Backcountry
Sustainability
Sustainability is one of the main focuses at Keefer Lake Lodge to ensure balance with our natural surroundings. Her, we shop local, serve local, utilize solar energy, and are committed to making as little impact on the planet as possible.
Live Local, Source Local
Keefer Lake Lodge holds a dedication to sourcing local and supporting our neighbouring economies whenever possible. From the duvets that keep you warm at night to the shampoo and body wash that are in the showers, many of the products you will use during your stay have been sourced from the Okanagan Valley and Kootenay region.
Living Off-Grid
Living off-grid has its advantages. It also comes with its challenges! During the initial construction back in 2016, the Keefer team needed to source sustainable ways to introduce heating and power into the property. Several years later, Keefer Lake Lodge continues its unwavering commitment to sustainability and responsible resource management at the heart of its operations.
Keeping Things Warm
To keep Keefer Lake Lodge warm in the winter, two wood boilers operate, requiring daily maintenance and a significant wood supply. Wood is sourced from the property and local logging companies. The boilers are connected to glycol circuits that heat the floors, hot water, and the hot tub.
Generating Power
The Keefer team installed a micro-hydro dam which includes a water reservoir. This installation helps generate energy through a turbine then re-directs the water back to the creek. The property also features several solar panels as well as a battery bank to store excess power.
THE DETAILS
- 2 x 500,000 BTU wood boilers
- Glycol chambers and circuits
- 9 wood stoves and fires places
- 20,000-litre reservoir
- 10 solar arrays (80 panels total)
- Battery bank able to store 1000amp hours
WHY IT MATTERS
The helicopter and snowcat (Helicat) business community are working towards implementing best practices for sustainability in mountain ecosystems. As a player in the industry, we recognize that current available technology does not allow for a perfectly sustainable helicopter or snowcat skiing operation. However, committing to current best practices and looking towards the next practices possible will allow us and our fellow operations to continue to evolve towards a more sustainable future.
FOCUSING ON OUR PRIORITIES
As an operation we are fully aligned with the mission statement and goals laid out by Helicat Canada and have put a plan in place to help us achieve these goals and work towards the greater goal of being a carbon neutral operation by 2030.
In their own words
