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Are you looking for best practices for managing energy, water and waste at your backcountry facility? Would you like to get in touch with other operators of backcountry facilities and build upon their experiences? Do you want to learn about the most recent technological advances and how you can incorporate them into your operations?

BEES (Backcountry Energy Environmental Solutions) is here to assist you.

BEES is a non-profit initiative that collects information, facilitates research and shares information about energy, water and waste management at recreational facilities in off-grid mountainous regions. The technologies that BEES develops will have application in mountainous regions around the world.

The purpose of BEES is to assist operators of backcountry facilities in generating energy, water and waste management practices that are functional, economical and environmentally appropriate.

Providing energy and potable water, and treating grey water and sewage is exceptionally challenging in mountainous backcountry regions. These regions are fragile and ecologically sensitive. Cold temperatures, heavy snowfall, short hours of winter sunlight and turbid water supplies inhibit the application of technologies used at lower elevations. Remote locations require reliable technologies and present challenges in carrying out basic maintenance on equipment. Solutions are often complex and require an interdisciplinary approach.