Arapahoe Basin Ski Area is honored to have received the 2022 Golden Eagle "Climate Change Impact Award" from the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA).
The award was announced May 15 at the annual NSAA conference. A-Basin was also a finalist for each of the two other business-wide awards in the category: “Overall Environmental Excellence” and “Innovation in Sustainability.” This is A-Basin’s fifth sustainability award from the NSAA, the first going back to 2005 when the ski area was acknowledged for water conservation in snowmaking.
The Climate Change Impact Award recognizes A-Basin for the sustainability efforts it undertakes on the path to becoming carbon neutral by 2025 – in particular for several unique actions undertaken during the 2021-22 winter season. Those actions include the installation of five, dual-port EV charging stations in prime parking spaces—which A-Basin made available for free during the 2021-22 winter season—and calling on elected leaders to take meaningful climate action at the state and federal levels via signing onto business letters and publishing an op-ed in the Colorado Sun.
From the NSAA awards page: “How can a resort’s nominations stretch across three categories? A-Basin not only produces results, they do so in an innovative way.” A-Basin is committed not only to operational changes across its entire business, but also to educating and collaborating with staff, guests, nonprofits, local communities, and business partners to reduce A-Basin’s and skiing’s overall impact on the environment.
“We’re honored to be recognized by our peers for the sustainability work we’ve be up to over the past year, especially the new EV charging stations,” said Mike Nathan, A-Basin Sustainability Manager (pictured).
“This year’s award is even more special, as we see more meaningful climate action amongst our ski area counterparts than ever before. Award-worthy environmental projects are being implemented across the industry. For the first time ever, the collective climate impacts of these projects can make a real difference in the climate crisis we currently face. We’re just happy to be a part of that greater movement.”
A-Basin also just released its newest annual sustainability report from the 2020-21 season. Highlights include:
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The ski area crossed the 50% renewable electricity threshold, sourcing more than 54% of its total electricity from renewable sources.
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The ski area diverted more than 50% of its waste from the landfill (yet again).
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Domestic water usage dropped for another year.
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A-Basin’s stewardship efforts while building its hiking and biking trails continued the ski area’s leadership around wildlife and watershed conservation.
A-Basin’s sustainability goals, developed in 2018 for achievement by 2025, include: 100% renewable electricity, 75% waste diversion, increased carpooling and public transportation participation, ecosystem stewardship and wildlife management, no net increase in water use, and centralized purchasing.
The full report, and additional details about A-Basin’s sustainability program, can be found here.
