In response to the growing interest among members of the Ontario Snow Resorts Association (OSRA) to reduce engine idling practices at ski resorts, the taskforce developed an education strategy and action plan in March 2008.  Both were developed to serve as an initial step towards implementing a full-scale engine idling reduction program ski resorts.  A phase-in approach to implementation of the engine idling reduction program was strongly recommended by members of the taskforce.  It was also recommended that the program be piloted at three different types of ski resorts (i.e. public ski resort, private ski club and a ski resort situated within an urban centre) in order to capture the range of challenges each type of ski resort might encounter. 

During the 2008-2009 ski season, OSRA and its partners successfully piloted the Engine Idling Reduction Program at 3 Ontario Ski Resorts (i.e. Blue Mountain Resort, Craigleith Ski Club and Glen Eden Ski and Snowboard Centre)

Key accomplishments include:
(a) Reduction of carbon dioxide emissions by 6% to 49% across idle free zones (equivalent to 500 to 1,200 kilograms of carbon dioxide over a ski season)
(b) Reached 126,000 drivers and guests as well as 1,200 ski resort staff through various actions (e.g. signage, parking passes, parking lot awareness campaign, driver surveys, newsletters and driver incentives)
(c) Monitored behaviour of 6,094 personal vehicles, 255 motor coaches and school buses and 149 freight with assistance from students and community members.
(d) Trained and supervised 8 student interns on how to observe driver behaviours and collect data on idling behaviours at ski resorts.
(e) Trained 2 of the interns to tabulate and analyze data.

This winter season (2009-2010), with the support of Natural Resources Canada and 2 YMCA-funded student interns, OSRA implemented the Engine Idling Reduction Program across 20 Ontario ski resorts which forecasted to reduce 21,600 kilograms of carbon dioxide emissions over the duration of the 2009-2010 ski season.

Attachments:

Case Study - Glen Eden Ski and Snowboard Centre	542 Kb
Case Study - Blue Mountain Resort Ltd.	520 Kb
Case Study - Craigleith Ski Club	876 Kb
EIRP - Program Update and Next Steps (2010)	1048 Kb
EIRP Final Report - Executive Summary (2009)	150 Kb
EIRP Final Report (2009)	2073 Kb
Ontario Resorts Go Idle Free - NRCan's Idle Free Zone Newsletter (page 4)	3181 Kb