Continuing the Commitment to ‘Doing Good’
In 2022, Steamboat and Alterra announced their multi-year sustainability and community outreach plan, “Doing Good, It’s In Our Nature”. Over the course of the last two years, Steamboat Resort has rolled out a number of exciting and nuanced sustainability initiatives and community/social commitments. An example of this is the resorts partnerships, like the one with SOS Outreach, which is dedicated to creating a more diverse and inclusive winter sports community in Routt and Moffat counties. In the 2022/2023 season, Steamboat Resort provided lift tickets, rental gear as well as lessons to over 130 kids who would have otherwise been unable to experience the sport.
In other efforts to invest in the Steamboat Springs community, the resort recognized the childcare crisis in Routt County and the need for additional childcare services and has since debuted its employer-based childcare facility. This resort initiative has been specifically geared towards benefitting the families in Steamboat Springs and the valley.
In addition to these great community-based initiatives that have been started in the last couple years, Steamboat Ski and Resort Corporation has some new and exciting sustainability plans that have either just been completed or are currently in the works. One of these initiatives was undertaken when The Range Food and Drink Hall was finished this past summer. Prior to it’s opening, The Range was recognized and awarded with an LEED certification.
LEED Certification: LEED Silver for The Range
What is LEED certified?:
- LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. It is a 3rd party certification program for sustainable building. The LEED certification program provides a framework for a “healthy, highly efficient, and cost-saving green buildings” which supports reduced carbon emissions and a healthy environment for guests and employees.
- LEED certification is ranked – base certification, silver, gold, and platinum.
Certification highlights:
- 70% waste diversion rate during construction – recycling steel and other metals, concrete, and cardboard.
- Water conservation features throughout – toilets, sinks, dishwashers, etc.
- Energy efficient heating and cooling equipment and the ability to monitor ad adjust our energy use
- Low carbon and low chemical content in the building materials
Other cool features:
- A highly energy efficient “steam” fireplace
- The heat that is pulled to cool the ice rink is used to melt the ice and snow off of the Zamboni, which is all electric!
- Our support of the Yampa River Fund provided us credits for supporting habitat preservation and is highlighted on the tables at the Range.
In these ways as well as others, Steamboat Ski and Resort Corporation is doing everything in its power to enact plans and projects that value members of the valley and beyond as well as look to combat the climate crisis that our skiing communities are facing. As the resort progresses through the end of its Full Steam Ahead initiative and into the future, there will continue to be new community and sustainability developments made and these will continue to fall into place and provide significant and impactful changes for our climate and the community.