Going Green

We earned our Green Star Award in a ceremony on September 8!

We’ve been working for several years on reducing our carbon footprint and reducing waste while maintaining the level of service and comfort our guests know to expect and that we are proud to offer.  Through our continual efforts and with your help, we can continue to improve.For example, Pike's is changing over from plastic service at breakfast to compostable materials as soon as we use up the plastic stuff.

Here's an article about us:

http://snras.blogspot.com/2009/09/snras-collaborator-earns-green-star.html

Solar Energy:
On the roof of the Copper Lodge, we’ve installed solar panels which produce 21,000 kilowatts of power. We produce power even in the winter!  The solar panels are the first large commercial installation in Alaska.  We also participate in Golden Valley Electric’s program to subsidize other solar energy generators. You can contribute to it too; please ask about the SNAP (Sustainable Natural Alternatives Power) Program at the front desk.

Hydroponics:
In conjunction with the Future Farmers of America and the University of Alaska Fairbanks, we have converted our greenhouse to a hydroponics-based food growing business as a pioneering, sustainable supply effort.  The FFA has raised lettuce, strawberries and cherry tomatoes in our greenhouse; we use the produce in our restaurants and they will have some produce available for sale.  In addition, members of the Future Farmers of America maintain our grounds during the summer.

Green Star:
We are in the process of obtaining our Green Star award, a local Alaska energy conservation program based on suggestions on how to reduce our energy footprint.  We’ve undertaken a number of steps from changing to more energy efficient light bulbs to adjusting our driers to increase efficiency and reduce the dry time.  We’re using more environmentally friendly chemicals whenever possible and recycling paper in our business office and aluminum cans in our gift shop. Our new carpets are made of recycled materials. We donate our used cooking oil to a bio fuel co-operative.  Some of our latest changes include installing low flow shower heads to conserve water and replacing older televisions with more energy efficient flat-screens.

Reducing our carbon footprint is an iterative process; as conditions change, we will add improvements as we can and maintain the excellent level of service for you, our guest, for which we have come to be known.

Local efforts :
The local power utility, Golden Valley, is encouraging alternative power use through the Sustainable Natural Alternatives Power, SNAP, program. This program encourages households to invest in wind or solar power generation.  We encourage you to contribute $1.00 to SNAP on check in or check out and we will pass along the donations to Golden Valley.

What you can do:
As our guest, you can make an impact by turning off the lights, television, heater and air conditioning when you do not need them.  Also, only 60% of our guests keep the same sheets and towels for more than one night.  This small action conserves a considerable amount of water. Will you help bump that percentage up?  There is a card in your room with instructions on how to indicate to housekeeping that you wish to participate in this program.

Recycling?

The recycling programs have come and gone in Fairbanks based on the economies of shipping recyclables out of state. We are currently providing recycling areas in our stairwells for now. We hope to implement a wider recycling program in the future.