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Related WestPac Bold Series
of Sustainability Initiatives
August 9, 2007 - Related WestPac today announced an initial series of
sustainability initiatives that will create a cleaner, greener environment
throughout the Snowmass Village redevelopment. Related WestPac detailed
their efforts at a luncheon with Town of Snowmass Village Mayor Doug (Merc)
Mercatoris and Councilman John Wilkinson, which celebrated their collaborative
commitment to environmental sustainability. They were joined by President
and CEO of the U.S. Green Building Council S. Richard Fedrizzi and former
New York Governor George E. Pataki.
Related WestPac is currently developing 80 acres comprised of residential
units, world-class hotels, retail, entertainment and restaurant amenities
surrounding the renowned ski area in Snowmass Village, Colorado. The first
stage of sustainabilityinitiatives includes eight signature elements:
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Partnership with celebrated Rocky Mountain Institute to pursue innovative
sustainability solutions;
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participation in the new LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)
for Neighborhood Development Pilot Program;
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LEED certification for all buildings going forward;
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LEED silver certification of Base Village Hotel site;
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siting of new carbon-free renewable energy sources;
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cleaner construction practices and traffic reduction initiatives that will
improve air quality and minimize environmental impacts;
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appointment of a Sustainability Specialist--a new dedicated senior official
to ensure sustainable design implementation and to create and employ further
sustainability efforts; and
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formation of a Sustainability Stewardship Committee led by Town of Snowmass
Village and the community in partnership with all present and future stakeholders
including Related WestPac and Aspen Skiing Company to expand and compound
sustainability efforts.
Pat Smith, President of Related WestPac said, �When our buildings are constructed
in a manner that is respectful of the surrounding built and natural environment,
the overall fabric of our community is enhanced. The cleanest energy is
the energy we don�t use. In partnership with Rocky Mountain Institute,
we will aggressively pursue the most efficient use of energy as well as
the cleanest renewable resources available including carbon neutral technologies,
biofuels and solar-based energy. As part of the Snowmass community, we
have an opportunity and an obligation to shape its future through ingenuity
and innovation. In collaboration with the Town of Snowmass Village and
Aspen Skiing Company we will help build a stronger brighter future for
our community.�
Jeff Blau, President of Related Companies said, �Snowmass Village has
a tremendous heritage built on its awe-inspiring natural beauty and unique
geographic, historic and cultural elements. The initiatives we announce
today will be just the beginning of our long-term commitment to create
a new model of community living anchored in sustainability. Throughout
the redevelopment, we will embrace innovative technologies and constantly
push the boundaries of clean, green progress. Simply put, sustainability
is about seeking a better quality of life for everyone.�
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Left to Right: Pat Smith, President of Westpac. George E. Pataki, Former
New York Governor. Douglas Mercatoris, Snowmass Village Mayor. Jeff T.
Blau, President of Related.
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Partnership with Rocky Mountain Institute on Innovative Sustainability
Solutions
Related WestPac announced that it has partnered with the widely acclaimed
Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) to pursue innovative sustainability solutions.
Michael Potts, CEO of the Rocky Mountain Institute said, �RMI is delighted
to have this opportunity to work with Related WestPac to create an exemplary
climate responsive development in this unique market and region.�
RMI fosters the efficient and restorative use of resources to create
a more secure, prosperous and life-sustaining world. Celebrating its 25th
anniversary of challenging conventional thinking and leading the field
in cutting-edge research, RMI is a not-for-profit �think and do tank� that
works with individuals and organizations of every imaginable kind to help
them use energy and resources efficiently while served as ever-better stewards
of the environment.
RMI has previously partnered with Wal-Mart on efforts to double the
fuel efficiency of its trucking fleet, and to cut energy use in its stores,
served as lead technical advisor on the energy and environmental retrofit
of the White House and assisted Lucasfilm in developing sustainable strategies
for a 900,000-square-foot film complex at the Presidio.
LEED for Neighborhood Development
Related WestPac is proud to participate in the new LEED for Neighborhood
Development Pilot Program. The LEED for Neighborhood Development rating
system is the first national standard for neighborhood design and integrates
the principles of smart growth, new urbanism and green building. The LEED
for Neighborhood Development is a collaboration among the U.S. Green Building
Council (USGBC), the Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU) and the Natural
Resources Defense Council (NRDC).
Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO & Founding Chair, U.S. Green Building
Council said, �By using the LEED for Neighborhood Development program as
a planning tool, Related WestPac�s redevelopment of Snowmass Village will
have a tangible impact on the environment and on the community. LEED for
Neighborhood Development encourages a healthier lifestyle, which is an
essential element of a healthy community. The LEED for Neighborhood program
will also enable communities to make efficient use of our natural resources
and make an immediate, positive impact on our planet.�
While Related WestPac pursues LEED for Neighborhood Development certification,
it will also extend these efforts into every aspect of their continuing
operations in Snowmass Village. In partnership with the Town of Snowmass
Village and the Aspen Skiing Company, Related WestPac will continue to
explore renewable energy sources, water reuse opportunities and carbon-neutral
technologies to constantly build on their efforts.
LEED Silver Hotel, Certification for All Buildings Going Forward
The redevelopment plan has three distinct development sites: Base Village,
Snowmass Center and West Village. Since closing on all three sites in March
of this year, Related WestPac has undertaken an intensive review of the
construction plans and design documents. Related WestPac announced today
that it had revised design documents in Base Village to enable the hotel
site (sites 13a and 13b) to achieve LEED Silver certification. Currently
there are only five LEED certified
hotels in the nation, none of which are silver, and just over 30 hotel
projects that are pursuing certification at any level. Related WestPac
also committed that all buildings going forward will be LEED certified.
