Vail Valley goes for the green.

• Position: STATE OF THE STATE: NEWS & NOTES ON COLORADO BUSINESS - Enviromrntal aspects of Alpine World Ski Championships - Brief article

POLITICAL LEANINGS ASIDE, if you're passionate about skiing, you're arguably passionate about the outdoors. And given the sport's prerequisite for snow, climate change and environmental footprints are genuine concerns.

Thus, propelled by the momentum of the February event, Actively Green 2015 is an initiative of the 2015 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships to elevate the Vail Valley's sustainability performance and improve on the community's reputation as a world-class destination. Since September 2013, Actively Green has supported the adoption, integration and certification of sustainability best practices, targeting an initial 100 organizations, from lodging businesses and tour operators to restaurants and retail in the area.

"We're using this event as a catalyst to engage businesses in sustainability," said Kim Langmaid, vice president, director of sustainability and stewardship programs for the Walking Mountain Science Center. "The 2015 environmental committee was tasked to do something that was innovative and that would leave a legacy beyond the 2015 Championships."

She pointed to the Sonnenalp Hotel, which has been...