PATS PEAK is proud to support:

Founded in 2000, Sustainable Slopes is a way for ski areas to commit to sustainable practices across their operations. Pats Peak and over 200 U.S. ski areas have signed on to NSAA’s Sustainable Slopes program.  www.nsaa.org

As stewards of the environment, we pledge to:

• Incorporate sustainability into all aspects of our resorts
• Lead by example, and educate employees and guests about sustainability
• Place collaboration over competition when it comes to sustainability
• Advocate for climate protection

Below are Pats Peak’s environmental practices:

2023

• State-of-the-Art Mountain Operations Facility: A new 6-bay mountain operations facility brings state-of-the-art capabilities to the Mountain Operations Team. This energy-efficient and modern building serves as the new facility to support their operations team, covering a spacious 12,000 square feet.
• New 300KW Generator for Mountain Base Area Operations: As part of our commitment to sustainability, the new generator incorporates energy-efficient technologies that optimize fuel consumption and reduce emissions.
• Upgraded Snowmaking Technology: Cutting-edge and energy-efficient snowmaking technology on FIS Race Trail to make snow faster for race athletes.
• Optimal Night Visibility: The East Wind trail received a night lighting facelift with all new poles, wires, and LED lights. Energy-efficient LED lighting technology has been implemented in this new lighting system, reducing power consumption, and minimizing their carbon footprint without compromising the quality of illumination.

2022

• Installed additional Energy-Efficient Snowmaking Fan Guns on the Puff trail.
• Construction began on a new 12,000 square foot Mountain Operations facility. The new facility will be an energy efficient, modern, and beautiful new building for the operations team.

2021

• Installed 40 new HKD Impulse snowguns, which cut energy consumption by 90%.
• Installed a new heat pump system in the main offices to cut down on energy systems.
• Installed more motion detecting lighting equipment. 
• Gas frialators replaced electric ones units in our F&B operation.

2020

Specific Initiatives:

• Purchased 60 high-efficiency HKD Impulse snow guns.
• Installed new refrigeration compressors in food service operation.
• Installed new high efficiency Rinnai boilers for hot potable water in base lodges.
• Converted more than 60 incandescent fixtures to LED lights.
• New lodge addition has super insulated SIPS panels.

2019

Specific Initiatives:

• Seven (7) new energy-efficient SMI Snow Makers Polecat Snow Guns
• Cyclone Powerline Upgrade to allow more snow guns to be able to run at one time and be more efficient with their snowmaking power.

2018

Specific Initiatives:

• Four (4) low-energy Fan Guns from SMI Snowmakers and 20 energy-efficient towers snow guns.
• Many products in our cafeteria have been changed to reduce our waste including Napkins – ECOLOGO Certified and EPA compliant for reduced environmental Impact; Black Paper Straws; Drinking Cups – made from plant based products (mostly corn) that are a compostable product; Soup Cups and Lids  – made from corn and are BPI (Biodegradables Product Institute) Certified; Greenwave Plates and Hinged Lid Containers – made from sugarcane and bamboo and BPI Certified; Sandwich Containers and Salad Containers with Lid – container made from paper with the lid made from recycled water bottles; Certified compostable Utensils that is wrapped in PLA (vegetable based).
• Our bathrooms also uses ECOLOGO Certified and EPA compliant Toilet Paper for reduced environmental impact and Paper Towels – USDA Certified Biobased product.

2017

Specific Initiatives:

• A $250,000 investment into the already impressive 100% state-of-the-art snowmaking coverage system includes the addition of (6)additional low-energy Fan Guns from Snow Machines Inc. With our new snow guns, we will be able to open more terrain even faster and sustain it longer, even through stretches with marginal winter temperatures.
• Brand new deck heaters will take the edge off of that chill while skiers and riders are relaxing on the deck. These are state-of-the-art and incredibly efficient. 

2016

Specific Initiatives:

• (4) additional low-energy turbo guns from Snow Machines Inc.
• (2) energy-efficient snowmaking HKD Fan Guns 
• A new snowmaking power line to double the amount of fan guns that can run at the same time. Running equipment when the weather is optimal is the best way that we can reduce our energy foot print. 

2015

Specific Initiatives:

• (10) additional Energy-Efficient HKD Snowmaking Guns
• (6) additional SMI Snowmaking Fan Guns to provide even more snowmaking power to the trails with less energy.
• The rental shop has gone to a paperless system to save on paper use.

2014

Specific Initiatives:

• (7) additional Fan Guns from Snow Machines Inc. were added to the snowmaking arsenal to improve snow output. Fan guns require 80-85% less compressed air than other technologies, while putting out more snow in marginal temperature conditions.
• An additional (20) new low energy snowmaking towers from HKD Snowmakers will also be added to the fleet.
• The light bulbs in the lodges have been changed to more LED lighting.
• 90% of the Learn To Ski & Ride Programs are through online reservations to conserve on paper.

2013

Specific Initiatives:

• (6) additional energy-efficient snowmaking guns were added to replace older less energy-efficient snow guns.

2012

Conserving water increases the life of existing septic systems therefore improves wastewater treatment.

