Environmental Design + Construction - August 2008 - (Page 64)

A NEW GREEN ERA OF LUXURY THE WORLD’S LARGEST GREEN HOTEL OPENS IN LAS VEGAS. BY BOBBY BOOTH, AIA he Palazzo took its commitment to the planet to the next level. The eight million-square-foot The Palazzo Resort Hotel Casino*, which opened on the Las Vegas Strip (next to the Venetian) in January 2008, was certified by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) as the largest green building in the world. The USGBC presented developer Las Vegas Sands Corp. with a Silver Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certificate at an award ceremony. “The Palazzo is the first major LEED project opened on the Las Vegas Strip,” said Richard Johnston, AIA, principal project manager with HKS Hill Glazier Studio — designer of the hotel. “The second largest project is four times smaller than The Palazzo. The USGBC and the state of Nevada continue to develop innovative incentives encouraging business owners along the Strip to design, build and think green.” According to Nicholas Rumanes, vice president with Las Vegas Sands Corp., owner of The Palazzo, sustainability sells. “Corporations will choose a sustainably designed hotel over one that is not, we’ve found. People like to know they are conducting business in an environmentally friendly environment.” T GREENER GUEST STAYS In Las Vegas, air conditioning is a necessity but also a big consumer of energy. To beat the heat, some of the biggest environmental innovations at The Palazzo are inside each one of the resort’s 3,000-plus guest suites. Air conditioning controls in guest suites automatically reduce cooling when guests are not present and reset to the desired temperature upon return. “This technology, which has been used in Europe and Asia for decades, is becoming a part of many hospitality owners’ energy plans in the United States,” said Katherine Hammack, LEED AP senior , manager with Ernst & Young LLP — LEED advisors hired by Las Vegas Sands Corp. Also, a master light switch is located next to each door, allowing guests to turn off all of the suite lights in just one movement. If no one is in the area, occupancy sensors in the employee areas shut off lights. FIXTURE INNOVATIONS Innovations were also a part of the resort’s lighting. “We used combined lighting technology to provide unique and energy-efficient options at The Palazzo,” said Hammack. “For example, we worked with GE to identify the technology that provided the best overall results through an understanding of the utility function of the space, the intended ambiance of the lighting and the fixtures of choice.” The result is attractive lighting that uses less energy and less wattage. Hallway light fixtures originally lamped with two 40-watt lamps now feature two 9-watt lamps with the exact same light output. Guest rooms with four 60-watt incandescent lamps are now revamped to house four 15-watt compact florescent lamps. All told, the reengineered lighting throughout the resort saves 10,100 MWh of electricity annually — enough to power more than 700 homes. Efficiencies weren’t just achieved on light fixtures — plumbing fixtures were also part of the green package. Interior plumbing fixtures use 37 percent less water than conventional buildings — including water-efficient showerheads, high-efficiency toilets and low-flow lavatory faucet aerators. AUGUST 2008 ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN + CONSTRUCTION FRESH AIR Air quality sensors in densely occupied areas ensure that enough outside air is brought into every conditioned area of The Palazzo. All of these areas host outside air ventilation rates greater than current code requirements to improve indoor air quality and guest comfort. 63 http://www.palazzolasvegas.com http://www.durodesign.com http://www.edcmag.com http://www.durodesign.com http://www.edcmag.com/webcard

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Environmental Design + Construction - August 2008

Environmental Design & Construction- August 2008 Contents Editor's Note Web TOC Newsline New plus Notable Therapeutic Spaces On the Cover Surviving and Thriving A New Green Era of Luxury Special Section: Greenguard Indoor Air Quality Certification Getting it Right Extra Credit Product Focus 21st Century Schools Marketplace plus Classifieds Advertiser's Index Of the Earth

Environmental Design + Construction - August 2008

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