Sustainability

Sustainability is the keyword of our time. More and more people are aware that we need to protect and preserve our resources to ensure a livable future. Our company is committed to sustainability as a central element of our business activities.

Energy-Overview

PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEMS

The photovoltaic system has a total output of 120,000 kWh per year.

SOLAR SYSTEM

The solar system produces approximately 10,000 kWh per year.

HEAT RECOVERY SYSTEM

The heat recovery system efficiently saves energy.

DISTRICT HEATING FROM BIOMASS

The Spieljoch valley station is heated with district heating from biomass.

MOBILITY

  • 4 electric charging stations with 8 parking spaces and up to 200 kW capacity
  • Free ski buses + Zillertal Railway with ski pass
  • Cooperation with ÖBB (Nightjet to the snow)
  • Zillertal mobility plan

GASTRONOMY

  • Natural, regional and seasonal
  • Products from local farmers and domestic butchers, such as Kammerlander butcher from Kaltenbach
  • Wild game from our own hunting grounds in the Karwendel and Rofan mountains
  • Milk and cheese products from our own agriculture and dairy in the Zillertal valley.

ADVANTAGES OF STORAGE PONDS

# The water from the snowmaking systems is not consumed, but flows back into the water cycle.

# During snowmelt and heavy rainfall, the well-planned location of the storage pond helps with filling.

# Due to the natural gradient, the energy consumption for conveying the water to the snow cannons is reduced.

# The Austrian purity law for air and water contributes to making snowmaking particularly environmentally friendly.

Snow management

A great help and environmentally friendly support is provided by GPS for snow depth measurement in all snow groomers. The digital snow depth measurement contributes to the efficient use of artificial snow and ensures that snow is only produced where it is really needed. This reduces water consumption, minimizes operating hours of snow groomers for piste preparation and minimizes damage to the terrain.

Environment

Environmentally friendly slope construction:

Ecologically valuable grass turf is carefully removed and repositioned in the correct direction.

Natural architecture:

"In the high alpine area, the challenge in planning is to create architecture that is sustainable and in harmony with the surrounding nature. For this very reason, the components of the stations at Spieljoch were made in wood to the greatest possible extent. Static elements, facades, and interiors were made from locally produced wood using craftsmanship from regional companies."

Architect Bernhard Stoehr

FACTS VS MYTHS

The electricity consumption of all cable cars in Austria is 750 GWh (= only 1.2% of the total domestic energy demand), including technical snowmaking. In Austria alone, more than 800 GWh per year are wasted due to standby losses.

About 525,000 kWh per winter are needed to technically snow a ski resort with 30 hectares of slopes. For comparison: A municipal indoor swimming pool has a demand of about 750,000 kWh per year.

A total of almost 125,900 full-time jobs are secured by Austria's cable car industry. 17,100 directly at the cable car companies and 108,800 jobs in directly benefited industries or indirect upstream industries.

The total energy consumption per skier and day (for cable cars, snowmaking, slope grooming, catering, heating, and infrastructure) is 18.0 kWh.

FOR COMPARISON:

  • A ride with a modern mid-size car (7 liters per 100 km) from Strass in the Zillertal to Hippach with a distance of 26 km and a travel time of about 23 minutes equals a full day of skiing.
  • 1/2 hour of jet skiing at the sea = 7 days of skiing.
  • If a person flies from Vienna to Palma de Mallorca, they could go skiing in Austria for 30 days for the same amount of energy expended.
  • If a person flies 8,906 km from Vienna to the Caribbean, they could go skiing in Austria for 105 days for the same amount of energy expended AND take a cable car for mountain hikes every day in the summer from July to September.
  • If a person travels 7,780 km with a mid-sized modern cruise ship from Hamburg to New York, they could go skiing in Austria for 351 days for the same amount of energy expended.
Good news

In Austrian ski resorts, an energy savings of 20% has been recorded within the last 10 years!

SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY

  • Social responsibility for the region and towards employees
  • Consideration of the interests of the local population
  • Involvement of regional stakeholders in relevant projects
  • Creation of good working conditions
  • Consideration of local identity
  • Enabling unique experiences and moments in an intact nature for everyone

ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY

  • Ensuring the necessary resource endowment for sustainable tourism projects in the medium and long term
  • Meeting the needs and inclusion in marketing to sufficient market demand through sustainable tourism products
  • Many collaborations with local businesses, such as craftsmen to food producers - economic value creation remains largely in the region
  • Operation and processing of local products to strengthen local economic structures and at the same time minimize transportation costs