LAS VEGAS—Last July, when Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc. announced its approximately $1 billion expansion of Caesars Palace—an addition that includes a new 665-room hotel tower and 263,000-square-foot meeting and convention center—it did not talk about one important element of the project: its pursuit of LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. According to Eric Dominguez, Director of Energy and Environmental Services for Harrah’s, the LEED initiative is just one of many of the company’s efforts to build and operate in an environmentally responsible fashion.
The new Caesars Palace hotel addition—named Octavius Tower for the great-nephew of Julius Caesar—and the meeting facilities will not be completed until early next year. Each building will be constructed with USGBC’s LEED criteria in mind: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.
“We are trying to build on our past success in regard to new construction,” says Dominguez, who adds that Harrah’s has not yet determined the LEED certification level it will pursue. “We are using materials that have recycled content, and will be incorporating energy-efficient lighting, window glazing, and chillers and boilers. We will also include low-flow fixtures and construct a shell with high-quality insulation.”
Harrah’s has put together a large team of LEED experienced architects and consultants to assist with the Caesars Palace addition.
“The LEED process is a learning process for us,” Dominguez says. “It is forcing us to think about new construction differently.”
Social Responsibility Emphasized
Harrah’s foray into LEED construction is just one part of its overall plan to green its growth and foster good relations with the communities where its casinos are located. Gwen Migita, Director of Social Responsibility with Harrah’s, says the company formalized her role in the last six months and has had a vice president of social responsibility and community investment the last couple of years.
“We have really been focusing on our code of commitments—what drives what we do in our communities,” Migita says. “We are moving toward uniformity with our strong regional environmental programs. All of Harrah’s properties have a level of activity around energy conservation and recycling. We are also currently looking at the efforts of our suppliers and requiring a certain level of certification where appropriate.”
Throughout Harrah’s, Green Teams help to facilitate conservation programs and a Green Steering Committee helps keep the company on track at the corporate level. Migita says Harrah’s conservation efforts have resulted in an annual carbon reduction equivalent of 200,000 barrels of oil.
Since 2003, Harrah’s has implemented numerous programs and technologies to help it reduce energy and water consumption. Energy conservation efforts have reduced electricity usage by more than 100 million kilowatt-hours per year. Natural gas consumption has decreased by more than 1.6 million therms per year. Dominguez says one of the company’s most successful projects is a 5-megawatt cogeneration facility that was installed at the Rio Hotel. One of the cleanest natural gas-powered facilities in the United States, it generates electricity while also providing waste heat that is captured for water heating.
“Cogeneration will continue to be on our radar, but there has to be a critical base load of power requirements,” Dominguez says.
Numerous Technologies Explored
Compact fluorescents in guestrooms, linear fluorescents in parking areas and lighting controls to control perimeter lighting also contribute to energy savings for Harrah’s. At some properties, guestroom energy management systems and/or highly efficient thermostats have been installed and even solar and solar thermal technologies are being considered.
To help reduce water consumption in Las Vegas, low-flow showerheads have been implemented and low-flow and waterless urinals are being tested. Harrah’s is considering dual-flush toilets for new construction. Most water-intensive landscaping has been removed.
“You won’t see a lot of outdoor fountains at our facilities,” Dominguez says. “Evaporative loss of water is what really hurts.”
With all that Harrah’s is doing, guest satisfaction remains the primary objective.
“It is very important that the guest experience not be compromised,” Dominguez says.
Caesars Palace’s new Octavius Tower will certainly not fall short in terms of luxury. It will include many different types of suites, several swimming pools, and spacious guestrooms will offer entertainment amenities such as large, flat-panel televisions and bedside clock radios with iPod docking stations. With a nod to the resort’s Greco-Roman heritage, guestroom entry doors will be customized with Greek key patterns, where electronic doorbells and electronic “do not disturb” features will ensure guest privacy. Floors 21 through 23 will be comprised exclusively of suites; special key cards will be required to access these levels.
Go to Harrah’s.
Glenn Hasek can be reached at editor@greenlodgingnews.com.
