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| Uncommon Sense Graduates - Moonlight Basin |
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UnCommon Sense Program Graduates 2009
MOONLIGHT BASIN SKI AREA
Ski and Summer Resort, Big Sky, Montana
REASONS FOR PARTICIPATION
Bordered by wilderness and conservation easements, Moonlight Basin has
focused on conservation and reducing its impact on the environment from
its inception. Jonas Grenz, Director of Environmental Stewardship,
acknowledges that the ski and golf resort “depends on the
climate, and if that climate is changing then we need to do something
about it, we need to be leaders.” With environmental
scorecards
already happening in the ski industry, participation in credible
third-party programs like UnCommon Sense means Moonlight Basin is able
to show that what they’re doing is genuine. The in-depth
knowledge offered through UnCommon Sense, along with the requirement to
implement changes, were the main reasons they chose to participate.
Grenz points out, “You can go to a weekend conference and
have
all the same information thrown at you for about the same price, but
when you get home, implementation gets pushed aside.” With
Josh
Bowden helping with research and data development, the UnCommon Sense
two-year format and extensive resource tools allowed Moonlight Basin to
implement change and see results quickly.
BENEFITS RECEIVED
With 8,000 acres, a ski resort, golf course, food service operations
and two offices, Grenz acknowledges that the sheer scale of the
Moonlight Basin project means that implementation will be an on-going
process. But reducing its waste stream was the easiest, and changes
were made immediately. Fifty new recycling bins were strategically
placed throughout the resort. Bowden’s waste audit of the two
offices was well received and got the staff thinking about what exactly
could be recycled. The small investments paid off: the Ennis corporate
office diverted 69% of its waste, while 79% was diverted at the
administration office. The resort also started a composting program for
their restaurants by partnering with a local water reclamation
facility, which resulted in 5,600 pounds of food waste being turned
into compost.
According to Grenz, one of the most beneficial results of the program
was the encouragement of developing mutually beneficial relationships
with vendors and other entities in the community. Without that
encouragement, the composting program wouldn’t have happened,
nor
would some of the energy efficiency initiatives at the resort. The
program forced them to really look at their energy use, which pushed
them to seek help from their utility company and to create a
comprehensive energy plan. Bowden points out that understanding their
bill helped them save $15,000 almost immediately by more accurately
pinpointing their peak demand usage. They also reduced the energy used
by the ski lifts by ten percent after adding a harmonic filter.
Changing their maintenance schedule reduced their energy use even more
during peak demand periods. While acknowledging that buying energy
credits to offset their energy use isn’t a perfect answer,
they
have chosen to offset 100% of the energy used by the lifts until they
can find a better way.
To help solve the always troubling transportation problems in the
Gallatin Canyon, Moonlight Basin subsidizes a bus system and provides
carpooling incentives for employees and patrons. In January of 2007, an
estimated 2,482 one-way trips through Gallatin Canyon—equal
to 34
trips across America — were eliminated through the bus system.
The early paybacks realized with the help of UnCommon Sense prompted
Grenz and Bowden to do a cost benefit analysis on future retrofitting
as well as on hauling their own waste. Both showed how much the resort
can save while also reducing its impact on the environment, giving the
resort a solid business case for continuing what they’re
doing.
BOTTOM LINE RESULTS
- Best score in Montana on Environmental Scorecard done by
Ski Area Citizens Coalition
- Reduced office waste by 69% to 79% in two offices
- Diverted 5,600 pounds of food waste from the landfill and
turned it into compost
- Saved $15,000 by accurately gauging peak electricity demand
- Reduced ski lift energy use by 10%
- Offset 100% of the energy used to operate the lifts
- Subsidizes bus system and provides carpooling incentives
for employees and patrons
- 2008 Montana EcoStar Recipient
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