Sep 11, 2012
This year’s NECA Convention is held in the City that Never Sleeps— Las Vegas! With the enormous amount of visitors, lights, hotels, clubs, and casinos, it makes you wonder: “How much energy does the city that never sleeps consume?”
Did you know that the average Las Vegas hotel consumes over 400,000 megawatts per year, with the average electrical bill being over $100,000 per hotel per month!? Seventeen of the nation’s 20 largest hotels are located along the Vegas strip; Mandalay Bay, which will host this year’s NECA convention, is the 6th largest hotel in the world. But, thanks to renewable energy and a powerful energy reduction strategy, Las Vegas doesn’t use as much energy as you may think!In fact, Nevada ranked 2nd nationally for net electricity generation from solar and geothermal energy in 2011. Per capita, Nevada is home to the largest amount of LEED certified buildings in the country. “Quite the contrary to the common perception that we’re very energy intensive and very wasteful, we (Las Vegas) produce more economic output per unit of energy input than just about anyone else in the country” says Tom Perrigo, Las Vegas’ Chief Sustainability Officer. In the past four years, Las Vegas has cut its demand for energy by 20% through the development and implementation of modernized, energy efficient buildings and replacing the incandescent bulbs in traffic and streetlights with LED bulbs.In a few weeks when you are strolling down Las Vegas Boulevard, on your way to the NECA convention, pay attention to the LEED buildings and optimized LED lights that now align the Las Vegas strip. And while you’re at NECA, stop by booth #1023 to check out the newest products, promotions, and exciting giveaways for Southwire and Maxis!Join the Conversation on Twitter: #SouthwireAtNECA2012