Las Vegas Giant Promotes Sustainability-

The Las Vegas Sands Corporation has recently announced that energy-efficiency and sustainable development programs at its Venetian Resort and Sands Convention Center are conserving enough energy to power more than 6,500 American homes on an annual basis. Features include solar photovoltaic panels, an energy-efficient HVAC system, high-efficiency lighting, and a rooftop solar thermal system. Casino executives have joined forces with a U.S. Green Building Council official to promote the effort, which has been dubbed “Sands Eco 360 degrees”. The endeavor boasts the corporation’s dedication to sustainable energy, water, cleaning, recycling and waste management operations. “Clearly there are important business advantages to operating in a sustainable manner,” Michael Leven, Las Vegas Sands Corp. president and chief operating officer, said in a statement. “But when sound business practices are married with sustainable efforts that benefit the environment and our communities, the impact is immeasurable.” The program has received gold EB certification under the LEED rating system, which ranks directly above its neighboring Sand’s Palazzo Las Vegas Resort and just below the exemplary platinum mark. Sands officials assert that its combined efforts label the Venetian, Sands Expo and Palazzo Las Vegas the largest adjacent LEED certified building around the globe. Officials also claim the company’s sustainable operations which save approximately 100 million gallons of potable water annually and recycling programs which conserve 55 percent of daily trash, as well as 75 percent of food waste designate the Sand properties as the largest single-property recycling effort in Las Vegas.