some are the third generation of their
families to work here. The interdependence
of the community led to
our values of inclusion, sustainability
and respect.”
Using business as a
Force for Good™
All these successes originated through
the resort’s Taos Verde (Green Taos)
Initiative with its five core areas of
focus: energy efficiency, land stewardship,
efficient water use, responsible
waste management and community
engagement. From its inception, a
comprehensive environmental commitment
was made to reduce overall
energy consumption and greenhouse
gas emission by 20 percent by 2020.
Already, from 2014 to 2016, Taos Ski
Valley recorded an overall reduction
of 10.9 percent – that’s 340 metric
tonnes of carbon dioxide not going
into the atmosphere.
In recognition of its work towards
sustainable slopes and positive climate
change, Taos Ski Valley received
the NSAA Golden Eagle Award for Environmental
Excellence in 2017. In
February of the same year, Taos Ski
Valley became the first ski resort in
the world to become a Certified B
Corporation® (B Corp™) by demonstrating
its commitment to deliberate
and thoughtful social, economic
and environmental actions.
Today there are more than 2,100 certified
B Corps from 50 countries in over
130 industries – these are for-profit
companies certified by the non-profit
B Lab to meet rigorous standards of social
and environmental performance,
accountability and transparency.
As Boulware said, “David Norden,
our CEO, came on in July of 2016, and
he was the main driver behind us pursuing
our B Corp certification. Being a
part of the B Corp community allows
us to learn from other B Corp businesses
how to improve our business practices;
how to be better. Taos is ‘B-ing’
the change we want to see in the world
and especially in our industry.”
Looking towards the future, Taos Ski
Valley will continue to expand across
all the seasons with self-guided feebased
mountain biking trails, many
hiking trails including the new Wheeler
Peak trail that climbs to 13,131 feet
above sea level – the highest point in
New Mexico. All this has been and will
be achieved within the most comprehensive
forest management initiatives.
At the main base area, the resort hosts
cultural events, music festivals, community
development programs and
children’s weekend day camps.
“We’re looking forward to being a
part of the renaissance of Taos,” Boulware
said. “And we’re doing it in a really
thoughtful and deliberate way to make
sure it’s done well.”
Taos Ski Valley proves that a business
can be successful in more ways
than simply financial. It is an integral
part of the local and the world community:
an active player in a sustainable
future.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF TAOS SKI VALLEY
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14 September 2018 | snowopsmag.com
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