While various industries are partaking in the green energy trend, one major industry that has yet to fully jump on board but could benefit substantially is the gaming sector. However, there are some advancements being made such as Harrah’s Rincon resort in southern California.
In collaboration with the Luiseño Indians, Rincon adopted a strategy that says “Green business is good business.” Harrah’s recently completed an 18-month light emitting diode (LED) conversion project that has reduced energy use to date by 2.13 million kWh. Casino revenues have helped the tribe fund an energy recapture upgrade to the central power plant, and the tribe will soon break ground on a one-megawatt photovoltaic array to feed renewable energy to casino operations.
Harrahs points to other CodeGreen achievements that include: investing in a "tunnel washing" technology in a large laundry facility that saves 12 million gallons of fresh water annually; winning a 2008 EPA Region Two Environmental Quality Award; being the first company in the industry to join Climate Leaders; and providing $700,000 to upgrade the Teacher EXCHANGE, a re-use resource center where public school teachers can obtain slightly used computers and office furniture. The Paris Las Vegas and Bally’s casinos in Las Vegas serve premium, house brand bottled water, purified onsite that outsells Perrier and other high-end brands that take the energy intensive slow boat to Las Vegas.
In addition, MGM has taken on green initiatives as well such as its sustainability flagship, the MGM Mirage’s CityCenter, a $9B, 18 million sq foot complex of casinos, hotels, luxury condos, and a 500,000 sq foot retail and entertainment complex, due to open later this year. Guests can decide how "green" their stay will be by choosing lighting and temperature levels, and frequency of linen changes. MGM’s ambitious goal is to have the entire complex LEED certified.
The Las Vegas Sands’ Palazzo hotel and casino, opened in 2008, was described at the time as the largest LEED Silver certified building in the United States.