What Happens in Vegas Stays in Vegas (And Goes Green?)
Blazing neon lights 24/7, the world’s most grandiose fountains, gridlock on Las Vegas Boulevard, frigid indoor air over millions of square feet when it’s a hundred and ten outside ... not exactly a poster boy for sustainability. Name the top ten green cities in America -- I’ll bet Las Vegas would not make your shortlist.
Well, think again. After meeting with officials from the City of Las Vegas to learn more about their green initiatives for our Sierra Club Green Home Web site, I must conclude that America’s adult playground is making a sincere effort to embrace sustainability. And the major casinos have actually been pioneers in energy saving techniques – with the power and water bills they generate, it makes economic as well as altruistic sense for them. “What Happens In Vegas Stays In Vegas” but it might be beneficial for the casinos to get the word out about their green initiatives.
Sometimes controversial, always quotable and often progressive, Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman is somewhat of a legend on the local and national scene. Under his stewardship, Las Vegas began to embrace green environmental policies before it became de rigeur. Goodman was one of the first to sign the Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, a pledge to green their city which now has over 1,000 mayoral signatures. Currently, Las Vegas has one of America’s toughest consumer watering policies. “Water cops” can fine you if they see runoff on your sidewalks. Outdoor fountains at residential developments have come to a grinding halt. Vegas was also an early adopter of hybrid fleet vehicles and even embarked on a recycled anti-freeze program in 2007 to help power the city fleet. They also have a green building program, which rewards developers with tax breaks for building energy efficient structures.
Tom Perigo, Deputy Director of Las Vegas’ Planning and Development Center further enlightened me about how the city has been a pioneer in all things sustainable since 2005. The city government and related buildings all have strict environmental guidelines for power and water usage as well as recycling. They are setting a great example here, and many of the major casinos in town have followed suit with state-of-the-art technology for saving power on laundry, lighting, climate control and water consumption. City Center, the largest real estate development project in the country, is being built to varying degrees of LEED standards with help from prominent consultant John Picard and other leading green architects and designers. Another noteworthy Las Vegas program is Green Chips, which provides free home energy audits for residents of low income housing and loans to consumers and businesses that will use the funds to improve energy efficiency.
Things are not perfect in Las Vegas, for sure. To the average homeowner, recycling is not commonplace. There are several neighborhoods that pick up recycling, but for a city of this size and scope the recycling efforts have a long way to go. Some people have the false notion that the trash companies separate out the recyclables at their facilities. I could not find any proof that this is accurate. And most obviously, sun, sun, sun everywhere, but where are all the solar panels? It is disturbing to think about how much solar power could be generated for residential and commercial applications here, yet solar panels are almost non-existent on the residential side. Hopefully continuing advances in solar panel technology, additional governmental subsidies, and cost reductions will change this. Perigo also mentioned Nevada’s terrain is primed for generating Geothermal power; he has high hopes that the state will embrace this renewable source in the future.
Sierra Club Green Home.com has staffers from UNLV’s environmental studies program who are committed and enthusiastic about spreading the word on sustainability. These young people are Las Vegas residents who inspire me with their dedication and willingness to help America go green.
Pictured: Sierra Club Green Home.com employees, Abi Wright and Bridge Barnes, meet Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman.
The point here is that if an inherently non-green city like Las Vegas can embrace sustainability, so should all municipalities. I urge you to look into what your city is doing to improve the environment. Sierra Club’s Cool Cities program outlines sustainability agendas across the nation. Please take a moment to see what your city is doing at Cool Cities. Let us hear your comments, and if they aren’t doing enough, be sure to urge your mayor and council members to do more.
Follow Jennifer Schwab on Twitter: www.twitter.com/SCGreen_Home
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Just read a new article from Forbes claiming Las vegas is the least toxic city in the US. shocker. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/04/the-most-toxic-cities-in_n_345417.html
Maybe there is hope for the city.
nice. but i wonder what was the criteria. they're so limited on land that it may have helped.
