Sustainable management of natural resources

Faced with today’s climatic challenges, we’re committed to using natural resources responsibly.

As a mountain-based operator, we know our responsibility: limiting our footprint while promoting a more thoughtful, efficient use of essential resources.

Our approach is pragmatic and progressive. We act at our scale by improving the energy performance of our equipment, optimizing water usage, and integrating more sustainable energy sources whenever possible. This work relies on regular monitoring, targeted investments, and a strong desire to improve season after season.

Water: a shared resource, a balance to maintain

“The right snow”

“The right snow” means producing the right amount of man-made snow — no more, no less — exactly where it’s needed. The goal: ensuring good snow quality while using water and energy responsibly.

This approach is based on a precise analysis of the needs of each sector, taking into account:

ski slope traffic,
weather forecasts,
the terrain profile.

Thanks to next-generation tools like Snowsat, our teams can adjust snow production in real time to ensure optimal coverage.

Producing only the necessary snow reduces both water and energy consumption.

Sharing water resources

Water is a common good essential to all mountain stakeholders. In summer — especially during drought periods — we work with local farmers on a shared, responsible management of this precious resource.

Discover the seasonal challenges of snowmaking through the work of our snowmaking teams.

A controlled energy consumption

Polyair: a unique energy recovery system

At Valmorel, four ski lifts — including the Planchamp gondola — use an ingenious energy recovery system. The heat generated by the variable-speed drives (which regulate lift speed) is recovered and used to heat staff buildings, such as workstations and break rooms. A smart and sustainable initiative that combines energy efficiency with team comfort.

POLYAIR system

Smart use of ski lifts during low traffic

Some duplicate installations are voluntarily closed during low-traffic periods, without limiting access to any part of the ski area.
Example: Rochette ski tow closed, while the duplicate tow (Montolivet) remains open.
Since 2022, all lift operators have been trained in eco-driving techniques.

Reducing lift speed by 20% — adding just one extra minute on a 500 m ride — lowers energy consumption by 8%, representing 71 tonnes of CO₂ avoided.
Source: DAMOE

Switching to green electricity

All electricity used by the Valmorel Ski Area comes from 100% renewable sources. This strong choice has helped reduce emissions related to our electricity consumption by 86%.