The Vermont Ski Areas Association is excited to announce the winners of the third annual Green Mountain Awards for Environmental Excellence at Vermont Ski Resorts. Judged by Alan Hebert of Efficiency Vermont, Melinda Vieux, President of Green Up Vermont, and VSAA President Parker Riehle, resorts competed to win awards in environmental stewardship. Categories looked closely at improvements made to waste reduction, water consumption, carbon footprint, Green Up Day participation and combined environmental efforts. With thirteen resorts participating in the Great Vermont Snow Gun Round Up this season, efficiency efforts were bountiful and judging all the more difficult.
Winners of the 2015 Green Mountain Awards for Environmental Excellence include:
Greenest Overall Resort in Vermont
Stowe Mountain Resort
Most Improved Resort Overall
Killington Mountain Resort
Most Improved Energy Consumption
Killington Mountain Resort
Most Improved Water Consumption
Stowe Mountain Resort
Most Improved Waste Reduction
Sugarbush Resort
Best Green Up Day
Smugglers’ Notch Resort
“Sustainability is a key aspect of the Vermont brand,” said judge Alan Hebert of Efficiency Vermont. “These resorts have shown they are fully committed to the snow sports industry, the guests they serve and the beautiful mountains they call home.”
“We at Green Up were especially pleased to see that Smuggler's hosted a breakfast,” said Green Up Vermont President Melinda Vieux. “Green Up Day is very much about ‘community.’This is part of what has made it an important Vermont cultural event.”
For more information about the winning entries and efforts, visit skivermont.com.
Ski Vermont
Ski Vermont (Vermont Ski Areas Association) is a proud ambassador of the thriving winter tourism industry in Vermont, where the legislature has designated skiing and snowboarding as the official state sports. Vermont is not only the #1 ski state in the east and third in the US, but also reigns supreme in snowmaking quality and coverage, variety of terrain and historical impact on the sports of skiing and snowboarding - making it one of the most significant ski and ride destinations in the world. Ski Vermont’s mission is to help create a legislative, economic and social environment in which the state's ski areas can grow and prosper. It serves its 18 Alpine and 31 Nordic member resorts in three major areas: Governmental Affairs, Marketing and Public Affairs.
Efficiency Vermont
Efficiency Vermont provides technical assistance, rebates, and other financial incentives to help Vermont households and businesses reduce their energy costs with energy-efficient equipment, lighting, and approaches to construction and major renovation. Additionally, they partner extensively with contractors, suppliers, and retailers of efficient products and services throughout the state. They are operated by a private nonprofit organization, the Vermont Energy Investment Corporation, under an appointment issued by the Vermont Public Service Board.
Green Up Vermont
Green Up Vermont is a nonprofit organization with 501(c) (3) status. Green Up's mission is to promote the stewardship of our state's natural landscape and waterways and the livability of our communities by involving people in Green Up Day and raising public awareness about the benefits of a litter-free environment. For 43 years running, Vermonters have held Green Up Day – a state-wide tradition of beautification where armies of volunteers remove roadside debris previously camouflaged by Vermont’s abundant winter snow.