12 Tips On How To Have A Green Ski Vacation

Posted At : July 9, 2007 11:58 AM
Related Categories: Green

catapillarGreen is the new black. Aware people realize that much of our lifestyle is having a negative impact on the environment, particularly travel.

Luckily, many of these same people want to do something about it. They're willing to adjust their habits in favour of proactive solutions that favour sustainability.

I've gone and collected a number of these tips (along with sources) that you can apply directly to your next ski resort vacation, in both summer and winter. Enjoy!

1. Go Carbon Neutral

"Carbon neutral" has become the new buzz word. Increasing numbers of us are understanding the damage done by the greenhouse gases that are created by our getting from Point A to Point B.

And, also increasingly, we are using carbon-offset programs to balance the impact of our travel. The best programs are those which fund cleaner, greener energy supplies from wind, solar and other renewables. (source)

2. Support the Locals

Support independently-owned hotels, inns and B&Bs, rather than staying at the multinational chains. Eat at local restaurants, shop at markets and use public transportation and/or take walking tours. (source)

Bonus Tip: Book your accommodation owner-direct and support local homeowners!

3. Leave Only Footprints

If you're hiking, canoeing, or otherwise spending time in wilderness areas, take everything out that you brought with you. Try to avoid the use of disposable plates, mug, toilet articles, canned drinks and plastic bottles. (source)

4. Reign In Your Pet

Be careful where you allow your pet to roam to make the least impact possible on the terrain. In many areas, the impact may be merely cosmetic, but you can also carelessly crush nesting birds, lichens and other vegetation, or compact the soil. (source)

5. Forget the Bottled Water

Bottled water is healthy water -- right? That's what the marketers would have us believe. In reality, bottled water is just water. It's costly, wasteful, and distracts from the brass ring of public health: the construction and maintenance of safe municipal water systems. (source)

6. Bring Your Own Toiletries

Rather than buying travel-size toiletries or using the ones provided by the hotel, fill small reusable containers with shampoo, soap and other necessities for your suitcase.(source)

7. Pack Your Own Reusable Bags

Take along plastic bags to collect your empty beverage containers until you reach a recycling bin. They can also be used to separate dirty shoes or a wet bathing suit from the rest of your things when you pack up to go home. (source)

8. Travel Light

Travel light, especially if you're driving to your destination. Hauling an extra 100 pounds can reduce fuel economy by up to 2 percent. Keep baggage inside the car, rather than on the roof or trunk, to minimize drag and increase gas mileage. (source)

9. Recharge Your Batteries

When traveling or trekking in sensitive places use a solar powered battery charger for cameras, ipods or global positioning systems to avoid wasting batteries. (source)

10. Don't Hire A Car

Even if you can't avoid taking the plane to get to your destination, not hiring a car when you arrive will greatly improve your carbon footprint. source)

11. Walk, Take the Shuttle, Or Ride A Bike

On a bike you can take in the scenery and easily stop to take in the view. You can hear and smell the countryside - something you miss if you are sealed in a car. Plus, burning all that energy during the day gives you a hearty appetite for local food in the evenings. (source)

12. Dirty water sports

Boating season may feel too short, but it doesn't take long for the environmental impact to add up. Fisheries and Oceans Canada. estimates that nearly one billion litres of unburned oil and gas are discharged into North American waters every year-that's 15 times the Exxon Valdez spill. (source)

Do you have any tips of your own? Share in the comments!

Comments (0) | Print | Send | Bookmark This

The Himalayas: Home Of Snow, Sherpas, And A New Mega-Resort?

Posted At : June 28, 2007 9:32 AM
Related Categories: Green

himalayasWhat does Edmund Hillary think? Plans are now well underway for a mega-resort in the nether regions of the Himalayas.

The $350 million project, financed by Alfred Ford, great great grandson of US automobile pioneer Henry Ford, is ambitious as it sounds.

Here's the official word from their website:

Himalayan Ski Village is a proposed eco-friendly mixed-use resort community, providing ski slopes and other mountain sports facilities in the Himalayan region. The Project, developed by Himalayan Ski Village Private Limited involves development of hospitality, vacation homes and entertainment facilities of a world class standard on 115 acres of land in the hilly terrains of the Kullu Valley.

The layout appears to contain all the usual upscale amenities:

The Project involves the development of 700 Hotel rooms, restaurants along with an 'Indian Village' shopping experience; a 20,000 sq ft convention facility and a high end spa; and an entertainment/performing arts center.

And who are they hoping will visit?

The Project targets the domestic tourists of India, as well as international visitors from the U.S., Europe, Japan, Korea, Australia Southeast Asia and the Middle East.

If you're interested in buying in:

The Company expects to commence the presale of chalets and condo hotel rooms by the end of 2007, the first hotel to be opened in 2009 and for full commercial of operations by early 2011.

himalaya2Understandably, there are some environmental and cultural concerns with the mega-project. I'm not an expert on the Himalayan eco-system, but it's likely the resort will have a serious impact on the area, along with everything else that goes into catering towards visitors.

The locals have already staged a protest, stating it's unfair for the government to give land away to a foreign company in the name of development.

I browsed deeper into The Himalayan Ski Village's website to see if I could find how they assuage these environmental and social fears.

Unfortunately, I didn't find much beyond a few nice photographs and some vague jargon:

We see ourselves as a company with an environmental ethos. Part and parcel of our philosophy as an ecologically and socially responsible company in the 21st century is understanding our responsibilities, to the physical landscape, to the communities we are guests in, to our own guests.

Only time will tell if the resort can manage to balance profits with sustainability. If anything, it's a microcosm of the challenge of the 21st century.

Based on my own experiences in Costa Rica, who have a mature eco-tourism sector, I believe it can be done.

Comments (0) | Print | Send | Bookmark This

Green Office: AlluraDirect.com Hires Worms, Reduces Waste By 75%

Posted At : June 11, 2007 9:14 AM
Related Categories: Green

greenDepending on the city you currently call home, recycling can be easy...or extremely difficult. Luckily, Vancouver has been fairly progressive on offering a range of curbside recycling services - which to me is the easiest way to get people to participate.

Here at AlluraDirect.com, we've been able to reduce our waste significantly through the 3 R's: reducing the amount of materials we buy, reusing things like paper and plastic bags, and finally, recycling most everything else, like cans, glass containers, and packaging.

I thought that was certainly pretty good. But in our ongoing effort to do our part for the environment, my boss Sue upped the ante and introduced the new office compost bin. So now, along with my regular coworkers, we have a variety of diligent worms working out back, churning through our organic waste.

Talk about dedicated employees! They work all the time, don't drink coffee, and are happy to be paid in coffee grinds and banana peels.

Comments (0) | Print | Send | Bookmark This