Even With Neon Lights Vegas Is Going Green

As a result of the small amount of resources and our ever increasing needs many individuals and businesses are trying to go green. The Las Vegas strip is essentially leading the pack. Las Vegas Boulevard sits in the center of the desert. In normal years they only get four inches of rain per year, but they have been in a drought for several of those years.

They rely a great deal on scarce resources. Most of the city depends a lot on oil and natural gas to keep the city going. In July of this year the city sucked up 5,586 megawatts. These are huge numbers and the city of light can’t use non-renewable resources forever. The city itself has to rely on Lake Mead for its water. In October 1999 water at Hoover Dam was 1,213 feet deep but now it’s only 1,093 which means the water level has gone down by 120 feet.

This metropolitan sucks up huge numbers of energy and it can’t keep doing that. Thus the city has made some changes which will allow the city to keep going but support a sustainable model. The city is making efforts to go green slowly but surely.

Harrah’s Entertainment owns both Caesars Palace and Paris Las Vegas has already spent $60 million on conservation changes in the last six years. There have even been cooperative projects like a multi-resort laundry facility which has slashed water use by 30 percent in the face of the 40 percent increase in size and a cogeneration plant that can create enough electricity to power one of the hotels two towers.

They have also begun building new casinos that are kinder to the ecosystem. City Center, MGM Mirage’s 67-acre resort complex was developed green enough that they were awarded the LEED Gold Certified, the second highest qualification from from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) . The casino will reduce the use of electricity by using a cogeneration plant, glass and sunshades that let light in but reflect the heat and low-flow fixtures which reduce indoor water use. Plus the excess heat will be used to warm the resorts water supply.

Even though the new hotel is gigantic, the designers really challenged themselves. They decided to make a larger building that was environmentally friendly over a smaller building that was semi green. The designers pushed themselves on green designs and are pleased that they received a LEED award.

Las Vegas will still have the casinos, the shows, and the fluorescent lights. An oasis for visitors that want to let their hair down and have a great time. Everything will stay the same, because visitors still want Vegas to remain the same except for the natural resources that are being wasted in the city.. Going green is important in shielding the earth and it’s inspiring that Las Vegas is choosing to lead the pack.

About the Author Info
Diane Johnson graduated with a Bachelor of Science from the University of Utah and enjoys writing about current events, politics, &LINK2%, online education, and the office. Her work gives her plenty of chances to educate others about continuing online education

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