Stowe Mountain Resort Green Business Practices

1. By: Andrew Gratton Riley Hoke & James McGuire Stowe Mountain ResortGreen Business Practices

2. A quick introduction

3. A Step above the Rest • Stowe Mountain Club was the first golf course in Vermont and one of only 63 courses in the world to become an Audubon Signature Sanctuary. • Stowe Mountain Resort was the first ski resort to receive the Sustainable Community Certificate from Audubon International. • This requires the area of develop a sustainability plan with 15 areas of focus along with measureable goals and a timeline to guide progress. • “As the first Private Sector Track member to receive the Audubon International Sustainable Community Certification, Stowe Mountain Resort has demonstrated a strong commitment to the ideals of sustainability – economic vitality, environmental protection, and social responsibility,” says SuziZakowski,

4. Sustainable Golf Course Development • Designation of an over 750 acre wildlife conservation easement around the course • Construction was phased and trees were removed over two winters in order to limit disturbance and erosion issues • A native wildfire seed mix was used in areas out of play to provide food for wildlife and reduce chance of invasive species being introduced • A new and innovative Integrated Pest Management Plan was introduced to incorporates cultural, biological, and extremely limited chemical strategies to manage the turf grass of the golf course • Designed to limit the pesticides and herbicides used in managing the course

5. Golf Course Continued… • The course is irrigated by recycled storm water that is stored in their 110,000,000 gallon snowmaking pond called Peregrine Lake • Two new wetlands were developed to filter storm water from the mountain and course before entering the reservoir • Comfort stations along the course are solar powered and posses composting toilets

6. Other Awards • In 2009 Stowe received the Silver Eagle Award for Environmental Excellence from CLIF® BAR, the leading organic-certified energy bar. They were credited recognized for their leadership and innovation in waste reduction and recycling. Stowe Mountain Resort developed a stand-out waste reduction program by highlighting the power of food. • The composting plan delivers impressive results—enjoying an 84.5 percent diversion rate. Stowe’s program works with a local farmer who turns the food waste into soil nutrient. This has converted more than 102 tons of organic matter into compost and recycled 82 tons of waste.

7. Community Education and Outreach • The Resort provides outdoor educational experience and training for resort guests. • They host an annual on site fieldtrip and workshop focused on water quality management for the Stowe Elementary School fifth grade class. • In 2009, the Resort established an Environmental Advisory Committee to assist the resort’s Planning Director with the identification of potential additional environmental actions. • Over 20 Articles have been published in the internal newsletter for employees. The Employee Handbook has been revised to include more content describing the resort’s environmental efforts. • They are currently partners with groups to provide access for environmental education forums and public seminars (such as birding events, Stowe Garden Fest, and nature walks). • They have established a municipal trolley (bus) system to cut down on individual driving. • The employee car share program rewards employees who travel in groups of 3 or more with special parking privileges.

8. Sustainable Food sourcing • The Stowe Mountain Lodge works with Vermont Fresh Network and Chefs Collaborative to identify local growers from whom it can buy fresh, organic, seasonal produce and Vermont ‘s signature products, such as, cheeses and wines from boutique growers. • Support local economy by reducing reliance on food that increases their carbon footprint by using local products whenever possible. • To date, 83% of vendors provide 100% locally produced agricultural, artisanal and other similar products that are produced locally.  

9. Environment and Wildlife • Through partnerships with the Vermont Agency Natural Resources, The University of Vermont, and the Green Mountain Club, the ridgeline of Mount Mansfield is managed and used for research by the university environmental professors and students. Over 2,000 acres of natural habitat has been permanently conserved. • 10 acres are summit terrain, that have been restored to natural condition. Important because it is breeding habitat for the Bicknell’s Thrush. • Peregrine Falcons, Moose, and Bear are also protected in these areas. • The resort has seen improvements over time in the water quality of its streams and conducts quarterly monitoring of selected stream segments. • Current storm water runoff from the development area is collected, stored, and reused for both snowmaking and golf course irrigation. • Snow banks are put in parking lots and the dirt that was spread is reused to fill holes and other aspects of the mountain. • Storm water runoff from Spruce Peak project area is collected Peregrine lake, which protects the nearby West Branch stream from potentially negative impacts on water quality.

10. Energy and Resource efficiency • Since 2000, the resort has installed energy efficiency improvements that are resulting in annual electrical use savings of 8,033,645 kW per year, or enough power to support 715 homes annually. • Stowe Mountain Lodge has made many changed to make it one of the most up to date and eco-friendly hotels in the world. • They installed low-flow shower heads and toilets, compact fluorescent light bulbs in all guest rooms; recycling bins for in-room guest use; eco-friendly cleaning products; recycled paper products; sheets and towels made from organic cotton; a recycling program for all bath products and containers and motion detectors in public spaces to determine needs for heating, air conditioning and lighting. • The lodge is not LEED certified but it has received a 5 green leaf rating from the Audubon Society. • Only 15 hotels have 4 or more leaves in the world. • All lifts run on electricity and the mountain has a set limit of electricity they are aloud to use, so not to drive up prices for the village. • With input from Efficiency Vermont, the state’s private energy utility, Spruce Peak’s mountain cabins have been built to the maximum 5-star rating of the EPA’s Home Energy Rating System.  Each cabin is expected to save $3,500 per year through extensive energy efficiencies.

11. Relation to Class Concepts • Reinvest in Natural Capital • Buys local foods • Wildflower planting on golf course • Protecting of critical wildlife habitat • Biologically Inspired Production • Golf course comfort stations • Designed wetland to treat water

12. Class Concepts Continued… • Solutions Based Business Model • Hotel design, lighting, low flow showers, recycled paper • Conservation easement (protected lands) • Increase Productivity of Inputs • Recycling and compost programs. • Water run off management and re-use

13. Sources of Information • http://www.stowe.com/press_room/press_releases.php/page2178/ • http://www.stowe.com/mountain/environmental_efforts/ • http://greenplanetparadise.com/552/green-luxury-at-stowe-mountain-resort