[aboulespa]

Good morning! Im a French student in a university in Paris ,currently involved in a research work over city marketing practices and attractivity strategies.I am focusing on sustainable development defined as the conciliation between environmental,social and economic objectives.Las Vegas has a very bad reputation on that issue (energy wasting,pollution,insecurity etc.) have you ever heard of some strong initiatives of the city to change its image toward a more environmental or social responsible one ?

Thanks!

[Buzz123]

We locals aren’t as much aware of the worldwide reputation that you say we have as far as wasting energy, pollution, etc. What pollution are you talking about by the way? I’m not sure that’s much of a factor here, except that we live in cereal bowl which, in winter especially, is covered by a plastic lid (inversion layer) that keeps the stale air in. Not much we can do but wait for a wind storm to blow it away. Any desert area has the same problem, and the air in a desert is polluted regardless of what we mortals try to do, and even if no mortals live there.

Also, we are well aware, and have been for at least 75 years, that we have a rep for being a fun loving bunch. Our casino marketing people have done a great job of marketing Las Vegas as THE place to go for vice and entertainment, so people have preconceived notions that don’t really fit the whole town, only the resort parts. But, since before you were born probably, local businessmen, and politicians, have been trying to get outside businesses to see beyond that image in order to diversify this town. The real problem isn’t pollution, wasted energy, and resources; the real problem is getting businesses to come here and set up despite the Sin City image. But people are hypocrites, and they’re afraid being in a resort environment like ours will somehow hurt their corporate image. You see, everyone knows it’s all right if THEY enjoy Las Vegas; it’s just that they don’t want anyone else to know that they do.

Anyway, for your question, a Google search will turn up all sorts of things.

http://www.lasvegasnevada.gov/files/...andanswers.pdf

Green City Guide: Las Vegas - Planet Green

#1 Google

#2 Google

#3 Google

The Smith Center for the Performing Arts

[MomMom]

I think you just did his homework for him, Buzz

[Buzz123]

Originally Posted by MomMom

I think you just did his homework for him, Buzz

Maybe he'll invite me to visit him in Paris, my favorite city.

But I have a feeling I still didn't give him what he's looking for.

[jhiker1o]

Xeriscaping is widely practiced and encouraged in the valley and as far as our water usage, we still store much of our unused water in aquifers in CA and AZ. Of all the Western States and Mexico drawing water from the Colorado River, Nevada has the least amount of allocation. As far as air pollution, it's a desert, the Mojave Desert but Vegas and Clark County has good (drought tolerant) tree coverage that helps clean the air we breathe. Transportation development in the valley is also improving to cope with the urban/suburban sprawl.

Oh just want to add, we bring and we have poop bags for our dogs whenever we walk them in the parks and our streets so it does not stink/pollute our surrounding areas.

[fremontfred]

Originally Posted by aboulespa

I am focusing on sustainable development defined as the conciliation between environmental,social and economic objectives.Las Vegas has a very bad reputation on that issue (energy wasting,pollution,insecurity etc.) have you ever heard of some strong initiatives of the city to change its image toward a more environmental or social responsible one ?

Thanks!

I can't speak for everyone on Las Vegas, but many of the people here value their freedom and independence far more highly than they do the other ideas you are bringing up. It is one of the main reasons that I moved here. When you say "initiatives of the city," I believe you mean initiatives from government. To be clear, initiatives from government are actually initiatives involuntarily paid for by taxpayers who then have very little control over the matter. If that is the case, I think you will find that Las Vegas is one of the most resistant areas in the world to social initiatives. I personally hate them. I do not want the government involved in social issues at all, it's not their place.

Environmental issues get similar support. Las Vegas has never been about conservation. We light up the strip every night and keep the AC cranked up 24/7 all summer long. That's not going to change and we don't want the government getting involved in what we believe to be a free market issue.

So you could report that we are not doing anything about these issues, mainly because we don't believe they are issues that the government should be doing anything about.

[Tiger Beer]

Originally Posted by aboulespa

Good morning! Im a French student in a university in Paris ,currently involved in a research work over city marketing practices and attractivity strategies.I am focusing on sustainable development defined as the conciliation between environmental,social and economic objectives.Las Vegas has a very bad reputation on that issue (energy wasting,pollution,insecurity etc.) have you ever heard of some strong initiatives of the city to change its image toward a more environmental or social responsible one ?

Thanks!

I have a feeling the issue is with the extravagant usage of lights from the casinos? Also the amount of water used in the casinos for their props.

[Buzz123]

The water that casinos use for landscaping, and features like Lake Bellagio, is retreated brown water that comes from the casino's on site water treatment plants. That's something that I think Steve Wynn started. The municipal golf course(s) also use retreated brown water for irrigation. The lakes around town really don't waste water either, but I couldn't tell you why. By far the largest water usage here is for landscaping, and the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) has implemented various ways to get people to reduce that usage. They reimburse for replacing grass with xeriscapes, they assign watering days and tell you how long to run your sprinklers, and they have the water cops that make sure people comply, and that broken sprinklers get fixed, etc.

[unf0rgiven6262]

Originally Posted by Buzz123

The water that casinos use for landscaping, and features like Lake Bellagio, is retreated brown water that comes from the casino's on site water treatment plants. That's something that I think Steve Wynn started. The municipal golf course(s) also use retreated brown water for irrigation. The lakes around town really don't waste water either, but I couldn't tell you why. By far the largest water usage here is for landscaping, and the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) has implemented various ways to get people to reduce that usage. They reimburse for replacing grass with xeriscapes, they assign watering days and tell you how long to run your sprinklers, and they have the water cops that make sure people comply, and that broken sprinklers get fixed, etc.

In other words, don't swim at the Bellagio.

[aboulespa]

Originally Posted by Buzz123

Anyway, for your question, a Google search will turn up all sorts of things.

http://www.lasvegasnevada.gov/files/...andanswers.pdf

Green City Guide: Las Vegas - Planet Green

#1 Google

#2 Google

#3 Google

The Smith Center for the Performing Arts

You can come to Paris of course when you want ! But don't you have already Paris in Las Vegas ?...I joke
Anyway,thanks for those information and comments,it will help my investigation.If you have other things to say on this issue don't hesitate.