Les Arcs plans to reduce energy use this winter by 10%
Les Arcs has always been ahead of the game as far as sustainability is concerned. Already awarded the ‘Flocon Vert’ accreditation and in the course of attaining B-Corps accreditation, the resort has also announced measures to reduce the resort’s energy usage this winter by 10%. Ski lifts (6.5% reduction in overall resort energy consumption) – ‘Eco-driving’...
Record ice loss by Glacier Blanc in Ecrins National Park
No one can be unaware that last summer was devastating for the world’s glaciers. We reported previously on the record melt in the Pyrenees. New data from the Glacier Blanc in Pays des Ecrins glacier backs this up. According to this research, 2022 represented not just the lowest winter snowfall for 23 years, but also...
Compagnie des Alpes converts all piste bashers to biofuel
If reducing the carbon footprint of your ski holiday is important to you, the obvious first step is to choose an alternative to flying, but you can also make a difference by choosing a resort that has high sustainability standards. The Compagnie des Alpes (CdA) has taken a huge step to reducing the emissions generated...
Serre Chevalier given energy efficiency award by EU
The French resort of Serre Chevalier has been recognised by the European Union for its outstanding use of renewable energy. The Energy Efficiency Prize was awarded by the EU to the lift company Serre Chevalier Vallee Domaine Skiable for its ‘EnR’ project. Consistent implementation of PV solar panels, wind turbines and use of hydroelectricity throughout...
New PV Solar Panels for Switzerland
A combination of new government measures and private investment initiatives will lead to significantly more solar power capacity in Switzerland. Earlier this month (October 2022), the upper house of the Swiss parliament voted in favour of legislation ruling that from 01 January 2024 all new buildings with an area of over 300m2 must be equipped...
Case Study: Driving To The Alps In An Electric Car
With the adoption of electric vehicles increasing fast, more and more British skiers will be driving to the Alps in an electric car. Iain Martin, founder of Ski Flight Free, drove to Zermatt at the end of August 2022 in a Tesla Model Y to see what it’s like on a long-distance journey in an...
8 Ideas to Improve Sustainability in Travel from the Skift/McKinsey Report
The recent joint research carried out between McKinsey & Company and Skift Research contained some valuable ideas for improving sustainability in travel. The report sets the scene by noting that global travel and tourism accounts for 8-11% of global emissions and that travel activity is expected to soar by 8% from 2016 to 2030. It...
Cool Bus updates their electric fleet of transfer vehicles in Alps
Transfer company Cool Bus have confirmed that they are updating their fleet of electric vehicles After six successful years using Tesla Model X’s for transfers to ski resorts in the Tarentaise valley the vehicles have clocked up nearly 600,000km of zero emission transport. New Mercedes Electric Minibuses This winter the cars will be supplemented by...
New Electric Snow Groomer for Val Cenis
Val Cenis remains in the vanguard of ski resorts focussing on sustainability. This winter the Savoyard ski area are adding their first 100% electric snow groomer (piste basher to the Brits) to their fleet. The Prinoth Husky eMotion will be used to prepare their cross country pistes, tobogganning areas and pedestrian paths. Three hour battery life...
Travelski Express returns for 2022/23 with new destinations
Despite a challenging first season, Travelski Express have confirmed that they will be continuing their direct train service from London to France for the 2022/23 winter season. Due to engineering works, the outbound train will continue to depart on Friday evening, arriving Saturday morning, with the return train leaving on Sunday morning, arriving back into...
What is the actual carbon footprint of a train?
We are indebted to our friends at Midnight Trains for this analysis, first published on their website, but so compelling that it deserves to be shared. Let’s weigh up the stats First up, according to the French government, the transport sector generates more greenhouse gases than any other, representing 31% of all emissions. Drilling down...
Brèche de Roland: 2010 v. 2022
When Greta Thunberg told us that ‘Our house is on fire‘ in 2019, it seemed like she was talking figuratively. Just three years later, it seems literal. We have already seen glaciers collapsing in Italy and closing early for summer in France. This trend is evident in the French Pyrénées at the Brèche de Roland....
