Sustainability & The Environment

Aerial view of ski hill in winter near Granlibakken Tahoe

Preserving Lake Tahoe

Think of us as Greenlibakken

At Granlibakken, we work with our community and visitors to preserve our area’s natural beauty, with a focus on:

Improving, restoring and managing our natural habitat
Conserving water and energy
Reducing our waste stream
Promoting awareness and greener lifestyles among guests and employees

How do we do this? Our Green Purchasing Policy guides Granlibakken employees to follow more environmentally sustainable procedures. This includes reducing energy and water consumption, minimizing and properly disposing hazardous material, and reducing waste through recycling and minimizing the use of disposable products.

More Green Initiatives

To help reduce chemical waste left in the environment by ski and snowboard waxes, we now exclusively use a plant-based wax on our rental skis and snowboards, and guests can purchase plant-based quick wax for refreshing their equipment at our front desk and ski hut.

Sierra Business Council – Green Business Certification

Granlibakken is proud to be the 1st business certified in Tahoe as Green by the Sierra Business Council in September of 2019. We are committed to joining our greater Tahoe Basin leaders in environmental policy by setting an example with our green purchasing policy and responsible forest management. We also look for ways to meet and exceed all current environmental laws and regulations and reduce waste with practices such as eliminating single-use plastic products as much as possible. Learn more about how your business can become a California Green Certified Business.

US Department of Energy

Placer County was recognized by the Department of Energy as a leader in energy efficiency, and Granlibakken was named as the showcase project for their efforts. We couldn’t be more proud that our hard work implementing energy efficiency measures has been recognized.

“All over the United States, cities and counties like Placer County are overcoming unique energy efficiency challenges by deploying comprehensive and flexible solutions,” said Maria Vargas, director of the Better Buildings Challenge. “Placer County’s Granlibakken Tahoe is a great example of energy efficiency at work in our nation’s buildings: innovative financing, public-private partnerships and high-tech solutions.”

Cool California Small Business Award Winner

Granlibakken Tahoe was one of 19 businesses selected for the Cool California Small Business Award. We were recognized for our efforts in environmental sustainability, specifically, partnership with mPower and Placer County to make efficiency upgrades to kitchen appliances and the heating system in the conference center.

Placer County’s Best in the Basin

Granlibakken Tahoe was awarded for becoming a greener hotel in conjunction with the Sierra Business Council, Placer County, and the Department of Energy’s mPOWER project to upgrade outdated appliances and systems with new, energy-efficient equipment.

Tahoe-Truckee Sierra Disposal’s Composting Program

Granlibakken committed to composting all organic food waste from the kitchen and conference center through the Tahoe-Truckee Sierra Disposal’s yellow-bag composting pilot program, a test for effectiveness in the region to reduce the amount of biodegradable waste that ends up in landfills.

Aerial view from ski hill in twilight at Granlibakken Tahoe

Replacing outdated lighting and appliances with more energy-efficient systems is key to energy conservation. Granlibakken relies on the experts for recommendations. In 2015, working with Placer County Tax Collector and the mPower Program to invest County Tax revenues to meet County Energy Reduction Goals, Granlibakken completed a pilot program with the County to encourage retrofitting of older buildings to achieve significant energy use reductions. This included the replacement of all commercial refrigeration, all conference center boilers and all conference center air condition equipment with the latest in energy efficient equipment.

Recycling reduces Granlibakken’s environmental impact. Granlibakken recycles batteries, ink cartridges, light bulbs and road sand. Additionally, Placer County, where Granlibakken is located, uses a one-bin system, where all recyclables, biodegradable materials, and hazardous waste are separated at the facility. The one-bin system has increased the number of recyclables diverted from the waste stream by about 20% since 2007.

Shared transportation also reduces our carbon footprint. Granlibakken partners with the North Tahoe Community Alliance and Placer County Public Transportation (TART) to provide bus service, micro transit and shuttles. Services cover North Lake Tahoe, Truckee, with seasonal services to Emerald Bay and ski areas. We also encourage carpooling, using winter ski area park & ride from 64 Acres, and taking not-so-mass transit around the Tahoe Basin and to Reno.

North Lake Tahoe Express
Shuttle to and from Reno-Tahoe International Airport.

Tahoe Area Regional Transit
Bus service along 30 miles of Lake Tahoe shoreline, including Sugar Pine State Park, Tahoma, Homewood, Tahoe City, Tahoe Vista, Kings Beach and Incline Village.

For environmental inspiration, the Barker Pass to Tahoe City segment of the volunteer-maintained, multi-use Tahoe Rim Trail borders Granlibakken.

Tahoe Rim Trail
Promoting healthy, environmentally responsible outdoor recreation and providing access to the beauty of the Lake Tahoe region.