Copper Mountain trying to clean up its act

Copper Mountain ski area in Colorado released the Colorado ski and snowboard resort’s 2008 Environmental Report on Tuesday, highlighting Copper’s existing and upcoming environmental initiatives, including the installation of a 4.2 kilowatt photovoltaic system at the Transportation Center, Green Globes certification of the new Woodward at Copper facility and the creation of an employee-based fund to support local youth environmental programs.

Interestingly, Copper didn’t mention that  last year it took top spot in the Ski Area Citizen’s Coalition’s Worst Ten Ski Areas on the Ski Area Environmental Scorecard.

However, Copper Environmental Manager Jen Schenk said, “The theme of the report this year is simple – we can all take action in our own lives to get involved in protecting the environment” Schenk suggests that Copper welcomes your participation in this effort, “Copper simplified the 2008 Environmental Report this year by adding some tips on how guests can ‘Get Involved’ in helping us protect the environment.”

From the larger perspective (transportation!), Copper will be offering preferred parking in the Alpine Lot for those carpooling, with guests enjoying VIP parking close to the shuttle buses and a short walk back to their car at the end of the day. Guests will also be given bumper stickers encouraging carpooling. Right now this program is for “select weekends this season.” Maybe now is the time to “get involved” and ask Copper to make this reward for carpooling a permanent thing?

Tags: Colorado, green building, How to Ski Green, Ski Resorts