That is pleasantly surprising! I looked at the list, and I can't believe Portland is on the list of the most toxic! I thought Portland was supposed to be super green.
Portland on the most toxic list?! That's crazy and completely unexpected.
I think it would be great if LV would start to educate their communities more about the necessity of eco-friendly practices and sustainable jobs
Returning to this topic... I learned that SF started to do mandatory composting. I believe that it's very important make commercial progress. I know that various casinos compost and stuff, but it's definitely not on a mass scale. This could totally open jobs for so many people!
What kind of jobs?
probably recycling or composting jobs?
Las Vegas should have more green buildings and enforce strict codes to regulate their resources. The place is fun, but so outta wack when it comes to sustainability and being responsible. Their cost of entertainment is definitely going to cost the residents and surrounding cities an arm and a leg to fix. Desert waste land should not have people and water and etc... but if people want to live there it's important to be responsible.
Well put! I completely agree with you. It may not naturally be a sustainable place to live, but there are ways to be responsible.
Most people don't understand that living in the desert is harsh on the surroundings because they rarely see the consequences due to such high industrialization.
Las Vegas may have been the adult playground a few decade back, but it has changed significantly because there are so many more shows and kid activities. It's a matter of time until they start implementing new green techniques because it will be a huge money saver in the future!!!!
It's already happening-- go to the city's sustainability pages: http://www.lasvegasnevada.gov/sustaininglasvegas/default.htm?ID=15995#15995
Cool, thanks.
water cops are very interesting because they can monitor your water usage from the water authority and then they come out and check why in the world you are using to much H2O
if there are crazy leaks or something that should be easily prevented they can fine you lots $$$
Las Vegas is definitely not a perfect place, but it sure is fun!
It's definitely fun. There are so many crazy tourist attractions, and some people save up for years and years to have a chance to go to Vegas. If Las Vegas could send a positive message that they are making an effort to be sustainable, hopefully the trend will catch on to other cities that aren't necessarily green.
Interesting article. I think it's difficult to make Las Vegas green because the industry is not revolved about eco-friendly behaviour.
yes i know it deff concentrates a lot on the entertainment but i hear that there are all kinds of interesting new ways that fun places are going green like vegan restaurants and casino composting
i agree. the focus of LV is fun, not eco-friendliness :)
If a large city like Las Vegas starts to go green then people will really learn to accept the sustainability movement elsewhere. This is a good article.
You're right Nantucketoo. If Las Vegas can do it, anyone can!
except that this is a TOTAL SHAM. Las Vegas can never go green because its in the Desert... importing water from aquifers out of state and destroying grasslands as far away as Utah.
Las Vegas is unsustainable from a green point of view because a) its an unnatural environment b) overpopulated c) destroying other environments to sustain its own d) Air Conditioning uses FREON and its everywhere in Vegas. e) polution d) waste
I think that water is definitely and issue in the desert, however its possible to make their other developments more sustainable. Like to boost their recycling!
i think it can go green if people start to notice the behind the scenes actions!
most don't consider what happens when they watch a show (the energy expended), wild and exciting dinners (imported food)... it's time that large cities like LV take action
How is it a sham to try? The city can't rectify the last 50 years of industrialization and growth with the swing of some green magic wand, however they can attempt to make changes that slow down and possibly even halt some of these issues. It is the larger cities, regardless of where they are located, that need to address the issues of sustainability based on their climate and region, and Las Vegas at least, has the kahunas to step up to the plate! Additionally, have you ever even been to Vegas, or the desert? There is water here, it rains, on top of the city sitting on a huge underground water table-- and the fact that they do have water conservation restrictions and policies in place DOES mean that they care and try. Close minded people keep others pessimistic about opportunities that would otherwise create optimism towards a greater good. In other words-- don't bring a brother down when he's trying to make a difference-- go sustain your world since it seems to be so much easier of a task.
