BROOMFIELD, COLO.—Vail Resorts, Inc. announced the company achieved its 10 percent energy reduction goal announced in 2008. Through a continuous focus on energy conservation, the company was able to reduce its electricity and natural gas usage by 10.75 percent in three years by operating more efficiently. Examples of the energy savings initiatives include performing energy audits at all Vail Resorts properties, replacing inefficient lighting and using motion sensors to shut off lights when rooms are unoccupied, making snowmaking systems more energy efficient by using less compressed air, implementing a company-wide “Idle-wise” program that limits the time company vehicles are idling, and much more.
To help put Vail Resorts’ 10 percent energy savings into perspective, the energy saved over the last three years is the equivalent to: annual energy usage of 1,400 average U.S. homes; 22,801 metric tons of CO2 emissions; and 2,335 acres of pine forest planted.
“We are thrilled to achieve our energy layoff goal,” said Rob Katz, chairman and CEO of Vail Resorts. “However, we are not stopping here. Vail Resorts remains committed to reducing our energy use further both because it’s the right thing to do for the environment and also because it’s the right thing to do for our company. Today I am announcing a new energy reduction goal, “The Next 10.” Vail Resorts can reduce its energy consumption by another 10 percent by 2020 while continuing to provide the experience of a lifetime for all of our guests and employees.”
Vail Resorts is already beginning “The Next 10” with several projects and programs to help the company continue to operate more efficiently. Cutting energy usage by an additional 10 percent will take some time to achieve, however the company is committed to attaining this goal and will begin by reassessing operational efficiencies and examining ways to improve snowmaking, increase building automation, invest in free cooling and additional LED lighting upgrades, and research and implement additional energy efficient technologies to help achieve the 2020 goal.
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