Vermont ski resorts test energy efficiency of snowmaking systems
Thursday, July 16, 2009 at 07:49 PM
Have I told you how much I love Efficiency Vermont? I personally have benefited from their energy efficiency programs and rebates (yes, rebates!). Now Vermont ski resorts can get into the act by testing the efficiency of their snowmaking systems.
Efficiency Vermont offers free testing so resort managers can see which snowmaking technologies are the biggest energy hogs. Then, hopefully, they will upgrade to systems that use less energy and still churn out the snow.
George Lawrence of Efficiency Vermont told “VSAA Reports”:
“Resort operators are able to measure the performance of guns in their existing arsenals and can even compare other approaches by getting loaners of different kinds of guns. We bring the testing equipment to the mountain, set it up and work with resort personnel and snow gun suppliers to assess what approaches will deliver savings while maintaining or improving snowmaking performance.”
The resorts can test different technologies in their own conditions in real time. Very cool.
Efficiency Vermont reported that Mount Snow recently installed 251 new, energy-efficient fan guns and they improved the quality of their snow, eliminated the use of diesel compressors and use less electricity while pumping water.
Ask the management at your favorite Vermont resort if they’ve tried the free Efficiency Vermont service yet. Apparently 10 resorts made use of the program last season.
Photo courtesy of Mount Snow.
Filed in: Alpine / downhill skiing, Mount Snow
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1. Tom Horrocks | Monday, July 27, 2009 at 12:16 PM
We have offered snowgun testing here at Killington for a number of years with EV. In fact, the increased use of Low Energy snow guns has reduced Killington’s diesel consumption by more than 30 percent and electricity by 25 percent over the past three years.
2. Vermont ski resorts | Tuesday, March 23, 2010 at 06:08 AM
It continues its emphasis on high quality snowmaking and terrain conditions with off season infrastructure improvements to its snowmaking system and additions to its fleet of groomers. This will help the mountain's 251 new-technology fan guns do what they do best, cover absolutely everything in sight with the fluffy white stuff we all love.