Finding balance: The Cableway’s commitment to greening our planet
With COP17 (the 17th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) still fresh in our minds, now is the time to start doing more to preserve our environment.
From up here, we see our responsibility clearly
The Cableway is proud of its ongoing green initiatives. Operating within a World Heritage Site and on the slopes of one of the provisional New7Wonders of Nature is a lot of responsibility. We are fully aware of the importance of balancing our core business of high volumes of visitors with a sensitive biosphere.
Image courtesy Marie Viljoen
And our progress can be seen in the amount of fresh water and energy we have saved since 2009, as well as in the steady increase in the amount of waste we have recycled over the past three years.
In 2009, the Cableway consumed 5 872 kilolitres of fresh water. Last year, only 3 733 kilolitres were consumed – an impressive 38% decrease in fresh-water consumption. We recognise that water is a precious commodity, and hope to carry on saving water with the continued cooperation of our visitors.
Our electricity-saving measures – including the fitting of timers and blankets to all essential geysers, the usage of energy-saving bulbs in all light fittings and the regulation of all air conditioners on site – have resulted in a decrease of 20% in kilowatt hours over the last three years.
At the beginning of March 2010, the Cableway joined forces with WastePlan, a company that specialises in recycling and landfill reduction. With a carefully strategised recycling plan under our belts, we managed to recycle more than 13 000kg of waste in 2011.
Image courtesy of ❣karma❣just❣far❣
Green stewardship
Over the years, our passion for the environment has earned us several prestigious awards and accolades. At the end 2011, the Cableway was named Overall Winner at the Imvelo Responsible Tourism Awards. Imvelo recognises businesses that make a continued and concerted contribution towards being sustainable and lowering their impact on the environment. In 2010, the Cableway earned Heritage Platinum status for environmental management, as well as the SANParks Cape Regional Achievement Award for Business Partner of the Year.
From up here, we see our responsibility clearly. The Imvelo Responsible Tourism booklet for 2011 describes the Cableway as being “at the forefront of environmental stewardship”. We aim to continue reducing our impact on the precious surrounds under our care, as well as raising awareness around the fragility of Table Mountain’s rich ecosystem.
Teaching our children the same respect for our planet is an important foundation to lay for the future. Why not sign up for the Class in the Clouds programme and plant seeds in the minds of our future leaders – so that as they grow and flourish, the environment flourishes with them.
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