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AWARDS

NSAA AWARDS RECAP: THE BEST OF 2018/19

BY ADRIENNE SAIA ISAAC, DIRECTOR OF MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS

his year’s NSAA awards were marked by all things new— the local community. Taos’s food waste has been reduced
Tnew faces on the stage, a new award, and new innovations by 75 percent in the first two months of its use. For signif-
in ski area marketing, safety, sustainability, growing the sport icant investment in a new technology to reduce its foot-
and industry impact. We’ll recap our award winners here, and print and simultaneously enrich the local community, Taos
give insights on what made these programs the best of the sea- Ski Valley has been named the winner of the Innovation in
son. Congratulations to all of our award winners and nominees Sustainability Award.
—we admire your leadership and your dedication to elevating
the industry! Climate Change Impact Award

Golden Eagle Awards for Sustainability

SPONSORED BY TECHNOALPIN

Innovation in Sustainability Award

Win Smith, President and CEO of Sugarbush Resort, VT, and Tyler and Brian
Fairbank of The Fairbank Group/Jiminy Peak, MA, were named co-recipients of
the Climate Change Impact Award.

Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort, Massachusetts
Jiminy Peak was ahead of the curve when the resort commit-
ted to generating its own on-site renewable energy. The resort
was a pioneer when it constructed its Zephyr wind turbine in
2007. In 2018/19, Jiminy Peak reached its goal of running
on 100 percent renewable energy across its resort operations—
a major accomplishment, and a wonderful result for the time,
effort and financial investment in the project.
Michael Bower of Taos Ski Valley, NM, is honored by NSAA’s Adrienne Saia Isaac Now, that turbine is joined by a 2.3 MW solar installa-
for the ski area’s commitment to innovation in sustainability.
tion and a 400kw cogen installation; these renewable energy
Taos Ski Valley, New Mexico sources greatly reduce the carbon footprint of the resort.
Taos Ski Valley is a leader in environmental excellence; the Other projects, including lighting retrofits, introduction
only B-Corp certified ski area continues to identify areas of of waste oil heaters, and upgrades to its snowmaking and
improvement and take action. Its latest project targets the grooming fleets, have helped Jiminy reduce its overall energy
reduction of food waste at the ski area. usage by 35 percent. For its continuing efforts to be pioneers
Taos invested $50,000 in a mechanized dehydrator to in renewable energy, Jiminy Peak has been named a winner
collect food waste and quickly turn it into viable, nutrient-rich of the Climate Change Impact Award.
soil amendment. The dehydrator can process up to 250 lbs.
of food waste in 10-15 hours, resulting in a product that is Sugarbush Resort, Vermont
75 percent of the original waste. This process requires no Sugarbush has invested $19 million in sustainability projects
fresh water, no enzymes and no bacteria. since 2013, focusing on retrofits, upgrades and renewable
In keeping with their Ski the Change ethos, the ski area energy solutions. The ski area has reduced their energy
then donates this soil amendment to local farms, benefiting consumption by over 32 percent since 2013 by identifying

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