LAS VEGAS-With its recent certification by the US Green Building Council, the Palazzo resort in Las Vegas is the largest “green” building in the world – by a long shot. The $1.9-billion, 3,000-room resort is more than four times bigger than any LEED-certified building, according to USGBC, which presented developer Las Vegas Sands Corp. with a Silver LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Certificate at an award ceremony this week.

LEED certification is an independent, third-party verification that a building project is environmentally responsible, energy-efficient, and is a healthy place to live and work. Key features that led to the Palazzo’s certification include:

• Artificial turf, drip irrigation and moisture sensors in planted areas, resulting in a plus-75% reduction in irrigation needs.
• Swimming pools heated with an expansive solar pool heating system. In the summer, the excess solar energy not needed for the pools is directed to the hotel's hot water system.
• Air conditioning controls in guest suites that automatically setback by several degrees when guests are not present and reset to the desired temperature upon return.
• Interior plumbing fixtures that use 37% less water than conventional buildings, including water-efficient showerheads, high efficiency toilets and low-flow lavatory faucet aerators.
• Occupancy sensors in employee areas that shut off lights when no one is in the area.
• A waste recycling program that from demolition through completion diverted over 70% of waste from landfills. The building's structural steel averaged 95% recycled content, while the concrete averaged a 26% recycled content rate.

The technologies conserve enough water to provide each citizen in Nevada with two gallons of water per year, according to Las Vegas Sands. The technologies also save enough electricity to light a 100-watt light bulb for 12,100 years, according to the company.

In addition to its Silver LEED certificate the US Department of Energy presented Las Vegas Sands Corp. with "The Energy Innovator's Award." The award recognizes businesses, individuals and governmental agencies that have successfully developed or deployed energy-efficient and/or renewable energy technologies, services, or policies.