Las Vegas
Going Green
2008 10Best Bet - Award Winners
Print this Page
Email this Page
|
THE STRIP. Although not set to open until late 2009, the MGM Mirage's $7 billion CityCenter project (a massive 18 million-square-foot development on the Strip) earns early recognition for working to receive LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification. It will include water reclamation systems, recycling programs, energy-efficient lighting, and use only wood from sustainable forests. There will even be a cogeneration facility onsite, and the recaptured heat will be used to meet CityCenter's hot water needs.
This dedicated group is comprised of local designers and design students whose contributions to the fashion world are both environmentally friendly and cruelty-free. Each year, their collections of clothing and accessories, crafted entirely from organic cotton, hemp, and other sustainable materials, can be seen at the ECO (Environmentally Conscious and Organic) Tradeshow. It's a "grassroots" collective – in more ways than one!
DOWNTOWN. Whether or not you think about where your wood furniture came from, Four Hands Furniture does. In an effort to promote responsible harvesting and overall green thinking, the company uses recycled materials, mango wood (the trees must be harvested as part of their life cycle), and trees from sustainable forests. The result is furniture that's not only beautiful but eco-friendly as well.
WEST LAS VEGAS. Fashion and food share the spotlight with good, old-fashioned fundraising at this charitable event to benefit the Las Vegas Valley Humane Society. After working alongside Compassionate Fashion Collective founder Julia Szkiba O'Connor, students from the International Academy of Design & Technology showcase truly innovative silhouettes and designs – all conceived with a keen eye toward creating cruelty-free couture. In addition to the fashion show, a silent auction and delicious food contribute to the cause.
WEST LAS VEGAS. If you're looking for something that's completely natural, completely organic, and completely uncooked, look no further than Go Raw Café. Fruits, nuts, seeds, and veggies – all 100% organically grown – make up the menu's unique, healthy fare and can be found in dishes like hummus, wraps, "pizza," and "neat loaf." It's a good thing for Las Vegas vegans that the café has two locations!
THE STRIP. Las Vegas Monorail offers an environmentally-savvy alternative to traditional, air-polluting commutes. One of the nation's most eco-friendly public transportation systems, the monorail runs at 99% efficiency and helps reduce carbon monoxide emissions by an estimated 135 tons a year (it has a zero-emission design itself). Plus, it goes up and down the Strip in 15 minutes, without the hassle of heavy traffic. What could be better?
They say their mission is "cleaning the air, one home at a time" – and now they're doing it in both Las Vegas and Los Angeles. Like any cleaning company, Organic-b-Natural will get your home or office to a sparkling state, but unlike their counterparts, the company uses only natural, biodegradable, recycled, non-toxic, hypo-allergenic cleaning solutions. Even their pamphlets are on recycled paper! Saturday cleanings by appointment.
NORTHWEST LAS VEGAS. The product of artist Anne Johnson's passion for ecological awareness, PassionFly's note cards, gift cards, and enclosures are beautiful tributes to plants and animals whose existence is compromised by urban development. The paper itself is recycled and "tree-free," inks are water- or soy-based, goods are sold only through PassionFly and other "green" retailers, and 10% of annual profits fund US wilderness conservation.
NORTHWEST LAS VEGAS. In a city often associated with excess, Springs Preserve is reversing the trend. Designed to be a model of environmental friendliness, all buildings on the Preserve are LEED-certified. In the Desert Living Center's "Sustainability Gallery," visitors can learn about composting and recycling, sustainable shopping choices, and other "green" topics. There's even a life-sized garbage truck made from recycled materials that doubles as a theater!
WEST LAS VEGAS. It couldn't have a more appropriate name – this brokerage firm is working to transform real estate into a "greener" industry. The company offers only high-end luxury condos and homes manufactured with ecologically sound materials and technology. For sellers, the Transform Green Listing pays 1% of a home's listing price in sustainable improvements like tankless water heaters and solar panels. They're out there, and you're proud of them. You're behind their cause and supporting them every chance you get. These environmentally-conscious businesses do their part to preserve the world around us. They include restaurants that use only organic, local produce. They're hotels with green roofs or solar panels. They're shops that deal in fair trade goods or that promote recycling. They deserve a pat on the back – and our patronage – for their globally conscious efforts!
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
They're out there, and you're proud of them. You're behind their cause and supporting them every chance you get. These environmentally-conscious businesses do their part to preserve the world around us. They include restaurants that use only organic, local produce. They're hotels with green roofs or solar panels. They're shops that deal in fair trade goods or that promote recycling. They deserve a pat on the back – and our patronage – for their globally conscious efforts!
Click here to share it »
(
