Because it Matters

How has this idea enhanced your club's operation, etc.?

Desert Mountain Club developed a 5-year partnership with Arizona State University, which yielded a Sustainability Plan created by the Rob and Melani Walton Sustainability Solutions Service. This is a program within the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory at ASU, which focuses on helping businesses and communities develop specific steps to work toward becoming more sustainable. Their research helped us create the plan for our new Receiving, Recycling, and Laundry facility. The facility helps with carbon footprint reduction, water conservation, and energy conservation. Specifically, the new facility greatly improves efficiencies when laundering our linen property-wide (i.e., reduce the amount of water and chemicals used in the process). The facility comes equipped with a data tracking application to assess loads washed each day along with gallons of water used. We use this data to find even more ways to become more efficient. It’s a huge cost savings for us as well, because we were buying items in small quantities and did not have expanded storage capabilities. It now allows us to buy in bulk, launder with state-of-the-art equipment and not overuse water.

How was this idea implemented, and what have been the club members' reactions?

The idea was implemented with the help of ASU creating a Greenhouse Gas Emissions report (GHG) for us. The report has helped us develop a comprehensive plan that will allow us to work towards becoming a more sustainable Club. One of Desert Mountain’s main priorities has always been sustainability and when partnering ASU, we aligned with their mission to drive systematic impact by co-designing equitable solutions that improves lives and communities, contribute to a resilient and ethical society, and ensure a thriving planet. The steps we’ve already taken have elicited widespread appreciation from Members and Teammates, both from the environmental and the cost savings perspective. We are all eager to continue embracing our sustainability journey.