NEWSWORTHY TRENDS Choose To Go Green When Traveling

(NAPSI)-Being located in the middle of a desert has made one corporation keenly aware of how important it is to conserve natural resources such as water and energy. The steps this company has taken can serve as a guideline for environmentally conscious travelers. Here's how one company is working to make its hotels eco-friendly. • Water-conservation efforts. To save water, Las Vegas Sands Corp. has replaced natural grass areas with artificial turf, and remaining plants are watered using a subsurface drip system that avoids wasteful evaporation at The Venetian, The Palazzo and the Sands Expo. In addition, the company created a central irrigation control system to monitor outdoor air temperature, relative humidity, wind, solar intensity, rainfall and soil moisture content, ensuring plant and tree health is maintained without excess irrigation. Small changes can make a big difference. For example, in-room water fixtures that save 20 percent over the standard fixtures were installed in all guest rooms. Altogether, the company has reduced consumption by about 100 million gallons of water annually without affecting the guest and employee experience. The water saved every year in Las Vegas by this one company can supply the annual needs for more than 680 average American households. • Conserving energy. To conserve energy, the company's hotels use energy-efficient lightbulbs, such as LEDs, whenever possible, and they work closely with a lighting manufacturer to create better lighting solutions. In addition to lights, sensors are installed in Palazzo suites to adjust the temperature automatically according to guest occupancy. The entire resort uses a sophisticated building automation system that monitors and optimizes heating, cooling, ventilation and lighting levels to maintain optimal indoor conditions, while using energy efficiently. • Using alternative energy sources. Company hotels use solar thermal systems mounted on the roof. "Having the largest solar thermal system in the U.S. helped Las Vegas Sands achieve LEED certification for its Las Vegas property," according to Rick Fedrizzi, president and CEO of the U.S. Green Building Council. "This makes it one of the most sustainable facilities in the hospitality industry." The system provides hot water for the pools, spa and a portion of the domestic hot water. By conserving energy, the company saves about 73 million kWh annually--enough to power more than 6,500 average American households for a year. Being responsible can pay off. The company has found that for every $1 invested into sustainability practices and programs, it has saved $4, proving that what is good for the environment is also good for business. For more information, visit www.lasvegassands.com.

Word Count: 449 This Las Vegas complex uses the largest solar thermal system in the U.S. to provide hot water for its pools, spa and some of its domestic hot water. Copy/Paste HTML Article