By Local Lexi \ March 15 2019
Sundance Mountain Resort, nestled at the foot of looming Mount Timpanogos, has long fostered a culture where skiing, art and conservation of the land take priority. When Robert Redford purchased a sprawling parcel of land in the North Fork of Provo Canyon back in 1969, his vision included a community committed to the arts and the responsible development of this stunning landscape. In addition to providing a retreat for artists and creative types, Redford envisioned his resort blending seamlessly with the soaring granite peaks, gambol oaks, and the rushing North Fork of the Provo River.
These choices led to what is now Sundance Mountain Resort and Nature Preserve dedicated to wildlife, hiking and recreation.
Our commitment to Sundance has always been to develop very little and preserve a great deal.
– Robert Redford
For over 30 years, Sundance has encouraged guests, and visitors to participate in their various recycling programs. Guests are provided with the option to recycle their paper, cans and glass directly in their guest rooms.
Sundance’s most unique recycling initiative can be found with their glass recycling program. Recycling glass in Utah once presented quite a challenge before curbside recycling was widely available in Salt Lake and Utah Counties. Long ago and to this day, Sundance continues to accept glass recycling from both guests and visitors. Wine and other glass bottles are then recycled onsite and turned into decorative art and housewares within an onsite glassworks studio.
Each winter, glass blowers from Tlaquepaque, Guadalajara take up residence at Sundance, forging environmentally-motivated artistry in the mountains. The glassblowers meld recycled glass into beautiful and useful objects ranging from vases to wine glasses, to dinner plates. Guests will encounter these upcycled pieces in many areas around the resort. In the heat of glassblowing season, (typically January through March), each artist may produce up to 500 drinking glasses per day.
Visitors are encouraged to stop by and see first-hand the glassblowers at work. Over the years, they have perfected and refined techniques that are fascinating to watch. Their producs can be purchaed in the Sundance Art Stuido loacted right next door to the glassblowing stuido.
The Redford Center, Sundance’s newest event center, was designed with the future in mind by using LEED building standards. Ground source heat pump technology, LED lighting and light sensors to reduce energy consumption, while green products such as carpets with recycled content and insulation made from recycled denim enhance indoor air quality.
Additionally, Sundance has been taking steps to reduce the resort’s energy consumption and boost overall efficiency at the ski area. One massive project has been to incorporate LED (light-emitting diode) bulbs in the lighting fixtures across the resort. These bulbs are more durable and last longer, producing far less waste in the long term. LED bulbs also typically consume around 75% less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs. Approximately 60% of the entire resort has now been retrofitted with LED bulbs and Sundance will continue to work to replace inefficient incandescent bulbs with more energy efficient options.
(This information will not be shared)
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