City of Las Vegas, NV
United States Mayor: Carolyn G. Goodman-
Population 596424
-
Area 352.0km 2
-
GDP 96 BillionUSD
-
Targets by N/A N/Aemission
In 2008, the city adopted a Sustainable Energy Strategy resolution that established the goal of installing three megawatts of renewable energy by 2011 and seven megawatts by 2015. The City has installed 5 megawatts of solar at City facilities. More than 11% of the City’s energy
consumption comes from City installed renewables at 30 City facilities, parks, fire stations, and
community centers. Completion of 3.5 megawatts of solar at the City’s wastewater treatment plant,
East Yard, and West Yard, generates more than 7 million kWh of power.
- Facilities
Symphony Park is the only project in the state of Nevada to be accepted into the LEED for Neighborhood Development (ND) national pilot program. The program, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, is creating a rating system that integrates the principles of smart growth, urbanism and green building into the first national rating system for neighborhood design. The program is a collaboration between the U.S. Green Building Council, the Congress for the New Urbanism, and the Natural Resources Defense Council. Symphony Park’s LEED for neighborhood Development received Phase Two Gold Certification (Jan. 31, 2008.)
Read More Read Less- Other Emissions
Upon completion of an energy audit at 15 city facilities, the City performed prioritized energy efficiency upgrades to maximize consumption reductions and reduce energy consumption
Read More Read Less- Buildings
Roadway Planning has successfully worked with the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC) to develop an alternate mode of transportation plan. Through this plan, trails and bike lanes/routes are funded by private development as well as federal and local funds (current trails network would require an additional $39 million to complete 49 miles at $800,000/mile). The idea behind the alternative mode plan is to provide non-motorized transportation to city residents. A study done by the RTC estimated that less than 1 percent of annual transportation trips were made by bicycle. If applied to an average 20 mile round trip commute, the average cost savings would be $3.42/day per bicycle commute (gasoline estimated at $3.10/gal). At the current rate of only 1 percent, the fuel savings to city residents would be approximately $20,000/day. By improving the safety and connectivity of our trail and bicycle network it is expected that these numbers will increase dramatically.
Read More Read Less- Transport
Public Works installed 30 solar-powered school flashers. The city benefits from a reduced carbon footprint and saves money from construction costs. Public Works is procuring another 20 and evaluating the cost effectiveness of converting existing systems. Roadways around schools become environmentally friendly and safer for school children.
Read More Read Less- Facilities
During December 2009, the City Council adopted the latest version of the International Energy Conservation Code (Ord. #6069), which becomes effective on July 6, 2010.
Read More Read Less- Buildings
In partnership with the Green Council, NV Energy and HomeFree Nevada, the city of Las Vegas expanded its existing Green Building Program to include new incentives and standards for new residential and commercial construction, as well as retrofits to existing homes and commercial structures. The program provides expedited plan checks, building permit fee rebates and LEED Certification fee rebates for builders who construct buildings or projects to one of the following green building program standards: LEED, the Southern Nevada Green Building Partnership, Green Globes, NV Energy’s Energy Plus New Homes program, NV Energy’s Sure Bet program, or HomeFree Nevada. In addition, the building or project will be recognized on the city’s Web site or in future promotional materials.
The city has also received ARRA funding for energy projects and community programs. The Planning & Development Department submitted its application for $5.45 million allocated to the city through the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant which can be used for renewable energy generation, building energy efficiency retrofits, streetlight replacement and community energy savings programs including Green Chips and HomeFree Nevada. The city will also use its allocation of Qualified Energy Conservation Bonds, apply for New Clean Renewable Energy Bonds and apply for future ARRA grants for a variety of projects. Together, these leveraged energy investments represent more than $25 million in projects.
- Buildings
The City of Las Vegas has installed 1.85 MW of solar covered parking at city facilities, fire stations, parks, and community centers.
Read More Read LessThe City of Las Vegas in collaboration with the University of Nevada, Las Vegas' Geographic Information Systems and Remote Sensing Laboratory has developed a sustainable energy portal detailing the importance of renewable energy, energy efficiency, and conservation. Together we monitor and display real-time performance data (as permissible) from solar electric systems installed at 13 local city facilities throughout the Las Vegas valley.
Read More Read LessHomeFree Nevada is an emerging Home Performance with Energy Star program designed to improve the energy efficiency, comfort, health, safety and durability of Nevada’s existing homes while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. At the same time, it will help build a new home performance contracting industry in Nevada. The program is currently in a pilot phase; when fully launched HomeFree Nevada will offer rebates to homeowners who undergo an energy audit and air conditioning tune-up through the city’s Green Building Program. HomeFree Nevada is a collaborative effort that includes the cities of Las Vegas, North Las Vegas and Henderson; Clark County; Southwest Gas; Nevada Division of Housing; University of Nevada, Las Vegas; University of Nevada, Reno; Sierra Club; American Institute of Architects Nevada; Nevada Conservation League; Southwest Energy Efficiency Partnership; Nevada State Bank; National Renewable Energy Laboratory; private contractors and concerned citizens.