Through smart water and energy saving design, the Base Village development
alone will save the equivalent of 4,400 barrels of oil, 11.3 million gallons
of water and 5,200 metric tons of carbon dioxide annually�the equivalent
of providing energy for 240 homes, filling 25 Olympic-sized swimming pools
and taking 950 cars off the road. These results will increase exponentially
when the full redevelopment is achieved.
Siting of New Carbon-free Renewable Energy Sources
Also announced was the installation of a new 100,000 KWH microturbine
along Brush Creek that will contribute to cleaner air and long term sustainability.
This new carbon-free renewable energy source could likely power the equivalent
of one chairlift, one local elementary school, a small hotel or a medium-sized
movie theatre.
Cleaner Construction Efforts
Cleaner construction efforts detailed today include:
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Real-time air monitoring for particulate matter to measure localized air
quality;
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idling restrictions on all construction equipment to minimize environmental
impacts on the surrounding community;
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streamlined soil-moving and coordinated disposal to reduce pollution caused
by multiple vehicle trips, this effort has resulted in 90,000 tons of soil
and structural fill being maintained on-site--saving over 33,000 gallons
of gas, 489 tons of CO2 and equivalent to taking 75 cars off the road;
and
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introduction of the use of biodiesel fuel (B20) into machinery such as
the street sweeper to help to contain dust and soil. Related WestPac will
be encouraging and requesting all current contractors use biodiesel fuel
wherever possible and will be locating biodiesel fuel tanks onsite. The
use of B20 biodiesel fuel typically reduces life cycle carbon dioxide emissions
by 15 percent and airborne particulate matter by 12 percent over traditional
diesel.
Traffic Reduction Initiatives
Related WestPac has implemented policies to reduce traffic congestion.
Through employee bus and carpooling initiatives, there are approximately
640 fewer car trips in and out of Snowmass Village on a daily basis. It
is estimated that this saves 238 gallons of fuel and over two tons of carbon
dioxide emissions each day. The developer is also currently assembling
building components offsite whenever possible to reduce worker traffic
to and from the site. Related WestPac aims to increase connectivity and
reduce auto usage by creating seamless pedestrian-oriented neighborhoods,
gondola people-movers and walkable destinations. The addition of a new
gondola from Base Village to Snowmass Center ensures integration of all
three development sites.
Sustainability Specialist
Related WestPac announced that it will appoint a full-time Sustainability
Specialist to review and monitor cleaner construction practices, while
ensuring the buildings are developed to their sustainable design standards.
In addition, the Sustainability Specialist and Related WestPac will develop
a Green Playbook to promote and guide green practices for all contractors
and subcontractors, employees, partners and vendors.
Sustainability Stewardship Committee
The Town of Snowmass Village announced that with the community they
will be creating the Snowmass Village Sustainability Stewardship Committee.
Through the Sustainable Stewardship Committee, the Town and community,
in partnership with all present and future stakeholders including Related
WestPac and Aspen Skiing Company, will work collaboratively to advance
sustainable programs and initiatives and expand the impact of their individual
eco-conscious efforts. The Committee will collectively pursue innovation
and code revisions to encourage and promote environmentally sensitive development
and redevelopment and will look to create a Sustainability Speaker Series
to engage and empower the community, raise awareness and ensure that future
generations learn about the environment and actively participate in creating
a better, brighter future.
Snowmass Village Mayor Douglas �Merc� Mercatoris said, �The Town of
Snowmass Village has a proud legacy of protecting and respecting the environment
in which we are so privileged to live. We welcome Related WestPac�s commitment
to work with us to achieve our collective goal of a truly sustainable community
as we pursue an even stronger, healthier, cleaner, greener future for all.�
Town of Snowmass Village Councilmember John Wilkinson said, �Snowmass
Village�s stewardship of the natural environment dates back to the resort�s
very founding in the 1960s. The steps we take today will have a real and
concrete impact on the environment we live in tomorrow. By striving towards
a sustainable future collaboratively, we will create a better, stronger
community that offers the best possible quality of life.�
Mike Kaplan, President and CEO of Aspen Skiing Company said, �We are
thrilled to work with partners who share our commitment to sustainable
business practices and green building. With this announcement, Related
WestPac and the Town of Snowmass Village have taken a true leadership position
in sustainable development.�
In developing its sustainability efforts, Related WestPac has been advised
by former New York Governor George E. Pataki in his new role as Founder
and Chairman of the Pataki-Cahill Group. Governor Pataki is widely known
for protecting over one million acres of open space, sponsoring the first
mandatory cap and trade carbon initiative (which now includes ten Northeastern
and Mid-Atlantic states), instituting the nation�s first green buildings
tax credit program and working to ensure the redeveloped World Trade Center
site will be a global example of green building design. The Governor also
created a public-private partnership for clean energy generation that resulted
in one of the largest demonstrations of industrial solar power in the U.S.,
and one of the largest wind-power arrays in the east as well as two cellulosic
ethanol production facilities and two clean coal plants currently under
d--evelopment.
Former Governor George E. Pataki said, �It is encouraging and inspiring
to see this type of commitment by the private sector to further environmental
sustainability. Related WestPac has begun exploring innovative ground-breaking
technologies that will engage the community and propel sustainability efforts
forward. Broad participation is a key component to sustainability and the
shared vision of Related WestPac, the Town of Snowmass Village and Aspen
Skiing Company will motivate action and accelerate progress toward a stronger
and healthier environment in Snowmass Village. No one developer or local
government can do it alone. We must continuously commit to work together
to develop our communities for the future and pursue a cleaner environment,
a more secure nation and a safer world.�
Related WestPac is a joint venture partnership of Related Companies,
a fully integrated private real estate development company, and WestPac
Investments Colorado LLC, a diversified real estate investment and development
company. |
