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What Is GREEN Las Vegas?
GREEN Las Vegas means LEED-certified buildings, renewable energy installations, and innovative water conservation strategies.
Given Las Vegas' public image as Sin City with a tendency toward excess in everything, this idea may be hard to accept.
But over the last few years, local businesses, residents and southern Nevada government agencies have been focusing on becoming model citizens in this new Green Age. And they've made a lot of progress in spite of the current economic crisis that's forced some well-intentioned projects to scale themselves back for the time being.
Here's a brief overview of that story to date.
Photo courtesy of LV News Bureau / LVCVA
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REVISION IN PROGRESS
Green Las Vegas - Green-Building Projects
In 2005, the Nevada Legislature passed a tax-rebate program to encourage developers to build new projects in accordance with the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards established by the U.S. Green Building Council.
Local casinos, among others, responded by launching huge projects that promised to redefine downtown Las Vegas. The new projects on Las Vegas Blvd. build 'up' rather than 'out.' And concentrate gaming, hotel rooms, condos, shopping, recreation, etc. around more densely populated urban centers.
When the economic downturn hit in 2008, all the projects came under financial pressure as funding contracted. Some projects have been modified to trim costs. Other have been halted, postponed or canceled outright.
The Palazzo Resort-Hotel-Casino
In April 2008, The Palazzo Las Vegas became the largest LEED-certified building in the world. And the primary Green hotel in Las Vegas. More info...
CityCenter: The Future of Urban Living
MGM Mirage's $7 billion, 76-acre city-within-a-city on The Las Vegas Strip. A multi-use project designed with green technologies to make it one of the world's largest environmentally sustainable urban communities. More info...
Echelon Place: The Epitome of Modern Luxury
Boyd Gaming's $4.4 billion, 87-acre mixed-use space on The Las Vegas Strip. Construction temporarily suspended. More info...
Union Park
A 61-acre development by the City of Las Vegas, which is the first project in Nevada accepted as part of the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED for Neighborhood Development program. The project includes:
Las Vegas Springs Preserve
A 180-acre, $250-million non-gaming cultural and historical attraction designed to commemorate the dynamic history of Las Vegas, while providing a vision for a sustainable future in the desert. Springs Preserve hosts the Desert Living Center, Nevada State Museum, Springs Preserve Cafe, garden trails, classes, meeting facilities, concerts & performances and much more.
VegasPBS
The dramatic changes involved with VegasPBS Going Green are covered in an article (PDF format) about the local PBS station and the Clark County School District (CCSD) creating a LEED-Certified Educational Technology Campus (ETC) that houses the PBS studios, CCSD virtual high school, and the emergency response data casting operations to back up Nevada's Homeland Security capacities.
Cashman Equipment
A 7-building, 308,000-square-foot corporate headquarters is awaiting certification by the U.S. Green Building Council as the first LEED (Leadership in Energy Efficiency and Design) Gold industrial campus in Nevada.
USGBC: LEED Project List
To find other LEED projects in southern Nevada -- or anywhere else -- U.S. Green Building Council maintains a searchable database of 'Registered' and 'Certified' projects. They also offer a complete list of 'Registered' projects you can download as a PDF file.
Local casinos, among others, responded by launching huge projects that promised to redefine downtown Las Vegas. The new projects on Las Vegas Blvd. build 'up' rather than 'out.' And concentrate gaming, hotel rooms, condos, shopping, recreation, etc. around more densely populated urban centers.
When the economic downturn hit in 2008, all the projects came under financial pressure as funding contracted. Some projects have been modified to trim costs. Other have been halted, postponed or canceled outright.
Some LEED-Designed Projects...
The Palazzo Resort-Hotel-Casino
In April 2008, The Palazzo Las Vegas became the largest LEED-certified building in the world. And the primary Green hotel in Las Vegas. More info...
CityCenter: The Future of Urban Living
MGM Mirage's $7 billion, 76-acre city-within-a-city on The Las Vegas Strip. A multi-use project designed with green technologies to make it one of the world's largest environmentally sustainable urban communities. More info...
