When it comes to sustainability, our member resorts are putting their solutions where their slopes are. Case in point, the Colorado Ski Country USA resorts below, who, each season, bring to fruition programs and initiatives that will enable all of us to—to borrow a phrase—Play Forever, whether we have skis or boards strapped to our boots or whether our boots were made for hiking.
With a holistic approach that considers sustainability from at least three levels, local, state, and federal, Aspen Snowmass has been a leader in the push for sustainability for decades. One such example of their commitment to combating climate change and enacting actionable sustainability efforts is the Buttermilk Mountain Lodge, which opened to the public in January 2023.
The passive-solar, all-electric, Argon gas filled-windowed building houses Buttermilk’s base restaurant and guest services center. Instead of relying on natural gas for heating and cooling like conventional buildings and emitting carbon dioxide for the duration of its life cycle, Buttermilk Mountain Lodge will get greener with each passing year. In fact, within a matter of years, it will become 100 percent carbon neutral. The target date is 2030, but that goal may be achieved sooner: the resort has partnered with Aspen CORE, a nonprofit leading the Roaring Fork Valley to a carbon-free, net-zero energy grid by 2030.
At Arapahoe Basin, everyday sustainability practices are seamlessly integrated with large-scale environmental initiatives. As of October 2023, the resort operates entirely on renewable electricity—powered by solar panels (including the world’s highest at 12,456 feet on Il Rifugio’s roof), community solar farms, and subscription-based utility programs. These efforts fuel everything from chairlifts and snowmaking to buildings and EV chargers. In April 2024, A-Basin reached another major milestone by becoming 100 percent carbon neutral.
In the summer, Copper teams up with the Friends of the Dillon Ranger District to host group seed-collecting hikes. These outings are a hit with kids and families—not only are they a fun outdoor adventure, but they also introduce visitors to the importance of protecting fragile ecosystems, often without them even realizing it. It’s a natural extension of Copper’s hands-on sustainability efforts like composting and recycling, which are modeled throughout the resort. It’s this kind of learning-through-doing that Lyman was referring to when he talked about guests taking small but impactful lessons home with them. The big takeaway? When people care about something, they’re more likely to protect it.
