This summer Bromley Mountain in southern Vermont installed 10 new high-efficiency snowguns and fine-tuned its air compressors to make snow more efficiently. Those improvements won the iconic eastern resort a 2017 Energy Leadership Award – Project of the Year for Innovation, from Efficiency Vermont, which advances sustainable energy solutions for all Vermont homeowners and businesses.
Bromley received the award for adopting nearly every energy efficiency technology in snowmaking, including recently adding SnowGun Technology’s Sledgehammer low-energy snowmaking guns to their arsenal. In fact, Bromley has completed 27 energy-efficiency projects since 2000, according to Karen Glitman, director of Efficiency Vermont.
“Bromley has demonstrated an impressive commitment to efficiency improvements for the past 17 years,” said Glitman.
“Their success serves as an excellent example of how sustained engagement and innovation can deliver results that reduce costs, strengthen operations, and enhance customer experience.”
Said Rick Goddard, Director of Mountain Operations for Bromley Mountain:
“Running a ski resort is an energy-intensive business. Nonetheless, Bromley has demonstrated that operating lifts, snowmaking and base lodges can be accomplished in an energy-efficient manner. It’s not only the right thing to do, but saves the resort money as well.”
Adds Bromley’s President, Bill Cairns, “Efficiency Vermont showed us how new technology could not only save energy, but reduce costs as well. We’ve made the most out of the rebates and incentives that Efficiency Vermont has offered over the last 17 years, with Bromley getting about as much out of the program as we paid into our electric bill,” said Cairns.
“Increasing energy efficiency benefits the company by reducing operating costs overall, while helping to control prices for guests. The rebates and incentives also encouraged us to become early adopters of new technology such as SEI,” Cairns said.
The Snowmaking Energy Index (SEI) is a number that allows snowmaking departments to monitor and measure the energy consumption status of the snowmaking system, and adjust parameters (air, water, number of snowguns) for maximum effective use of available energy. Bromley was one of the first wintersports resorts in the nation to adopt this system.
Efficiency Vermont was created by the Vermont Legislature and is regulated by 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 www.efficiencyvermont.com.
The Fairbank Group, LLC, based at Jiminy Peak and co-owned by the father-son team of Brian Fairbank and Tyler Fairbank, manages and oversees a group of businesses that include the ski resorts Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort, Cranmore Mountain Resort and Bromley Mountain, as well as SnowGun Technologies, EOS Ventures, Bullwheel Productions and other endeavors. For more information visit Fairbankgrp.com.