It’s Easy Being Green

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.

So a green movement among local resorts not only makes sense for saving money, casino representatives say. It also buys the purveyors of pleasure and comfort some credibility with an increasingly concerned public.

Essentially, it's about social responsibility, says Lori Nelson, spokeswoman for Station Casinos.

"We asked, 'How can we do the right thing?' " Nelson says of Station's conservation efforts. "This isn't just cost-saving measures for the company but doing the right thing for the community and leading by example."

More companies have been asking about green-related topics when booking their conventions, says Martie Sparks, vice president of catering and convention services for Mandalay Bay. They ask for paper cups and water coolers instead of bottled water; sustainable menus and a hotel that practices conservation across the board.

But what exactly does "going green" mean?

"There is no standard for what a green hotel is," says Gordon Absher, vice president of public affairs for MGM Mirage.

There are certifications from various environmental agencies, but conservation is relatively new ground for local resorts. Though they are buzzwords in the media, even used by candidates in the presidential election, the notion of green, sustainability, conservation and lessening the impact one leaves on the earth is new to most people.

But attempts to conserve water and energy while promoting environmentally conscious choices makes good business sense, not just for the immediate impact but for the long-term effects and savings, casino representatives say.

The initiatives undertaken by casinos can be broken down into three major categories: recycling, energy conservation and water conservation.

RECYCLING

Recycling is about more than separating paper, glass and plastic.

It actually has far-reaching effects, resort representatives say, from lessening the impact on the environment to reducing the trash bill.

Red Rock Resort, Green Valley Ranch and Sunset Station started recycling a couple years ago, Nelson says. The resorts now recycle 10 tons of material per day. It started with the basics and now includes cardboard, plastic, food and kitchen grease.

The kitchen grease from those resorts and others, such as the Suncoast, are turned into alternative fuels and soap.

"As a corporation, I think we've become increasingly aware of the (green movement) over the years. Now we're actively looking for opportunities to reduce our impact on the environment," says Suncoast spokesman David Strow.

The Suncoast started the asset recovery program six months ago with the initial goal of saving money on lost silverware and glassware that ends up in the trash. An outside contractor was brought in to conduct the program, which has expanded to include cardboard, glass, plastic and paper. Discarded food also is recycled and turned into compost, Strow adds.

It's had such a tremendous impact on the amount of garbage leaving the Suncoast -- a 70 percent reduction in the trash sent to the landfill -- that Boyd Gaming plans to start the program at other properties.

Even though the company has the expense of paying a contractor, it actually works to the Suncoast's benefit, Strow says. The company receives a rebate on all biofuels produced and saves money by retrieving items that would have been trashed in the past. And that doesn't count the savings on the environment.

"I think it's a good example of how being green isn't an expensive thing to do. There's a misconception by some people that it's an inconvenience and has an expense, but you're consuming less water, less electricity, sending less to the landfill," Strow says.

Mandalay Bay's Convention Center started small with recycling efforts last quarter, says Sparks, vice president of catering and convention services. The company decided to recycle the trash from the trade shows at Mandalay Bay during those three months.

The company ended up recycling 74 percent of what would have been sent to the landfill, Sparks says.

It's not only cut down on costs for Mandalay Bay; the companies holding trade shows ended up paying less on their trash bills.

The casino now is working on expanding the program into the convention center and installing recycle bins next to regular trash cans, Sparks says.

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.

Since the incentive was first offered in 1999, 35.9 million square feet of residential land has been converted while 66.4 million square feet of commercial property has converted, Davis says. It's unknown how much square footage remains that should be converted to xeriscaping; the water authority is awaiting satellite views of the valley to help determine that.

The authority doesn't provide incentives for the linen exchange program. That's a voluntary program in which hotels tell guests they can opt out of daily linen changes and towel replacement as a way to conserve water and energy.

The water authority started working with resorts to encourage their participation late last year. Station Casinos joined the program in October; MGM Mirage offers a similar linen reuse program.

Local resorts have lagged behind some out-of-state hotels that adopted this policy months ago, Hassenzahl says.

"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."

ENERGY

Casinos are energy-intensive businesses, says John Hargrove, Nevada Power spokesman, so they're naturally intrigued by conserving it.

In the past, energy was cheap and it didn't make economical sense to save it, but things are different now, Hargrove says. If a casino can save energy, it can save a lot of money. And that's just what many local resorts are doing.

One major thing that helps conserve? Shutting the doors, says Martie Sparks, vice president of convention and catering services for Mandalay Bay.

When the 9,000-square-foot trade show halls aren't in use, the company turns the power load down 50 percent.

When preparations are under way for a show or convention, the air conditioning is kept off and the doors are kept closed when equipment isn't being installed, Sparks says.

Many resorts have made the switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs, which use less energy than incandescent bulbs. Casinos have changed their bulbs in the marquee signs or plan to; guest rooms and parking garages are lit with low-energy lighting.

Station Casinos changed 2,300 light fixtures in five garages, Nelson says.

"We could power up about 2,500 homes annually with the energy we've saved," Nelson says.

And to spread conservation efforts to residents, Nevada Power donated 100,000 compact fluorescent lights to Station employees.

"It's dramatic, the effort being made. Casinos are constantly on the lookout for energy efficiency, because energy saved goes directly to the bottom line," Hargrove says. "It goes right to profit margin."

Contact reporter Sonya Padgett at spadgett@reviewjournal.com or (702) 380-4564.