Read More Read Less- Buildings
Sanitation planning efforts during the past five years have rehabilitated more than 15 miles of sewer interceptors using trenchless technology. Renewing sewer interceptors in this manner reduces cost, $3 to $7 per inch diameter of sewer per linear foot of pipe for trenchless rehabilitation, whereas open cut rehabilitation is greater than $7 per inch per foot. It saves energy by reducing fuel consumption and reducing the waste sent to landfills and preserves natural resources – with no pavement to replacement.
Read More Read Less- Other Emissions
CELBRATE is an employee-based effort to increase the sustainability and efficiency of city’s day-to-day operations. Employees regularly share their information, ideas and projects within and across departments. CELEBRATE started as a small seed and is steadily growing into a sturdy, sustainable culture within the city of Las Vegas.
Read More Read Less- Other Emissions
The city of Las Vegas has been a charter member of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Clean Cities Program since October 1993. Humbly entering the program with 50 fuel flexible vehicles, the city has garnered local and national accolades for its Alternative Fuels Program as well as conclusively proving the viability of cutting-edge automotive technology.
Read More Read Less- Transport
Nearly 100% of the City’s vehicle fleet runs on alternative fuels, including G-Diesel, a cleaner burning
fuel for City fire trucks. The City has also purchased 2 electric and 2 plug-in hybrid electric vehicles
and installed charging stations at 6 City facilities.
- Transport
The City has upgraded 35,000 of the City’s 52,000 streetlights to LED’s, reducing consumption by
4.33 million kWh and saving $287,000 in 2012.
- Facilities
The Information Technology Department’s “Power Down” program encouraging city employees to turn off office lights and computers is achieving significant results, saving $31,696 and reducing 240 tons of CO2 emissions annually. More than 800 employees are contributing to this effort.
Read More Read Less- Buildings
The city is a partner with Green Chips, a nonprofit organization, with public and private partners which include Harrah’s Entertainment, HomeFree Nevada, McDonald Carano Wilson, MGM-Mirage, Nevada State Bank, the Southern Nevada Water Authority, Rebuilding Together Southern Nevada, the ity of Henderson, the city of North Las Vegas and Clark County. Green Chips will use Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant money to start a revolving loan fund to perform energy audits and retrofits for low income households. The first projects include retrofits to the Shade Tree shelter and to 10 low income homes through Rebuilding Together Southern Nevada at no cost to the participants. Green Chips will also soon raise additional funding through the sale of green poker chips to interested parties.
Read More Read Less- Buildings
The City of Las Vegas has a goal to increase recycling rate in its parks by 50% and is ready to launch a new "Greener Parks" recycling program. With the assistance of an environmental services consulting firm, the plan has been strategically designed utilizing best practices. Modifying the behavior of park visitors is the key component to the success of the program. The Office of Sustainability has been exploring a campaign strategy around the entire sustainability plan for the city. Following discussions with several marketing firms that specialize in sustainability messaging, we have determined that targeting the promotion of recycling is the most effective pillar of the overall strategy to launch the community engagement campaign. The budget for the recycling plan includes all the components required to implement the program but there is an opportunity to capitalize on this program for our overall sustainability campaign. The City of Las Vegas Office of Sustainability seeks funding to engage a sustainability focused marketing firm to conduct required research, develop messaging and an implementation plan for community engagement.
Read More Read LessField Operations – Parks & Open Space Division converted 325,793 square feet of grass to synthetic turf from May 2005 to June 2007. The city received $305,612 in rebates from the Las Vegas Water District, and saves almost $50,000 annually from decreased water bills.
Read More Read Less
Tree plantings from
multiple agencies and
organizations and
drought tolerant plant
and tree standards
contribute to the
increase of shade to
help reduce the
cumulative urban heat
island effect.
The City Council adopted the city’s first Urban Forestry Initiative which recognizes the important contribution of trees to our community and their ability to help clean the air, improve stormwater management, conserve energy, reduce the urban heat index, improve public health and increase property values. The Urban Forestry Initiative established the following three goals: (1) Double the average tree canopy coverage to 20 percent by 2035, (2) work with existing partners to ensure that urban forestry remains a priority for the city and the Southern Nevada region, and (3) prepare an Urban Forest Management Plan.
Read More Read Less
As a part of their
demand-side strategy,
as discussed inthe
Water Section, Southern Nevada Water Authority
has a comprehensive
education and
awareness program
operating from the
Las Vegas Springs
Preserve and through
media outreach. The
program also utilizes
incentives, including
cash for turf
(xeriscaping) to
reduce residential and
commercial water
consumption.
Southern Nevada Water Authority is currently
funding water supply
initiatives, including
the construction of the
third intake at Lake
Mead and the Eastern
Nevada Groundwaterpipeline
project,
discussed in the
Water Section. SNWA
has also pursued
other surface and
groundwater rights
and has considered
deslination in the past.
Mayor Carolyn G. GoodmanCity of Las Vegas, NV, United States
Status of compliance
Compact of Mayors