While most fishing lodges and other businesses throughout the United States and Canada are just now considering the advantages and ethical necessity for developing “green” infrastructure, Scott Lake Lodge is entering its second decade of renewable technology.
Solar power
In 1997 the Lodge installed a state of the art solar photovoltaic power system. The large panels on the roof of the main Lodge are more than symbolic. They create DC power which is stored in 96 batteries weighing over 200 pounds each. This stored DC power is then run through invertors and distributed as regular 110 volt electricity 24/7 to the buildings on our 13 acre island. In periods of steady sunshine this system supplies nearly all of the lodge’s power needs. The 16-19 hours of sunlight that hits our island in June and July makes solar a particularly attractive alternative power option for lodges in the far north. (In December it would be another story.)
Conservation In Practice
Helping out the solar system is a strict energy conservation program. Lights in all Lodge buildings utilize low wattage bulbs and all lights are checked by staff when guests are out fishing to make sure that none are left on. The Lodge’s biggest power consumption enemy is the electronic age. A dozen years ago there was not a single computer, satellite phone, electronic game, digital camera or any personal music device on the island. Now every cabin, guest and staff, has several digital or electronic gadgets that demand recharging and suck power. That’s the price of comfort and personal freedom and it’s one we are willing to pay.
Greening of the Generator
The backup diesel generator has been getting a bit more work in the past few years. In 2008 though, even the diesel will see some green help. We will adapt our generator to burn leftover cooking oils and consequently reduce our diesel consumption. Even shore lunch oils (yes, we do have fried fish and French fries at our shore lunches now and them) will be recaptured by the guides and brought back to the island to feed the generator. We have built an ingenious muffler system (think giant pile of rocks) that radically reduces the nose of the generator. When it’s on people can barely hear it and at night the generator is never running. Many guests remark on the quiet of our island at night in contrast to most remote fly in fishing lodges which have the throbbing pulse of a generator interrupting the call of the loons or wolves at night. It’s a win/win with solar power.
Fuel Efficient boat Motors
Electricity isn’t the only power at Scott where conservation and technology are at play. All the outboard motors, the 40 HP Yamahas on the guide boats at Scott and the 25 HP Hondas at the fly out lakes, are highly efficient 2-cycle engines. Fuel consumption with these motors is about half what the older 4-cycle technology provided. And they do not require the addition of oil to the fuel. Clean burning and quiet, these motors also reduce the number of flights required to bring in the unleaded gas, saving aviation gas on that end as well.
Composting Toilets
The Canadian fly in fishing experience rests on clear, clean water. Looking into a lake and spotting fish is one of the thrills of angling in the far north. Scott Lake Lodge wants to keep our water clean and pure. In 2006 composting toilets were installed and have worked perfectly. Not a speck of waste can enter the lake system or ground water. These devices break down human waste and turn it into remarkably small quantities of clean compost. Guests have adapted well to these cool looking toilets which emit no odors and use only a slight amount of water which evaporates in the composting media and is vented out the roof of the cabins. It’s a slick, efficient system. And it reduces our power demand due to the waterless feature. The Lodge’s water comes from the bottom of Scott just off the west side of the island. Pulling water from 30 feet deep and then bringing it up another 50 feet to the top of the island takes a big water pump creating one of our largest single electric draws. Getting rid of flush toilets was an energy conservation move as well as a pollution protector.
Friends of the Environment
Little things also make a difference. Reduce, reuse and recycle have been part of the island culture for years. All cans and bottles are crushed and shipped back to “civilization”, assuming you want to call Stony Rapids civilization, for reclaiming. The Lodge policy of barbless hooks and catch and release fishing fits into the green theme as well. We are treading lightly on the lands and waters. Our goal is to provide guests with a memorable wilderness experience without compromising the very resource itself. We always encourage our guests to take out our canoes or kayaks and take a hike on our nature trail.
If it were not for the fabulous fishing, Scott Lake Lodge could be a full blown eco-lodge. But most people want to fish. With outboard motors, even 4-cycles, and airplanes we will always have a carbon footprint. We will do our best to keep it small. So while some fly in fishing lodges are still thinking of going green Scott Lake Lodge is long gone green.