Resort Information

Energy Use and Climate Change

Between 2006 and 2007, Perisher Blue reduced its electricity consumption by approximately 12%. This reduction resulted from excellent staff involvement in developing and implementing a number of energy saving initiatives.

Here are some examples of these:

The development of an Energy Policy

Perisher Blue’s Energy Policy underpins its efforts to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and to more efficiently use energy resources. The energy policy commits Perisher Blue to acting responsibly with respect to energy use and to achieving best practice in energy management when carrying out its activities.

In conducting its operations, Perisher Blue adopts the following four principles of responsible energy use;

• Measure and continually monitor energy consumption
• Minimise energy use and greenhouse gas emissions
• Transfer energy use to renewable energy sources or lower carbon emission energy sources where it is sustainable to do so
• Offset GHG emissions where it is sustainable to do so.

Measure and continually monitor energy consumption

A target of Perisher Blue’s EMS is to improve energy efficiency (EE) and reduce GHG emissions. An energy survey was conducted in 2004, which identified the range of energy sources used and relevant rates of consumption. Amongst other things, the survey identified that heating accounted for 51.2% of Perisher Blue’s energy use. In May 2006, a comprehensive “energy utilisation review” was carried out which recommended immediate actions as well as short and long-term energy management strategies, including recommendations for more efficient space heating, lighting, domestic consumption, office automation, snowmaking and building design.

Minimise energy use and reduce green house gas emissions

A range of energy management initiatives have been undertaken, including, but not limited to;

• The replacement of a range of incandescent lighting with low watt long life fluorescent lighting
• The roll out of a more energy efficient and automated snowmaking system
• The installation of thermostats/timers on space heaters and the staged removal of inefficient fan/radiant heaters from workplaces
• The installation of a power factor correction unit on the Mount Perisher triple chairlift and the installation of phase balance harmonic filters on the Ridge, Summit, Pleasant Valley, Terminal and Forester Express quad chairlifts, and the Village Eight Express Chairlift over the past three years. The further roll out of these energy saving devices will continue in the future.

Transfer energy use to renewable energy sources

In 2007, Perisher Blue converted the power source for the Village Eight Express Chairlift, night skiing lights and six snowmaking fan guns on Front Valley to a 100% renewable energy source. Perisher Blue worked with Origin Energy to effect the change over and the switch to renewable energy is an important part of Perisher Blue’s commitment to a responsible use of energy, reducing GHG emissions and improving environmental management performance.

For 2008, Perisher Blue has more than doubled its renewable energy power source commitment to 5% of its total energy consumption. Perisher Blue is currently working with Origin Energy to determine the additional lifting infrastructure that will be converted to a 100% renewable energy source and when this is finalised, Perisher Blue will update it’s website with this information.

Offset GHG emissions where it is sustainable to do so

Perisher Blue has also worked with Origin Energy to offset 100% of the carbon generated from the consumption of diesel fuel by Perisher Blue’s snow grooming fleet, courtesy buses and other relevant plant and equipment in a twelve month period from 1 June 2008.

Encouraging Skitube Use

All Perisher Blue staff are encouraged to use the Skitube to access the resort whenever possible, in order to reduce the kilometres driven to work and also provide a better experience for many of Perisher Blue’s guests by limiting the amount of cars travelling on Kosciuszko Road to Perisher Valley and Smiggin Holes. In 2003 Perisher Blue introduced a requirement for all staff (save for some staff with exceptional circumstances) to travel on Skitube during certain peak periods and it is pleasing to note that this initiative is actively supported by Perisher Blue’s staff.

Fuel management system

Perisher Blue has installed a computerised fuel management system which monitors fuel use by operator and vehicle type. This allows the control and measurement of fuel use and hence provides opportunities to better manage fuel consumption throughout the resort. The system will aid the monitoring of the fleet’s overall performance and the assist with the scheduling of preventative maintenance.

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