Sin City is investing millions in sustainability measures, from saving water to increasing solar energy.

Las Vegas is famous for bright lights, excess and hedonism. But America’s playground — or better known as Sin City — is going green. The city has invested millions to support sustainability initiatives, from water conservation and waste management to solar energy.

“This effort began in earnest in 2005,” says Marco Velotta, who serves as the city’s chief sustainability officer. Recovery Act of 2009“. Federal law established targets for renewable energy, water conservation, recycling and green buildings.

“With the Improvement Act and direction from the City Council, the city was able to make an initial investment of $75 million (£58 million) in sustainability projects,” says Velotta.

The Las Vegas strip, in particular, has redoubled its efforts to transition to renewable energy. Many resorts have developed sustainability initiatives through 10 years of 50% ownership tax reduction program it was previously offered by the city (the program is now closed). Resorts are also required to comply with the state’s standards. Obtaining 40% of energy from renewable sources. “Most of them exceeded 40%,” says Velotta. “Las Vegas has come a long way in a short time.

“Initially, tourists were also surprised by the city’s sustainability efforts. But since Las Vegas has emerged as a leader in this field, sustainability has become part of the city’s overall story.”

Although progress on Las Vegas’ famously overloaded strip seems impressive (Las Vegas’ commercial sector accounts for a third of total revenue). Nevada’s total energy useThe strip starts from a “relatively low baseline,” notes Steffen Lehmann, professor of architecture and urban planning at the University of Las Vegas in Nevada. But he adds: “The Strip is making remarkable progress with a concerted effort to improve the energy efficiency of resort hotels through solar integration and increased natural daylight.”

Vegas second in the USA Honolulu is number one in terms of solar energy capacity per capita. “Sin City could be called Sun City,” says Lehmann. And resorts benefit from this 320 days the amount of sunlight the city receives each year.

Accommodation company MGM Resorts International developed its own 100 megawatt solar panelIt provides electricity to its 11 properties in Las Vegas; This is equivalent to the electricity of 27,000 homes. But even this, plus additional energy purchased from a solar supplier, is not enough to power 11 properties around the clock. The company has a goal of providing all its energy from renewable sources by 2030.

Las Vegas is located in the water-scarce Mojave Desert, making water conservation “very important” in the hotel chain’s efforts to make its operations sustainable, says Michael Gulich, vice president of environmental sustainability at MGM Resorts International. He says MGM hotel properties on the strip have saved 16 billion gallons of water since 2007 thanks to “aggressive” water policies. These include replacing lawns with desert-friendly landscaping, installing water-saving faucets on all properties, and reusing water in aquariums and the Bellagio Fountain.

“Total water use per capita (in Vegas) is still very high,” warns Lehmann. “There was this excess waste before (the resorts) started conserving water in 2007.”

Resorts World Hotel in 2023 announced Two years after opening, it reached a milestone by being powered entirely by renewable energy sources. NV Energy provides renewable energy to the 3,500-room facility, derived Solar, geothermal and wind farms in Nevada.

Brandon Morrison, the hotel’s head of sustainability, says 13,000 tonnes of steel were salvaged during construction from the framework of a development abandoned during the 2008 boomtown boom. He added that the firm had invested more than $1bn (£772m) in energy efficiency improvements.

“Although Resorts World offers impressive sustainability numbers, it remains an anomaly among hotels on the Strip, many of which underperform in terms of environmental responsibility,” says Lehmann.

He adds that the significant solar power and water conservation initiatives used by many resorts in Las Vegas are “necessary steps for a rapidly growing desert city.” “The Strip has emerged as a remarkable case study in the effective use of renewable solar energy and water conservation.”

There are still big challenges ahead for this extremely energy-intensive city.

“The major sources of greenhouse gas emissions in the city are twofold: public transportation, “Especially from cars and trucks and excessive use of air conditioning,” says Lehmann. “As a young desert city that is only 119 years old, Las Vegas must work diligently to be resourceful and sustainable.”

More and more resorts are developing their own solar power systems that include battery backup systems so that solar energy can be stored and used when the sun goes down. More than 97% water Recycling what is used in Las Vegas, Lehmann adds, is vital given the rapidly depleting Colorado River which city it belongs to for fresh water.

“We are pleased to see that Las Vegas was once seen as a city of waste and excess,” Velotta says. “However, thanks to our comprehensive sustainability efforts, we are now recognized as a global leader in sustainability and environmental commitment.”

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