Echelon Place: The Epitome of Modern Luxury
Boyd Gaming's $4.4 billion, 87-acre mixed-use space on The Las Vegas Strip. Construction temporarily suspended. More info...
Union Park
A 61-acre development by the City of Las Vegas, which is the first project in Nevada accepted as part of the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED for Neighborhood Development program. The project includes:
- 2000-seat Smith Center for the Performing Arts.
- Lou Ruvo Brain Institute & Cleveland Clinic partnership. Building designed by Frank Gehry.
- World Jewelry Center.
- and much more.
Las Vegas Springs Preserve
A 180-acre, $250-million non-gaming cultural and historical attraction designed to commemorate the dynamic history of Las Vegas, while providing a vision for a sustainable future in the desert. Springs Preserve hosts the Desert Living Center, Nevada State Museum, Springs Preserve Cafe, garden trails, classes, meeting facilities, concerts & performances and much more.
VegasPBS
The dramatic changes involved with VegasPBS Going Green are covered in an article (PDF format) about the local PBS station and the Clark County School District (CCSD) creating a LEED-Certified Educational Technology Campus (ETC) that houses the PBS studios, CCSD virtual high school, and the emergency response data casting operations to back up Nevada's Homeland Security capacities.
Cashman Equipment
A 7-building, 308,000-square-foot corporate headquarters is awaiting certification by the U.S. Green Building Council as the first LEED (Leadership in Energy Efficiency and Design) Gold industrial campus in Nevada.
USGBC: LEED Project List
To find other LEED projects in southern Nevada -- or anywhere else -- U.S. Green Building Council maintains a searchable database of 'Registered' and 'Certified' projects. They also offer a complete list of 'Registered' projects you can download as a PDF file.
Green Las Vegas - LEED Projects
In 2005, the Nevada Legislature passed a tax-rebate program to encourage building 'GREEN.'
Here's a few examples of some local ground-breaking GREEN projects currently completed and underway.
Here's a few examples of some local ground-breaking GREEN projects currently completed and underway.
- The Palazzo Las Vegas
- The largest LEED-certified building in the world. (Green Lodging News)
Additional Information
- CityCenter: The Future of Urban Living
- MGM Mirage's $7 billion, 76-acre city-within-a-city on The Las Vegas Strip.
Additional Information
- Echelon Place: The Epitome of Modern Luxury
- Boyd Gaming's $4.4 billion, 87-acre mixed-use space on The Las Vegas Strip.
Additional Information
- Sullivan Square
- Glen Development's $1 billion, 16.5-acre mixed-income, mixed-use project.
Additional Information
- Union Park
- A 61-acre development by the City of Las Vegas, which is the first project in Nevada accepted as part of the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED for Neighborhood Development program. Includes:
- 2000-seat Smith Center for the Performing Arts.
- "Keep Memory Alive, the Foundation for the Lou Ruvo Brain Institute," designed by Frank Gehry.
- World Jewelry Center.
- and much more.
- Green Valley Lofts LLC
- $25-million, 44-unit condominium complex consisting of 1,200- to 2,100-square-foot homes, ...the project is seeking a Gold LEED certification.
- Verge Lofts
- A 296-unit project built to LEED green building specifications.
- Somerset Community
- The Somerset Community (in Henderson) being built by Concordia Homes is the first solar-power new-home development in Nevada. Also the first GE ecomagination-inspired housing in the nation. Not much info on website; coming soon. Call Concordia directly for more information.
- USGBC: LEED Project List
- To find other LEED projects in southern Nevada -- or anywhere else -- U.S. Green Building Council maintains a searchable database of 'Registered' and 'Certified' projects. They also offer a complete list of 'Registered' projects you can download as a PDF file.
NOTE: PDF files require Adobe Reader. Download it here for FREE.
