Las Vegas Strip Resort gets LEED Certified

An iconic part of the Las Vegas Strip has been recognised for its environmental efforts, it emerged in the middle of March 2010.

The Las Vegas Sands-owned Venetian Hotel and the Sands Expo and Convention Center have both now been certified under the terms of the Green Building Council’s LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) programme, which lays down standards for environmental buildings within the US and beyond.

Specifically, the two LA Sands buildings have gained LEED-EB Gold Certification – the second-highest award that can be given (Platinum is top).

Sands Eco 360 Degrees: Sustainable Building

The announcement of this news coincided with the launch of a new sustainable development programmed named ‘Sands Eco 360 Degrees’. The goal of this programme is to illustrate the depth of the resort’s commitment to integrating and maintaining environmentally friendly practices, like recycling.

“The launch of Sands Eco 360 degrees demonstrates our commitment to sustainable development and operations”, Sands CEO and President Michael Leven stated. “Clearly, there are important business advantages to operating in a sustainable manner, but when sound business practices are married with sustainable efforts that benefit the environment and our communities, the impact is immeasurable.”

Las Vegas Sands: Energy Savings

To date, Las Vegas Sands says it has saved the same amount of energy that would have been used by over 6,500 homes over 12 months. It has also achieved annual water savings of 100 million gallons and has recycled over half of the rubbish generated by the Venetian and the Sands Expo’s use – along with three-quarters of their food waste. On this basis, the resort is Las Vegas most significant recycler at the present moment.

The Las Vegas Strip extends to over six kilometres in length and encompasses large numbers of resorts, hotel and casinos. In August 2009, Enviro News reported on the construction of a brand new resort that will be environmentally friendly from the outset.