated, with annual sustainability reports, to preserving the mountain they ski or board at. Further proof is that Outside magazine counted Aspen among the top 50 places to work in America in 2010. This employee satisfaction transfers over to the guest experience.

Impact of Climate Change

The risks and potential impacts of climate change in Aspen have been highlighted in several published reports from Aspen Global Change Institute. For example, Aspen's climate has changed noticeably over the past 25 years. Temperatures have increased about 3 degrees F, and the average number of frost free days per year has increased about 20 days (1). It is important to remember that climate change is based on long-term trends and that you cannot take seasonal fluctuations as evidence of climate change because those are meteorological changes (Cox, ...