=========== News re: GREEN Development => - CityCenter one big green machine
- January 22, 2007 -- "...The landmark Strip project hopes to receive Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification, signifying that it uses environmentally friendly design and construction." (Las Vegas Sun)
- Tax Abatement Prompts More Casinos to Bet on LEED
- January 22, 2007 -- "Boyd Gaming officials say they hope to obtain LEED certification for Echelon Place..." (Environmental Leader)
- Casinos see the green in going green
- March 14, 2007 -- "Folks who set the standards for environmentally friendly buildings probably didn't envision the day when Las Vegas casinos would go "green." (Las Vegas Sun)
- In Las Vegas, Too Many Hotels Are Never Enough
- April 24, 2007 -- "...with Las Vegas in the midst of another big building boom, Mr. [Stephen} Wynn only shrugs when people suggest that the nation's premier gambling center, with 151,000 rooms and counting, simply cannot absorb any more new hotels." (New York Times)
- Move to cut 'green' tax breaks has many seeing red
- May 14, 2007 -- "...The maneuver by the Legislature to suspend the tax breaks approved in 2005 came after state revenue forecasts failed to meet expectations and lawmakers went looking for sources to make up a budget gap that could be made even worse by the incentives." (Nevada Appeal)
- 'Green' at what price to Nevadans?
- October 6, 2007 -- "Only now are the effects being realized from the green tax breaks passed by the Legislature in 2005 and altered earlier this year. ...Local governments say they won't be able to add as many police officers, firefighters and teachers as they would have without the law. ...There will be less money for new roads and parks and to take care of the mentally ill." (Las Vegas Sun)
- CityCenter Driving the Local Move toward GREEN
- November 23, 2007 - scroll down page to: description of how the massive CityCenter project is driving new GREEN-product development. And training the local workforce how to build GREEN. (Las Vegas Sun)
- Vegas' green building boom
- December 7, 2007 - "Las Vegas is booming, but so is the movement towards a smarter way of doing things. Through efficiency and conservation, Las Vegas can provide the same luxuries most visitors expect while using less energy and resources. ...there are now over 30 registered LEED projects in the Las Vegas area." (Rocky Mountain Institute on Yahoo! Green)
- Pulte erects two green homes
- December 12, 2007 - "For Pulte, the two houses have provided a test drive of building to LEED criteria, helping the company understand how it would have to modify its construction processes and materials to meet the guidelines, said Sasha Jackowich, a Pulte spokeswoman. The goal: to learn how to make LEED construction easier." (Las Vegas Review Journal)
- Green homebuilding concepts becoming concrete
- January 11, 2008 -- "After years of committees and discussions and negotiations, the Southern Nevada Green Building Partnership, in conjunction with five area builders, is seeing the first midpriced certified green homes being built in Las Vegas." (In Business Las Vegas)
- Green Acres: More Nevada businesses giving green light to green
- February 11, 2008 -- "Green building is increasingly getting a green light these days from contractors and architects as well as owners and developers. ...Companies are now realizing the benefits of green development -- improved work performance, reduced absenteeism, lower energy bills and enhanced public image." (Las Vegas Business Press)
Las Vegas Green - Water Conservation
In a desert, water becomes much more valuable than gold. And Las Vegas Valley is no exception.
Early settlers to the area discovered an abundant aquafer below the valley floor. Unfortunately, they managed to squander this valuable resource within a few decades.
Today water from the Colorado River stored behind Hoover Dam in Lake Mead supplies most of the valley's water needs. But a year's-long drought has lowered the reservoir to such a degree that water levels may fall below the city's water intake pipelines. The local water authority has responded aggressively with intiatives such as:
A visit to Springs Preserve tells the story of Las Vegas water: past, present and future. Or visit some of the websites listed below.
Springs Preserve
aka: 'The Birthplace of Las Vegas' and listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1978. Springs Preserve is a 180-acre, $250-million non-gaming cultural and historical attraction designed to commemorate the dynamic history of Las Vegas, while providing a vision for a sustainable future.
Springs Preserve showcases sustainable living in the desert southwest. And hosts the Desert Living Center, Nevada State Museum, garden trails, classes, meeting facilities, concerts & performances and much more.
Desert Living Center
Designers incorporated innovative measures into every phase of the Desert Living Center to achieve Platinum LEED Certification (the toughest standards set by the U.S. Green Building Council).
