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IN BUSINESS GOING GREEN PROGRESSIVE INITIATIVES ON DISPLAY IN NEVADA BUILDINGS By Rebecca Clifford-Cruz staff writer Las Vegas is known for its excesses, but it's also a place where conservation measures have taken root. A number of businesses have taken advantage of incentives offered by the state of Nevada for green building initiatives, including a sales tax exemption on building materials purchased for use in projects certified Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Silver or higher. LEED certifications are based on a point system that ranks buildings as Platinum, Gold, Silver or simply certified, the lowest rating. What goes into obtaining LEED status? A look at some of Southern Nevada's greenest buildings offers a glimpse: Springs Preserve Springs Preserve designers Tate Snyder Kimsey Architects and Luchessi, Galati Architects incorporated rammed earth walls, straw bale insulation, all green paints, fabrics, furniture and carpeting in obtaining platinum certification. To generate power for the facilities, more than 2,200 photovoltaic panels were installed atop the covered visitors parking area. Molasky Corporate Center In downtown Las Vegas, the Molasky Corporate Center was the first Class A office building to be given the LEED gold certification. Class A buildings represent the highest quality in their market. More than 90 percent of the 16-story structure is built with recycled steel. Multiple windows and higher ceilings allow more daylight. Solar panels and a sophisticated heating and cooling system built in the floor lower the energy cost. CityCenter CityCenter, a joint venture between MGM Resorts International and Dubai World, is the world's largest LEED Gold certified community. The property uses first energy-generation on the Strip through its 8.5 megawatt natural-gas cogeneration plant, providing electricity on site, reducing emissions and using low-grade "waste heat" to provide domestic hot water. Other green efforts include water conservation technology, advanced hotel rooms with exclusive features allowing guests to "green their stay" and natural gas stretch limos. Lexus of Las Vegas In 2009, Lexus of Las Vegas was the first car dealership in the valley to go green and the first building in Nevada to receive LEED Gold certification for existing buildings. The dealership incorporated energy and water efficiency improvements along with recycling and waste reduction in its certification efforts. A year later, Lexus of Henderson also earned Gold certification. . Venetian, Palazzo and Sands Expo Las Vegas Sands combined its properties Venetian, Sands Expo & Convention Center and Palazzo, boasting it's the largest LEED building in the world. The properties are joined by corridors. In 2008, the Palazzo received LEED Silver certification for new construction. In 2010, Sands launched its Eco 360 degrees Global Sustainable Development program, an in-house program designed to help it achieve its green initiatives, and announced that the Venetian and Sands Expo center had achieved LEED Gold certification. Corporate Circle — Greenspun Media Group Building Home to the Las Vegas Sun, VEGAS INC and Greenspun Media Group, the Corporate Center VI building in the Corporate Circle office complex in Henderson was awarded LEED Gold certification in 2009. Constructed with more than 30 percent of recycled materials, the interior was built with green-friendly materials including low- emitting adhesives, sealants, paints, carpets and highly effective air filters. The building features a drip irrigation system and low-flow plumbing, using 43 percent less water than a typical facility its size. 14 | 14 NOVEMBER 2011 |