Las Vegas casinos working at being green

From the Las Vegas Review Journal:

In a city where near-excessive consumption and the pursuit of luxury are promoted as official pastimes — at least for tourists — casinos are beginning to embrace their inner conservationists.

MGM Mirage has created the department of energy and environmental resources; the company is building CityCenter using U.S. Green Building Council standards; the Palazzo recently was designated the largest Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design-certified building in the world. And that’s just a handful of green-related events and undertakings by local resorts and casinos. “I know that there’s an increased interest among hotels for sustainability-related initiatives,” says David Hassenzahl, chairman of the environmental studies department at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. “This is driven by a couple things. Increasing numbers of consumers care about it, and it can save them a lot of money.”

To some outsiders, the idea that Las Vegas — especially casinos — could “go green” is laughable, says Hassenzahl, who gives talks around the nation on sustainability in Sin City. They see things like Bellagio’s lake and wonder why so much water is wasted in a desert experiencing a years-long drought. Or they look at the thousands of lights that dot the landscape and marvel at the power it consumes. What they don’t know is that the lake water doesn’t come from the municipal supply and many of those lights are low-energy.

Okay…. so what about water?

Local resorts do better at conserving water than most residents, according to the Southern Nevada Water Authority. Low-flow water fixtures such as faucets, urinals and toilets, have been mandated in building codes for several years, says water district spokesman J.C. Davis, meaning newer properties are constructed with such water-saving measures. But indoor water usage isn’t the problem, as it is recycled back into the supply, Davis says. It’s the outdoor usage.

Resorts have done a good job at cutting down; since they maximize their land to build as much casino or hotel as possible, little of it actually is covered in grass. What landscaping there is may look like it requires a lot of watering, but it’s actually water-friendly. Red Rock Resort’s pool area looks lush, but there’s not a single blade of grass there, spokeswoman Nelson says. Santa Fe Station recently removed 200,000 square feet of grass, replacing it with desert-friendly plants and benches, Nelson says. The property now will save six million gallons of water a year.

The water authority gives a $1.50 rebate for every square foot of grass that is replaced with desert-friendly landscaping, Davis says, so a resort actually curbs its capital expenditures when making the switch from turf to xeriscaping.

“I think there was a concern that Las Vegas visitors expect a break from reality, if you will. Resorts were reluctant to intrude on that experience by reminding them they were in the desert,” Davis says. “Really, what we’ve tried to convey to them is that offering a high-end experience to their guests and being water efficient aren’t mutually exclusive. People have come to appreciate the efforts to save water.”

Read the full text of this story from the Las Vegas Review-Journal by clicking here.

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