Sustainability Gallery featuring exhibits such as:
Las Vegas Valley Water District (LVVWD)
Everything about the valley's water resources and how to conserve in a desert environment. Springs Preserve is a holding of LVVWD, which is a member agency of Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA)
Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA)
Formed 1991 to coordinate policies for 7 water districts: Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, Henderson, Boulder City & more. Excellent resources on their website:
"Change Your Clock" Watering Resources
Guidance from Southern Nevada Water Authority for managing water usage for irrigation (lawns, gardens, etc.).
Early settlers to the area discovered an abundant aquafer below the valley floor. Unfortunately, they managed to squander this valuable resource within a few decades.
Today water from the Colorado River stored behind Hoover Dam in Lake Mead supplies most of the valley's water needs. But a year's-long drought has lowered the reservoir to such a degree that water levels may fall below the city's water intake pipelines. The local water authority has responded aggressively with intiatives such as:
- an innovative water recycling system that captures, cleans and returns to the Colorado River water from homes and businesses.
- incentives that encourages businesses and residents to replace grass lawns with more desert-appropriate landscaping.
- a building project that's installing a 3rd water intake at a lower water level behind Hoover Dam as a hedge against continued drought.
- an effort to find available water resources in northern Nevada and adjacent states.
A visit to Springs Preserve tells the story of Las Vegas water: past, present and future. Or visit some of the websites listed below.
Springs Preserve
aka: 'The Birthplace of Las Vegas' and listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1978. Springs Preserve is a 180-acre, $250-million non-gaming cultural and historical attraction designed to commemorate the dynamic history of Las Vegas, while providing a vision for a sustainable future.
Springs Preserve showcases sustainable living in the desert southwest. And hosts the Desert Living Center, Nevada State Museum, garden trails, classes, meeting facilities, concerts & performances and much more.
Desert Living Center
Designers incorporated innovative measures into every phase of the Desert Living Center to achieve Platinum LEED Certification (the toughest standards set by the U.S. Green Building Council).
Sustainability Gallery featuring exhibits such as:
- Travel with household refuse on its journey to becoming rich fertilizer in the "Compost Crawl".
- Make sustainable shopping choices in "Smart Shopper," and see how they directly impact the environment.
- Learn how environmentally friendly cars are made.
Las Vegas Valley Water District (LVVWD)
Everything about the valley's water resources and how to conserve in a desert environment. Springs Preserve is a holding of LVVWD, which is a member agency of Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA)
Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA)
Formed 1991 to coordinate policies for 7 water districts: Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, Henderson, Boulder City & more. Excellent resources on their website:
- Conservation Tips & Rebates
- Drought Info & Water Restrictions
- Landscaping Options & Tips
- Doing Business in S. Nevada
- Water Quality
- Current and Potential Water Sources
"Change Your Clock" Watering Resources
Guidance from Southern Nevada Water Authority for managing water usage for irrigation (lawns, gardens, etc.).
Green Las Vegas - Water
Springs Preserve showcases sustainable living in the desert southwest. And hosts the Desert Living Center, Nevada State Museum, garden trails, classes, meeting facilities, concerts & performances and much more.
- Springs Preserve in the Heart of Las Vegas Valley
- aka: 'The Birthplace of Las Vegas' and listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1978. Springs Preserve is a 180-acre, $250-million non-gaming cultural and historical attraction designed to commemorate the dynamic history of Las Vegas, while providing a vision for a sustainable future.
- Desert Living Center at Springs Preserve
- Designers incorporated innovative measures into every phase of the Desert Living Center to achieve Platinum LEED Certification (the toughest standards set by the U.S. Green Building Council).
- Sustainability Gallery at Springs Reserve
- Sample Exhibits
- Travel with household refuse on its journey to becoming rich fertilizer in the "Compost Crawl".
- Make sustainable shopping choices in "Smart Shopper," and see how they directly impact the environment.
- Learn how environmentally friendly cars are made.
- Springs Preserve offers view of Las Vegas' past, future
- August 13, 2007 -- a review by Ken Ritter, Associated Press Writer in USAToday Travel.
============ The Water Challenge => - Las Vegas Valley Water District (LVVWD)
- Everything about the valley's water resources and how to conserve in a desert environment. Springs Preserve is a holding of LVVWD, which is a member agency of Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA)
- Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA)
- Formed 1991 to coordinate policies for 7 water districts: Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, Henderson, Boulder City & more. Excellent resources on their website:
- "Change Your Clock" Watering Resources
- Guidance from Southern Nevada Water Authority for managing water usage for irrigation (lawns, gardens, etc.).
