Industry News
Brains
With the ski season in the northern hemisphere winding down, it’s important to reflect on the wonderful memories and great times had crushing powder, landing new tricks, or just getting turns in. Technology has provided the ski industry with countless tools to track some of these metrics. An often-forgotten metric is our carbon footprint. Powder Nomad has created a carbon dioxide (CO2) calculating tool to track your carbon footprint throughout the season.
- Related: Arapahoe Basin, CO, Achieves Net-Zero Carbon Footprint Goal Months Ahead of Schedule – SnowBrains
Powder Nomad tracks carbon emissions using two major inputs. The first is the method of travel whether that is by car, train, bus, or plane. The second is what activity y0u did in the mountains which could be skiing at the resort, riding a snowcat, a snowmobile, or a helicopter.
This is how Powder Nomad calculates emissions in their model:
“Our carbon calculator provides an estimate of the carbon footprint associated with your ski trips. The calculations are based on extensive research from leading government agencies and universities.”
“To prioritize usability and avoid overwhelming detail, we’ve streamlined the process. Instead of requiring specifics such as the exact type of helicopter or vehicle, we use average values that reflect a typical experience. This approach ensures you can quickly and easily understand the environmental impact.”
According to Greenly, the average American produces 16 tons per year of CO2. To put that into perspective, it would take traveling between Denver and Winter Park Ski Resort in Colorado 23 times to equate to a one-ton carbon footprint. Bon Pote, an independent environmental media, analyzed the carbon footprint of skiing and found that roughly 52 percent of the carbon footprint of skiing is from transportation.
While carbon footprint might not be a fun or exciting analytic to track this ski season, it is important to understand our impact on the environment. Balance the joy of skiing with sustainable practices such as carpooling to help mitigate this impact. Show Mother Earth some love this year.
