How Can Ski Resorts Get Smart? Transdisciplinary Approaches to Sustainable Winter Tourism in the European Alps

Annemarie Polderman, Andreas Haller, Diego Viesi, Xavier Tabin, Stefano Sala, Annamaria Giorgi, Loïc Darmayan, Jakob Rager, Jelena Vidovič, Quentin Daragon, Yves Verchère, Uroš Zupan, Nadine Houbé, Kati Heinrich, Oliver Bender and Yann Bidault
Additional contact information
Annemarie Polderman: Institute for Interdisciplinary Mountain Research, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Innsbruck 6020, Austria
Andreas Haller: Institute for Interdisciplinary Mountain Research, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Innsbruck 6020, Austria
Diego Viesi: Applied Research on Energy Systems, Fondazione Bruno Kessler, 38123 Trento, Italy
Xavier Tabin: Centre de Recherches Energétiques et Municipales (CREM), 1920 Martigny, Switzerland
Stefano Sala: Centre of Applied Studies for the Sustainable Management and Protection of Mountain Areas, University of Milan, 25048 Edolo, Italy
Annamaria Giorgi: Centre of Applied Studies for the Sustainable Management and Protection of Mountain Areas, University of Milan, 25048 Edolo, Italy
Loïc Darmayan: Centre de Recherches Energétiques et Municipales (CREM), 1920 Martigny, Switzerland
Jakob Rager: Centre de Recherches Energétiques et Municipales (CREM), 1920 Martigny, Switzerland
Jelena Vidovič: BSC Kranj, 4000 Kranj, Slovenia
Quentin Daragon: Electricité de France, 13015 Marseille, France
Yves Verchère: SEMLORE, Bâtiment Administratif Les Orres 1650, 05200 Les Orres, France
Uroš Zupan: RTC Krvavec, 4207 Cerklje na Gorenjskem, Slovenia
Nadine Houbé: Institute for Interdisciplinary Mountain Research, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Innsbruck 6020, Austria
Kati Heinrich: Institute for Interdisciplinary Mountain Research, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Innsbruck 6020, Austria
Oliver Bender: Institute for Interdisciplinary Mountain Research, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Innsbruck 6020, Austria
Yann Bidault: YBSolution, 05230 La Bâtie-Neuve, France

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 14, 1-19

Abstract: Climate change and the call for reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, the efficient use of (renewable) energy, and more resilient winter tourism regions, forces ski resorts across the European Alps to look for “smart” approaches to transition towards a sustainable, low-carbon economy. Drawing on the smart-city concept and considering the different historical developments of Alpine resorts, the Smart Altitude Decision-Making Toolkit was developed using a combination of an energy audit tool, a WebGIS, and collaborative and innovative living labs installed in Les Orres (France), Madonna di Campiglio (Italy), Krvavec (Slovenia), and Verbier (Switzerland). This step-by-step Decision-Making Toolkit enables ski resorts to get feedback on their energy demand, an overview of the locally available sources of renewable energy, and insights regarding their potential for improving their energy efficiency by low-carbon interventions. The Decision-Making Toolkit is suitable for knowledge transfer between stakeholders within living labs and moreover provides the flexibility for tailor-made low-carbon strategies adapting to the unique assets and situatedness of ski resorts.

Keywords: mountain tourism; renewable energy; low-carbon economy; living lab; resort towns; transformation knowledge (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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