People are going to live in Las Vegas whether you think it's sustainable or not. Unfortunately, shipping people out of this "overpopulated" city isn't an option. It's just good that they recognize there is a problem, and are trying to make it a little better.
I for one am from Las Vegas, and for me-- this new information is REFRESHING! Las Vegas is big, loud, busy, crazy and sometimes very dirty, but really our city sits in a valley of complete beauty. There are people from all walks of life here and we all deserve a happy, healthy place to live. Saving money by cutting down our energy costs, seeing our local programs assisted by the good of green, and seeing people care about something other than what new casino is going up is exciting!
Even if Las Vegas is doing this to attract tourists, it doesn't matter since any green efforts help the environment.
thats true. unless theyre pulling another stunt like the hotel Jennifer mentioned in that other blog.
I doubt people go to Las Vegas to see how green it is. They go for gambling, drinking, partying, shopping, etc.
well maybe residents and the senator should take action to promote other things than adult fun!
I don't think they are doing this to attract any additional tourism, but I do think they are doing it to make tourism more travel friendly, as well as provide it's locals with hope for a better way of living.
They could totally do this to attract tourism because the green market is so huge that many people could come visit. They are already holding various conventions and expos inviting students, professors, and various organization. This could become a great source of revenue.
So true! I think we should commend their efforts. So what if they aren't able to become the #1 green city in America, any reduction in environmental impact is worth it.
um no they don't... example: Ethanol burns cleaner than fossil fuels, but it actually destroys the environment because it destroys the land that the corn is grown on (unsustainable for growing other things with artificial fertilization, etc). There's a heck of a lot more to being green than following a fad.
HAHAH KDOG76A,
PESSIMISTIC PESSIMISTIC, AREN'T WE? I THINK THAT BABY STEPS ARE IMPORTANT WHEN IT COMES TO BEING GREEN AND THEN A REVOLUTION HAPPENS. SWITCHING TOO FAST TO BE GREEN CAN REALLY DAMAGE THE ECONOMICAL AND OCCUPATIONAL LIFESTYLE OF THE CITY.
tsk tsk so much negativity! kudos to the city of sin for giving green a try :-)
I 2nd that WatersofMarch! Give them a shot-- and some support!
I agree.
yawn
you could take a million cars off of the road by not allowing people to settle in areas that must import EVERYTHING. There is nothing natural about Vegas. Nature would not allow so many people to exist in the same place. The city itself is a cancer to the surrounding environment sucking in its water supply from Arizona and Utah, importing beef chicken and pork, and vegetables hundreds if not thousands of miles because non of these things can be grown locally. Las Vegas can never be green. If you believe it can, you know nothing about nature or environmental protection
las vegas definitely imports a lot from other states, but the traveling distance is minimum unlike that of products coming into indiana or something. so... the fuel usage isnt immense, but ultimately it does take its toll.
I want to hear about Mayor Gavin Newsom of San Fran...now here's a person who is serious about going green.
hey, me too!
Me too, even though he may not be an ethical man in terms of fidelity, he at least cares about the environment. San Francisco is really a leader in being green.
Yeah, I just heard that composting is now a city-wide project-- that's awesome!
I think it just became mandatory! That's crazy, good for them.
We should give Las Vegas a chance. I'm sure they are taking this stuff seriously. Hopefully, it's not a marketing tool to attract tourists since I hear las vegas isn't doing so hot.
Portland, yes. San Francisco, definitely. Seattle, of course. New York, why not. But Las Vegas? Hard to think that a town called "sin city" can actually be green.
Nice comment...LOL.
Everyone seems skeptical, but I bet that gives them more motivation to prove everyone wrong, including me.
motivation to lie you mean...
sure its great to take advantage of energy conservation techniques, using solar and wind electricity etc. But the fact is Las Vegas is in THE DESERT with hostile heat and no water. It needs AC it needs water pumped in from elsewhere, To ever consider a city of this sort "eco-friendly" one would have to not understand that Vegas itself does not fit into the ecosystem at all. The area might be sustainable for a few thousand people at most.
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