Sustainability
Protecting the land that makes Taos Ski Valley possible is not seperate from community investment, it is the foundation of it.
ONGOING INITIATIVES
Energy Efficiency
Ecosystem Health & Fire Mitigation
Waste Diversion
OUR COMMITMENT TO CLIMATE ACTION
Taos Ski Valley has been committed to measuring and reducing its carbon emissions since 2015 through the NSAA Climate Challenge.
CARBON EMISSION REDUCTION PROGRESS
Taos Ski Valley uses the following strategies to reduce our carbon emissions:
- Energy Infrastructure: complete upgrades and preventative maintenance to our electrical infrastructure
- Renewable Electricity: obtain 100% renewable electricity supply through grid renewables, microgrid, and on-site renewable energy projects
- Building Efficiency Retrofits: achieve annual energy reduction in existing buildings
- Building Design Guidelines: reduce carbon emissions in new construction through design guidelines
- Targeted Electrification: electrify all on-mountain buildings
- Vehicles & Equipment: transitioning to carbon-free alternatives
- Scope 3 Emissions: ongoing efforts to divert waste from the landfill, incentivize the use of public transportation by guests and staff, and streamline supply-chain management
2025
- Increased renewable diesel adoption. TSV burned over 32,000 gallons of R99 fuel in diesel equipment reducing emissions by 75% for every gallon used compared to fossil diesel fuel.
- Installed 14 new Red E electric vehicle charging stations that offer a better user experience and slightly faster charging.
- Replaced old HVAC thermostats with new Wi-Fi enabled smart thermostats to reduce natural gas and propane usage and associated emissions.
2024
- Deployed Prinoth Husky eMotion 100% Electric Snow Groomer
- Began a trial of renewable diesel (RD99) in on mountain snow groomers and equipment.
2023
- Purchased 3 electric snowblowers.
- Replaced 9 snowmobiles with electric snowmobiles.
- Utilized a hybrid Pistenbully snowcat which has a 20% fuel savings over traditional diesel snow cats.
- All resort buildings are undergoing an intensive energy audit to optimize building efficiency.
- Recycled 2,067 Lbs. of Aluminum, 18,600 Lbs. of glass, 30,056 Lbs. of cardboard, 215 Lbs. of batteries and 828 Lbs. of plastic.
- Composted over 44,000 Lbs. of food waste.
- Partnered with Watchwire, an energy management platform, to manage and optimize energy consumption and costs to drive informed decisions that will reduce the resort's carbon emissions and environmental impact.
2022
- Kit Carson Electric Co-op, our electric provider, acheived 100% daytime solar-powered energy.
- Added additional EV chargers to increase total number for public use.
- Diverted 46,976 pounds of waste from the landfill.
2021
- Achieved CarbonNuetral® certification by Climate Impact Partners.
- Added relevant Scope 3 measurement to our greenhouse gas accounting.
2020
- Created a food waste diversion program utilizing an in-vessel composter that composts the majority of food waste at TAOS Ski Valley.
2019
- Installed EV chargers for public use in the parking lot.
- Installed solar-powered motion lights in the parking lots.
- Converted 70% of our food waste into soil amendment through a food dehydrator system reducing methane gas emissions.
2018
- Automated portions of our snowmaking system to reduce energy and water consumption.
- Installed occupancy sensors to administrative offices to reduce energy consumption.
2017
- Joined a movement: On February 7, 2017, we became the world’s first certified B Corporation ski resort, thereby committing to the highest standards of transparency, inclusion, and respect for all. As a foundation for this commitment, we rewrote our bylaws to focus on our stakeholders instead of just our shareholders.
- The Blake achieved Silver LEED certification.
- Installed 2 EV chargers in The Blake's parking garage.
- Started a free staff shuttle to reduce the number of cars on the road.
RECONGNITIONS
GOLDEN EAGLE AWARDS
Established in 1992, the NSAA Golden Eagle Awards for Environmental Excellence recognize outstanding sustainability leadership among North American ski areas. Taos Ski Valley has been honored with the following awards:
- Overall Environmental Excellence - 2017
- Innovation in Sustainability - 2019
- Climate Change Impact - 2021
- Community and Partnerships - 2024
NATIONAL SKI AREAS ASSOCIATION SUSTAINABLE SLOPES - ClIMATE ADVOCACY
Taos has achieved excellence in Climate Advocacy.
This ski area has supported climate policy and innovation solutions that further the transition to a clean energy economy.
December 26, 2022
NATIONAL SKI AREAS ASSOCIATION SUSTAINABLE SLOPES - ClIMATE ACTION
Taos has achieved excellence in Climate Action.
This ski area has successfully tracked and reduced carbon emissions.
December 26, 2022
CERTIFIED CARBON NEUTRAL®
As a step towards NetZero by 2030, Taos Ski Valley became Certified CarbonNeutral® in August of 2022 utilizing carbon offsets in its portfolio of carbon reduction strategies.
While we agree that solely purchasing carbon offsets is not a sustainable long-term strategy, it is a tool that we can utilize to better understand our carbon emissions and fund projects that are environmentally and socially responsible.
Taos Ski Valley has been certified by Climate Impact Partners as a Carbon Neutral company by using high-quality certified carbon credits that have been selected through Climate Impact Partners based on the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals, price, and location. Our carbon footprint will be recalculated on an ongoing annual basis with fewer offset purchases each year until we reach Net Zero.
Sustainability FAQs
OUR CARBON OFFSET PORTFOLIO
Blackfeet Indian Nation Forest, USA
United States
Bondhu Chula Stoves, Bangladesh
Bangladesh