- Las Vegas Water Supply Needs Alternative
- August 16, 2007 -- "The warmest July on record in Las Vegas with an average of 107 degrees and half of the normal rainfall for the month didn't help. This is a race against the worsening drought. A race against population growth and a race against running out of water in Las Vegas."(local CBS-TV affiliate Channel 8)
- Clock is Ticking on Las Vegas' Water Supply
- August 17, 2007 -- "Even if all of the water projects are finished and everything starts working on time, the Southern Nevada Water Authority still predicts a shortage. ... by 2010, the valley will be short 64-million gallons of water a day. (local CBS-TV affiliate Channel 8)
- Las Vegas water plan blasted
- February 8, 2008 -- "Ranchers and conservationists teamed up Friday to blast a plan to pump billions of gallons of water to Las Vegas as a 'boondoggle' that will dry up a large swath of rural Nevada and over time not give the gambling mecca the water it wants." (CNNMoney.com)
- Las Vegas water rates increasing; officials cite drought, supply
- February 20, 2008 -- "Water is going to be more expensive this summer in southern Nevada,...Las Vegas Valley Water District officials cited ongoing drought and increasing fears of supply shortages for the rate hike." (local ABC-TV affiliate Channel 13)
Green Las Vegas - Power Generation
Nevada Energy
Nevada's state-wide electricity provider, which is the No. 1 state in the nation in solar watts per capita and solar as a percentage of retail sales. The company actively encourages Conservation in Homes and in Busineses. And currently operates 3 Renewable Generations projects:
Ausra Solar Thermal Manufacturing Plant
Owned and operated by the Palo Alto, Calif.-based company Ausra, which opened the 130,000-square-foot facility near McCarran International Airport in 2008.
Nevada Solar One
Acciona's Nevada Solar One is the largest concentrating solar power plant to be built in the last 17 years. And is the third largest plant of its kind in the world. The US$260 million-dollar plant is located in Boulder City, NV. And has been in operation since June 2007.
Nellis Solar
Nellis Air Force Base opened the Nellis Solar Power Plant, which is the largest solar photovoltaic electric plant in North America." The $100 million facility generates 15 megawatts of electricity, enough power for 11,000 homes."
Nevada Geothermal Resource Report (PDF format)
...from the Geothermal Energy Association states: "...Nevada is on-track to be producing more than 1000 megawatts (MW) of geothermal power...[and] would meet roughly 25% of the state's total power needs..."
Nevada's state-wide electricity provider, which is the No. 1 state in the nation in solar watts per capita and solar as a percentage of retail sales. The company actively encourages Conservation in Homes and in Busineses. And currently operates 3 Renewable Generations projects:
- Solar Generations - offers rebates to customers for installing photovoltaic systems on their homes, small businesses, public buildings, or schools.
- Wind Generations - offers rebates to customers for installing wind generating systems on their homes, small businesses, agricultural properties, public buildings, or schools
- Hydro Generations - offers rebates to customers for installing hydro generating systems on their agricultural property
Ausra Solar Thermal Manufacturing Plant
Owned and operated by the Palo Alto, Calif.-based company Ausra, which opened the 130,000-square-foot facility near McCarran International Airport in 2008.
Nevada Solar One
Acciona's Nevada Solar One is the largest concentrating solar power plant to be built in the last 17 years. And is the third largest plant of its kind in the world. The US$260 million-dollar plant is located in Boulder City, NV. And has been in operation since June 2007.
Nellis Solar
Nellis Air Force Base opened the Nellis Solar Power Plant, which is the largest solar photovoltaic electric plant in North America." The $100 million facility generates 15 megawatts of electricity, enough power for 11,000 homes."
Nevada Geothermal Resource Report (PDF format)
...from the Geothermal Energy Association states: "...Nevada is on-track to be producing more than 1000 megawatts (MW) of geothermal power...[and] would meet roughly 25% of the state's total power needs..."
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