The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services in Concord and the New Hampshire Sustainable Lodging and Restaurant Program (NHSLRP), a program of the NH Lodging & Restaurant Association, announced that the Mountain View Grand Resort and Spa in Whitefield, was certified as an "Environmental Champion," the highest level of certification in the sustainability program.
One of a handful of NH's grand hotels, the Mountain View Grand earned the recognition by reducing waste and conserving energy and water. The certification process involves completing a points-based application that scores facilities on their environmental initiatives with third-party inspection and verification.
The Mountain View Grand has been in operation since the late 1800s, and its owners and staff say they are committed to becoming models for environmental responsibility. The Mountain View is a 100 percent Green Power Purchaser, which is part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Green Power Partnership program. In 2009, a 121-foot, power-generating wind turbine was installed adjacent to the hotel. To supplement the turbine energy, the owners purchase Renewable Energy Certificates to certify the resort as 100 percent wind-powered. From September 2009 to March 2010, the combination of these two sources of energy meant that almost 400,000 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions were not released into the atmosphere.
The wind turbine is just one of the hotel's many environmental projects. Hotel owners replaced about 75 percent of its light fixtures with compact fluorescent lighting and implemented a comprehensive recycling program. They turn spent cooking oil into heating fuel that is then used by a local construction company, and for room and hallway insulation, they installed Green Fiber insulation made from 85 percent recycled paper.
Sitting on a hill with beautiful views, the hotel includes a working farm, which is used as an educational tool as well as providing the kitchen staff with fresh eggs and vegetables when available. In fact, several rare breeds of animals, such as the Leicester long-wool sheep, whose wool is sheared, spun and available for purchase, are kept there. The resort supports local farms and businesses whenever possible, and the landscaping includes many native perennials that require less water. In addition, the resort has its own water tower that provides irrigation to the golf course and resort grounds.
But that's not the end of their process. The hotel is planning even more green projects for the future such as a comprehensive composting program and a switch to bio-diesel for heat.
The Mountain View Grand was chosen as the site of the next meeting of the Environmental Council of the States, a national organization comprised of the heads of state environmental agencies. The meeting will take place in late August and provide an opportunity for the resort to further showcase their environmental initiatives.
For additional information on the NH Sustainable Lodging and Restaurant Program, go to www.nhslrp.org/ or contact Michelle Veasey at mveasey@nhlra.com. Information about the NHDES Pollution Prevention Program can be found at des.nh.gov/organization/commissioner/p2au/pps/ppp/index.htm, or contact Melissa Zych at melissa.zych@des.nh.gov <mailto:nhppp@des.nh.gov> or 800-273-9469. For more about the Mountain View Grand's sustainability efforts, visit www.mountainviewgrand.com/ViewArticle.asp?NewsID=19.
