http://www.flickr.com/photos/springfieldhomer/ / CC BY 2.0

Vacationers are beginning to realize that green choices are not just for Earth Day, but for every day. A recent national survey by Travelzoo® found that 91 percent of travelers would prefer to stay at an eco-certified hotel if they didn’t have to sacrifice amenities or experience. Interestingly, the rare combination of environmental responsibility within a magnificent luxury getaway does exist in the unlikeliest of places: Sin City.

ARIA Resort & Casino at CityCenter, one of only 40 LEED® certified hotels across the globe and the largest LEED Gold resort in existence, delivers the excitement and indulgence for which the city is renowned while bringing a new level of environmental awareness to the world-famous Strip. The resort was recently named the U.S. winner of Hospitality Design’s 2010 Earth-Minded Awards for Hospitality, heralded for its innovative green technology and sustainable design.

ARIA debuted in December 2009 as part of CityCenter, a dazzling urban resort destination adjacent to Bellagio. ARIA features an extraordinary collection of exceptional restaurants, high-energy nightlife, a world-class spa, exclusive fashion-forward shopping, contemporary gaming, a larger-than-life modern art collection, high-tech meeting and event space, and Viva ELVIS™ by Cirque du Soleil®, celebrating the life and music of Elvis Presley. CityCenter is one of the world’s largest private sustainable developments.

Key Sustainable Highlights:

• Ride in Style. ARIA features the world’s first fleet of stretch limos powered by clean-burning compressed natural gas (CNG); preferred parking for alternative-fuel vehicles; and the electric CityCenter Tram, connecting to five resorts and a retail district on the west side of Las Vegas Boulevard.
• Win Green, Go Green. ARIA’s casino features energy-efficient slot machines with innovative bases that double as air-handling units, efficiently cooling guests from the ground up, rather than wasting energy by cooling empty space from the ceiling.
• Worldly Cuisine, Locally Sourced. Many of ARIA’s acclaimed restaurants buy produce, meat and dairy direct from responsible local sources. Organic ingredients, numerous gourmet vegetarian options and biodynamic wines abound.
• Good for the Soul, Good for the Sole. ARIA is the only Nevada hotel participating in ReCORK, a wine cork recycling program. In partnership with SOLE, ReCORK repurposes corks into footwear products. The program’s goal is to educate audiences about the crucial role cork forests play in curbing climate change.
• Organic Indulgence. The Spa at ARIA transports guests to a state of rejuvenation with multiple organic therapies designed to balance, ease and enhance.
• Stylish and Sustainable. Sensual and sophisticated, ARIA’s contemporary guestrooms and suites may look deliciously sinful, but they incorporate only certified wood taken from forests with responsible management practices. Low VOC paints and sustainable certified carpet ensure the highest indoor air quality.
• Eco Art. CityCenter’s eco-friendly practices carry through to pieces in its museum-worthy public Fine Art Collection. Maya Lin’s “Silver River,” an 84-foot cast of the Colorado River, uses reclaimed silver and pays homage to Nevada’s standing as the “Silver State.”
• Seeing Vegas in a New Light. Extensive natural light is showcased in ARIA through expansive glass walls and skylights to reduce energy use.
• On The Strip, Off the Grid. CityCenter features the first energy generation on The Strip through its 8.5-megawatt, natural gas co-generation plant, providing efficient electricity on site (10 percent of overall CityCenter use), reducing emissions and using “waste heat” to provide all domestic hot water at CityCenter, including within its numerous pools. Energy-efficiency initiatives provide a savings equivalent to powering 8,800 households annually.
• Saving Water in the Desert. Gone are the days of unsatisfying showers due to low-flow shower heads. CityCenter worked with manufacturers to invent designer water fixtures that deliver incredibly satisfying, high-pressure showers while using a third less water. At CityCenter, water conservation technology and programs save approximately 40 percent of water within the buildings and 60 percent in outdoor landscaping, for an overall savings of approximately 50 million gallons annually.

cleantech.com

The Cleantech Group, founders of the cleantech sector and providers of leading global market research, events and advisory services for the cleantech ecosystem, along with Deloitte, which provides audit, tax, consulting and financial advisory services to cleantech companies, today released preliminary 1Q 2010 results for clean technology venture investments in North America, Europe, China and India, totaling $1.9 billion across 180 companies.

Cleantech venture investment was up 29% from the previous quarter and up 83% from the same period a year ago. The number of deals recorded in 1Q 2010 represents a new record total, edging ahead of the previous high set in 4Q09 (165 deals).

“The bounce back in venture investment from lows in early 2009 has continued, with the first three months of 2010 representing the strongest start to a year we have ever recorded,” said Sheeraz Haji, President of Cleantech Group. “Key to the growth has been increasing interest in a broader range of cleantech themes, such as smart mobility and resource efficiency, which are now taking over from the historically dominant renewable energy sector.”

Growth in cleantech venture investment was matched by new investment from utilities and corporations. Total capacity additions announced by utilities increased in 1Q10* compared to 4Q09, as government incentives spurred spending on the part of companies. In the U.S., Wind and Solar PV remained the most attractive energy sources for utilities due to extended tax credits, while utilities also focused on smart grid projects boosted by significant federal grants, underscored by Florida Power & Light Company, Duke Energy and CenterPoint Energy each receiving $200 million grants from the U.S. Department of Energy.

In the corporate space, direct investments announced during 1Q10* increased by 140 percent quarter over quarter compared to 4Q09, primarily by energy and consumer and industrial products companies. Significant investments in biomass and wind projects were announced by Royal Dutch Shell, General Motors and Valero Energy. Solar PV, Wind and Smart Grid continue to be attractive sectors for top utilities and corporations looking to invest in clean technologies.

“Major utilities are focusing on increasing direct investment in alternative energy generation and smart grid projects due to favorable government incentives and improved market conditions as they work to reduce their carbon exposure and comply with renewable portfolio standards,” said Scott Smith, partner, Deloitte & Touche LLP and clean tech leader in the United States. “From a corporate perspective, companies continue to invest and integrate cleantech to improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions in order to reduce costs, mitigate energy price volatility risk, and comply with existing and pending regulations around carbon and climate change risk disclosure.”

* preliminary 1Q10 data through 3/17/10