MMSA is dedicated to utilizing the best available
information and technology relative to environmental protection and
human health. Established targets and objectives will be
regularly reviewed and updated to help ensure continual
improvement.
Energy Conservation and use of Renewable Energy
MMSA is committed to continually improving its energy
consumption habits. MMSA's facilities and services are quite large,
and every year MMSA brings on new projects and new capacities, and
all of them create additional energy consumption. Over a decade
ago, MMSA realized that if it did not get a handle on its energy
consumption, things would quickly get out of hand. So, to track and
control its energy consumption, MMSA set the year 2000 as a
baseline, and then set about seeking efficiencies wherever
possible. As a result of the knowledge gained and the solutions
implemented, MMSA has significantly reduced its electric energy
consumption and propane consumption against the year 2000 baseline,
despite the fact that MMSA has continued to bring new
energy-consuming services on line.
MMSA's success was achieved by getting control over MMSA's
facilities, which include over 100 structures totaling about
600,000 square feet. While to some this may have looked like an
insurmountable obstacle, MMSA's Energy Manager Bob Bradbury focused
on the countless available opportunities for improvement. Bradbury
conducted energy audits of each building to examine construction,
occupancy patterns, user habits and existing energy systems. Bob
then produced a 125-page conservation plan identifying
inefficiencies, solutions and implementation timelines. Solutions
ranged from the very simple, like replacing standard light bulbs
with compact fluorescents, to more complex fixes, including
installation of state of the art building control systems, as well
as monitoring systems designed to integrate and track major energy
consuming systems. Through real-time connections with Mammoth's
intranet, facility managers can now see and control energy use. The
difference is remarkable.
On a different but parallel track, Mammoth is driving to reduce
the company's use of fossil fuels. A significant percentage of the
resort's purchased electricity comes from renewable resources. Some
power and heat backup also comes from solar thermal air panels, and
photovoltaic cells power the Village Gondola's communication
system. Finally, MMSA continues to replace aging vehicles in its
motor pool with new, fuel efficient and hybrid vehicles.
Waste Reduction/Reduce/Reuse/Recycle
In 2004, MMSA partnered with the Town of Mammoth Lakes and Mono
County to successfully apply for grant funding to start a solid
waste recycling program. By using a public-private partnership to
gain traction, MMSA helped create the first successful recycling
program in the Eastern Sierra. MMSA now annually recycles over
130,000 pounds of glass, plastic and aluminum. Waste reduction
strategies extend beyond the guest base- over the last few years,
MMSA prioritized recycling the contents of all of MMSA's
"Boneyards", collections of materials no longer used or
functioning. As a result of the Boneyard reclamation projects,
thousands of pounds of scrap metal from both June and Mammoth were
sold as reusable scrap metal, and all of the old Chair 9 seats were
sold and/or donated for new re-uses as benches and porch
swings.
Green Product Purchasing
MMSA consciously partners with companies and suppliers that
offer greener products and purchasing options. The most visible
touch-point for this initiative is in our food and beverage
division. MMSA's primary food service provider, US Foods, supplies
compostable and/or recyclable products for all of the resorts
coffee cups and to-go containers.
