Snowbird's Play Forever commitment.
"Climate in Utah is changing rapidly. We need to take deliberate action now."
— Dave Fields, President and General Manager, Snowbird
Want to keep skiing? Us too.
At Snowbird, we intend to Play Forever. Through our Play Forever corporate responsibility commitment, we are committed to protecting the environment and supporting our communities. We've made great strides toward protecting the long-term viability of the mountain adventure community and the planet, but more can be done. Ultimately, the soul of our sport depends on the health of our planet, and protecting the environment is core to who we are. Climate change is real, and it is affecting the ski industry. It is imperative that we do our part to make decisions that help the environment and maintain our cold, white winters.
We believe we all have a responsibility to do everything we can to keep the places we love to ski, ride and hike around. Every day, every season, we're making measurable improvements to our operations by reducing our waste and carbon emissions, and improving air and water quality. We share our mission to Play Forever with everyone who comes more alive in the mountains or while at play, and encourage and educate others so they can make meaningful changes too.
Snowbird is an awarded industry leader, setting the standard for environmental stewardship, education and advocacy. In 2016, we welcomed the first Director of Sustainability to our management team ensuring we practice what we preach.
Introducing Co-Gen
The new cogeneration facility is the latest in a series of major sustainability initiatives undertaken at Snowbird. What is Snowbird's Cogeneration Plant (Co-Gen)? Co-Gen is a high-efficiency energy system that produces electricity from natural gas with its main goal being a reduction of energy and heat loss. Snowbird's new and vastly improved Co-Gen plant will be up and running soon, replacing the current system that has been in operation since 1987.
Snowbird's Awards
Snowbird has won dozens of state and national awards in environmental sustainability, including being named one of Outside Online's "America's 10 Most Eco-Friendly Ski Resorts”.
Air Quality Improvements
Snowbird strives to improve air quality in Little Cottonwood Canyon, the state of Utah and ski resorts as a whole through electric vehicles, tree planting and a national ride sharing app.
Watershed Improvements
Snowbird works to not only conserve water, but also to improve the watershed and restore water quality in the surrounding areas.
Waste Reduction
Snowbird is deeply committed to reducing its carbon footprint and unnecessary waste with improvements to our cogeneration plant and programs for mining restoration and recycling, along with water fill stations and energy efficient lighting.
Partnerships
Snowbird partners with some influential organizations to help educate and drive improvement around climate change and environmental issues.