Black Tie Skis Earns Gold Certification by Going Green

Steamboat branch enrolls in local sustainable business program

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, Colo. (November 29, 2007) – Black Tie Ski Rental Delivery’s Steamboat Springs Colo. branch has earned Gold Planet certification from the Steamboat Sustainable Business Program.

Black Tie Skis worked with the Steamboat Springs Chamber Resort Association’s environmental consulting service, Environmental Solutions Unlimited, to learn about common sense business practices that help attain sustainability. The program is strictly voluntary; offers community-wide recognition as well as access to resources that help implement, measure, and continually improve environmental sustainable practices.

“The owners of Black Tie Ski Rentals have placed a strong emphasis on incorporating sustainability practices into their organization,” said Lyn Halliday, president of Environmental Solutions Unlimited. “They have made a commitment to continually look for new ways to incorporate environmental excellence into daily operations.”

As a Gold Planet certified business, Black Tie Skis has integrated sustainability into their mission statement; designated two in-house sustainability coordinators; pledged to educate and train employees about sustainability; and completed a comprehensive energy assessment summary, successfully meeting ten of the program’s elective practices. Additionally, employees are encouraged to car pool to work and volunteer for non-profits. Incentives include daily ski passes at Silverton Mountain and up to 24 hours of paid time off respectively.

“By reviewing our current business practices with Lyn, we realized there were additional sustainability measures we could implement into our overall policies and daily operations,” said Luke Staunton Black Tie’s marketing director and sustainability co-coordinator. “We’re very proud to be one of four businesses to achieve the Gold Planet designation.”

Prior to joining the Sustainable Business Program, Steamboat’s Black Tie Skis commitment to minimizing their impact on the earth included: reducing their carbon footprint by purchasing clean renewable energy from Yampa Valley Electric Association; offsetting vehicle fleet emissions with TerraPass; retrofitting lighting fixtures with CFL bulbs; recycling skis and snowboards back into the market at season-end; and recycling approximately 75% of the business’ total waste.

“The Steamboat program provides us with a great opportunity to share sustainability ideas and solutions with the other Black Tie Ski Rental Delivery branch owners,” said Ian Prichard, founder of Black Ties Skis/owner of the Steamboat Springs, Colo. branch and sustainability co-coordinator. “Many of the program’s electives such as reducing vehicle miles traveled can easily be attained in any market.”

To learn more about Black Tie Ski Rentals, make a reservation or to inquire about branch licensing opportunities visit: www.blacktieskis.com. For more information about the Sustainable Business Certification Program visit: www.steamboat-chamber.com/info/sustainable_business_program.asp.