The Environment and Chalet La Foret: Responsible Tourism
We are working on several initiatives to make the chalet as eco-friendly as possible:
Recycling
If you'd like to recycle some of your rubbish, we have provided two bins
to help keep them separate. Les Praz has several recycling points, one of which is conveniently on the way to the Flegere lift from the chalet.
There are separate bins for:
- Glass "Verre"
- All other recyclables, including plastics and paper
- Non-recyclable rubbish ("Dechets").
CO2 emissions - towards a carbon neutral chalet
We are hoping to offset the carbon emissions of the chalet by supporting a local tree planting program, or possibly by planting trees ourselves. We are aware that it's a serious subject, and want to do more than pay lip service to the idea, so we're doing a lot of research in this area, and hope to have some solutions in place soon! Watch this space for updates....
Green electricity
The concept of a green electrical tariff is still very new in France, and the first companies providing it were established in October this year. We have reluctantly decided that an Alpine winter is not the best place to test run the newly deregulated electricity market, and therefore intend to switch to one of these providers in Spring 2008.
The chalet
The chalet itself is largely constructed of natural materials (local larch and granite). Larch is a high altitude wood - you'll notice the pine trees change to larch trees as you ascend the slopes in Chamonix - with particularly good natural insulation properties. It has a double thickness roof for extra insulation, is fully double glazed, and the curtains are thermal lined to help keep the heat in as much as possible. There is a wood fire downstairs, and using this renewable form of heating helps to cut electricity use. We have replaced many lightbulbs with energy-efficient ones, and are continuing our search for suitable bulbs for the remainder.
We'd be delighted to hear any suggestions that you may have.
Respect the Mountain
The Ski Club of Great Britain's Respect The Mountain Campaign was launched to help safeguard the natural environment and the long-term future of skiing. The aim of the campaign is to remind people to be aware of the delicate environment we live and play in and advises people to try and follow the seven steps:
Seven easy steps
1. Be aware of your environmental impact as skiers and boarders
Educate yourself about your environmental impact on the mountains, and what
you can do to minimise it.
2. Do not leave litter on the slopes
When the snow melts, the litter will still be there. Bin it or take it home.
Orange peel takes up to two years to break down, and cigarette ends up to
five years. If you find litter on the slopes, do the right thing - pick it
up.
3. Respect the natural habitat of mountain animals and plants
If you ski through trees, you can damage them by knocking off branches and
killing young shoots under the snow. Take care. Many areas are out of bounds
to protect the natural habitat of animals and plants - not just for safety
reasons.
4. Choose a resort which uses environmentally friendly practices
Many resorts now use bio-diesel fuel in piste-bashers, solar panels for heating,
hydro-electricity/wind energy for power and a host of other initiatives. Some
resorts use the International Standards Organisation (ISO) 14001 as a mark
of their environmental credentials.
(Chamonix is making good progress in this area. See the current review of responsible tourism in Chamonix.)
5. Encourage tour operators to adopt green policies
Find out if your tour operator offers train travel as an alternative to flying,
if they use paper from sustainable forests for their brochures, if they use,
for example, low-wattage light bulbs in their chalets and bio-degradable detergents.
6. Do your bit to reduce global warming on holiday and at home
Re-use your towels each day, re-cycle household waste and switch off electrical
appliances when not in use.
7. Reduce CO2 emissions
By flying fewer miles, or switching from air to rail, you can help reduce
the volume of greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. When possible,
use your bike instead of your car.
