The not-so-green truth about Olympic snow

Fake snow may end up saving some Olympic events from cancellation, but experts say it doesn’t do the same favour to the environment.

Of all the environmental impacts of Olympic Games, snow-making is the ‘black sheep'

“Of all the environmental impacts of Olympic Games, snow-making is the ‘black sheep,’” said Carmen de Jong, professor and mountain hydrologist with The Mountain Institute at the University of Savoy, in France.

Several days of unseasonably warm and wet weather in the Vancouver area has melted snow and jeopardized some 2010 Olympic events at Cypress Mountain.

To combat this threat, snow-making machines have been operating “around-the-clock” since November at Cypress to stockpile snow, according to a press release from the Vancouver Olympic organizing committee.

But scientists and environmentalists say the amount of water and energy used thus far for Cypress’ snowmaking is shocking, especially when Olympic organizers claim the Vancouver games will be one of the greenest and most sustainable ever.

Turning water into snow

Although VANOC representatives refused to be interviewed, a Jan. 13 press release from the organizing committee said more than 95 million litres of water have been converted into snow since November at Cypress. That’s more than 37 Olympic-size swimming pools of water.

Heavy rains leave slopes bare on Cypress Mountain, Jan. 13.

"Pumping for snowmaking during and after the Games has been rated as having a moderate affect on water quantity,” says Brigitte Lemay of Environment Canada.

Some experts argue the effect could be more than moderate though. In a 2007 study on artificial snow, de Jong states about 30 per cent of water used to create artificial snow can be permanently lost to the area from which it was extracted because the process causes considerable evaporation.

“It's commonly believed that all the water extracted from nature for artificial snow production is given back,” wrote de Jong in the report. “This assumption is wrong.”

Once evaporated, the water can be transported into other parts of the world and never return to the original area. According to de Jong, this theory is supported by the French Ministry for Equipment, Transport, Housing and Tourism.  

Environment Canada experts carried out assessments of the Olympic event sites well before 2010 to ensure resources such as water wouldn’t be abused, says Lemay. The assessments focused on protection of air quality, water quality, migratory birds and species at risk, she says.

“We’re not short of water,” said Tim Gayda, VANOC vice-president of sport during a broadcast press conference Jan. 28. “We have a reservoir on-mountain that has run-off water from the area and water from the sky.”

Few details about energy use

While Environment Canada and VANOC have provided some information on the water used for snow making, nothing has been said publicly regarding energy consumption of the snow-making machines at Cypress.

“It’s a surprising amount and people should hear about it,” said Andrea Harden-Donahue, energy expert at Council of Canadians.

Each snow-making machine at Cypress Mountain, called a Super PoleCat, will use 624 kWh of energy daily if operated continuously, said Bill Topham, general manager of SMI SnowMakers Inc. SMI manufactures the Super PoleCat and there are 35 at Cypress.

VANOC lays a base of straw to be covered with man-made snow.

Operating around-the-clock since November, at that rate the 35 machines have used more than 20,000 kWh daily and 611,520 kWh each month.

In contrast, the average Ontario family consumes about 1,000 kwH monthly, reported the Independent Electricity System Operator, the body responsible for the day-to-day operation of Ontario's electrical system.

“[The energy for snow making] represents a significant amount of energy consumption,” says Harden-Donahue. “This is just one example, despite what they're saying, that there are significant environmental impacts.”

The high level of energy use is disturbing in a time of climate crisis, she says.

While the water and energy used thus far for snow-making shocked some experts, others weren’t as alarmed.

Little greenhouse gas impact

“When I look at the figures, they’re large but not astronomical,” says Orion Henderson, manager of climate change and energy at the University of British Columbia’s sustainability office. “Although it would be preferable if it was snowing and we didn’t have to make the snow.”

These big events are certainly resource intensive, he says, but a positive aspect of the energy use is that most of it will be hydro-electric – meaning small amounts in greenhouse gas emissions.

Snow groomers haul snow to cover the straw base.

To Harden-Donahue though, the water and energy used thus far by VANOC for snow-making delves into a deeper issue.

“We feel access to energy is a human need and right, and when you have families struggling to pay energy bills, contrasted by such a consumption of energy for the games, it raises questions of where our government’s priorities are,” she says.

Cypress has experienced some of the worst snow conditions of the outdoor Olympic event sites, especially in comparison to events at higher altitudes like Whistler Blackcomb. VANOC closed Cypress to the public Jan. 13 in order to conserve what little snow heavy rains had left behind.

Since then, officials announced they would have to truck in snow from higher altitudes and build up the event sites with wood and straw. The organizers say they remain confident they will have enough snow for the events to run as planned.

How Man Makes Snow

Click on the orange spots to explore the steps of snow making and its effects on the environment.