In 2016 Vermont ski resorts invested nearly $15 million to upgrade their snowmaking equipment, thanks in part to an innovative rebate offer from Efficiency Vermont. Efficiency Vermont's Great Snow Gun Roundup which supported the purchase of approximately 2,300 new low energy snow guns for the season, and in return the resorts donated 1,800 older model snow guns to scrap. The snow gun exchange program helped the state's ski industry reduce carbon emissions and save $2 million a year in energy costs.
Jim Merriam, executive director of Efficiency Vermont, said he hoped to replace 3,000 older snow guns with ones that are 85 to 90 percent more efficient. Funding for the program came from the surcharge utility customers in the state pay to support Efficiency Vermont. While some may balk at having to subsidize snowmaking upgrades for private ski resorts, Merriam said the energy savings benefits everyone, since we all share the same power grid.
Efficiency Vermont said they counted 3,000 -3,300 older technology guns at the beginning of the summer, and about 1,800 -2,000 of those were scrapped. The estimated annual energy savings from this swap is equivalent to saving enough electricity to supply approximately 1,500 homes for one full year, and enough diesel saved to heat 340 homes annually. These new guns are not only saving tons of energy for resorts, which will allow them to rely on less power and lower emissions, but they also create better quality snow surfaces and enable resorts to blow snow at higher temperatures, extending the ski season for winter revelers everywhere.
"An industry-wide upgrade in snowmaking efficiency of this magnitude has never been seen before," said Parker Riehle, former Vermont Ski Areas Association President. "We are very proud of our partnership with Efficiency Vermont and that our resorts are leading the way in switching to low energy technology.” To help ski areas determine the efficient snow guns that would best meet their needs, Efficiency Vermont engineers conducted side-by-side testing of fifteen different models, tracking data on their air, water, energy consumption, and overall performance. Modern, energy efficient snow guns require up to 85% less energy to operate than older snow gun models, and the new snow guns being installed this year represent the most advanced.
Efficiency Vermont donated proceeds from the scrapped metal of old snow guns to Ski Vermont's Learn to Turn program, which encourages people to embrace winter and try skiing through programs such as Learn to Ski month, the Fifth Grade Passport, and Bring a Friend challenge.
Efficiency Vermont was created by the Vermont Legislature and the Vermont Public Service Board to help all Vermonters reduce energy costs, strengthen the economy, and protect Vermont's environment. For more information, contact Efficiency Vermont at 888-921-5990 or visit the site. Photo: Snow guns at Rikert Nordic Center in Ripton, VT.