Specific Initiatives:

• All of the faucets in the Ski Lodge buildings had 0.5 gpm aerators installed in 2012.  These replacement aerators meet the (ASME) A112.18.1 standard that addresses lavatory faucets intended for public use.
• In 2012 we replaced the shower valve and shower head in 70% of our residential showers. These new shower valves combined with shower heads that have a maximum flow rate of no more than 2.0 gpm will reduce the water used in our residential units. 
• In 2012 all of our urinals were changed from having 1.0 gpf  flushometers to having 0.125 gpf flushometers. This exceeds the EPA WaterSense standard of 0.5 gpf.
• In 2012 we began a program of replacing the toilet with a water saving 1.6 gpf model in each apartment we own each time a tenant moves out.

2010

Pats Peak continues to find ways to help reduce its impact on the environment. New for this season, recycling containers have been installed in the lodges.

Specific Initiatives:

• Recycling has been instituted for: cardboard, plastic bottles, aluminum cans, glass bottles, tin cans.
• Purchased additional energy efficient snowmaking equipment.

2008

Pats Peak continues to make significant investments where appropriate in areas where the best return on investment is received. The resort is working with New Hampshire’s Department of Environmental Services to better highlight areas where the resort can achieve results in its environmental stewardship. This is an ongoing effort whereby all capital expenditures of the resort’s facility get cranked through a “green check” program to determine if the policies/expenditures are consistent with the resort’s long-term plans.

Specific Initiatives:

• Anti-idling procedures implemented.
• Complete analysis of “paper goods” usage at our food service facility.
• Recycle frialator oil and confirm agreements with suppliers that oil is recycled to Biodiesel.
• Purchased snowmaking equipment that uses 90% less energy.
• Improved pumping performance to achieve better snow output at colder temperatures.

2007

Pats Peak continues to be proactive on the environmental front. The role of being a good environmental steward is heavily weighed in all purchasing decisions when practical. However, the resort’s efforts to go green have not really been in sync with the marketplace. Marketplace forces, lack of practical substitutes, or local restrictions have been impediments to improving the resort’s ability to go green. At this point in time, green efforts continue to be subsidized by the resort; however, it is the goal that in the future this process will take on a life of its own and yield better results. Right now the primary focus is on energy conservation. While Pats Peak has achieved much success, it is examining existing equipment and replacing appliances with higher efficiency models. A particular targeted area right now is the food service department. Because the resort has achieved considerable savings in mountain operations areas (lifts, snowmaking, night lighting, and grooming), the next logical step is food service.

Specific Initiatives:

• Placed 10,000 square feet of building space under managed lighting systems were lights shut off after 30 minutes of non-usage.
• Purchased snowmaking equipment that uses 90% less energy.
• Improved pumping performance to achieve better snow output at colder temperatures.

2006

Resort facilities – both base area and mountain – have undergone a major upgrade over the years. As with any business plan, it is a matter of prioritizing the punch list and getting the most bangs for the buck. With that in mind and having addressed most major savings areas, Pats Peak has turned its attention to the lower return items. With all new construction, green options are considered based not on conventional paybacks but on whether they are the right thing to do. This has been the resort attitude going forward. While willing to subsidize the marketplace for green materials in the short term, the goal is to create real competitive, technology-driven markets in the future. Pats Peak now has entered into phase two of a base area expansion. The focus continues to be on water use and heating as the resort continues to upgrade base area facilities. The main objective is concentrating on building shell efficiency. Insulation updates fight the risings costs of heat, and water conservation equipment continues to minimize water use. As Pats Peak modernizes and updates its shell, the resort incurs little to no additional energy costs.

Specific Initiatives:

• Purchased 100% automatic snowmaking equipment that uses 90% less energy then before and constantly adjusts through computer controlled process the snowmaking production curve.
• Improved pumping performance to achieve better snow output at colder temperatures.

2005

Pats Peak, built some 45 years ago, continues to employ the Best Management Practices going forward. The resort initially tackled the big energy users by modernizing its lift, snowmaking, and lighting systems as funds allowed. Pats Peak reconfigured lifts with DC motors and scrutinized operational use more closely. In addition, snowmaking at the resort received an infusion of capital to purchase and install energy efficient HKD snow guns and variable frequency drives (VFDs) for pumps. The resort also converted lighting from quartz halogen to metal halide. Focus has turned to the base facilities, where the resort has paid particular attention to water use and heating as it modernizes its infrastructure. Even though the facilities are larger because of expansion, by modernizing electrical and heating systems, updating insulation, and installing water conservation equipment, Pats Peak incurred no additional energy use.

Specific Initiatives:

• Retired two AC wound motors and installed DC drives. Cut electrical usage by 80%.
• Purchased 15 State of the art HKD Snow towers.
• Added additional pumping capacity.

2004

Pats Peak has been steadily investing in technology that is both earth-friendly and dollar-friendly.

Specific Initiatives:

• The resort signed an agreement with Snow Economics for an additional 100 HKD low-energy snow guns (bringing the total to over 275 towers). The resort’s greatest saving potential is on the energy front, and these snow guns have enabled Pats Peak to grow and increase coverage of its mountain without increasing energy costs.
• Made the HKD snow guns more efficient by installing a baffle valve to further reduce air consumption.
• Establishing Summit Reservoir for snowmaking further reduces energy consumption, as the resort will be using gravity instead of horsepower to increase pressures in the pipelines. The resort replenishes the reservoir during off-peak seasons.
• Pats Peak has retired two old diesel air compressors and has switched to electric air.