Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy
Keep using non-renewable resources, like fossil fuels and coals, will cut off the supply for the future generations. It is time to say no to non-renewable resources and replace with renewable resources, such as solar energy and hydro-power. These action can keep the environment clean and remain the precious resources for the future generations.
Based on the geographical advantages that Las Vegas has, it has the potential to develop varies type of renewable resources and reduces the rely dependence of non-renewable resources.
Based on the geographical advantages that Las Vegas has, it has the potential to develop varies type of renewable resources and reduces the rely dependence of non-renewable resources.
Sustainable Energy Strategy
In 2008, the City Council started to build a more sustainable community, which helped the city to conserve energy by increasing the use from renewable resources.
1. Install 32,000 LED streetlights within the city
2. Install solar panels at city-owned facilities which generate 5 megawatts of electricity
3. Constructed 7 LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) certified buildings
According to the report on the city’s website, the above measures have saved more than $9 million since 2010 (1).
Alternative Fuels Program
The city of Las Vegas has been a charter member of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Clean Cities Program since October 1993. Clean Cities aim to reduce the consumption of petroleum and advocate the use of alternative fuel and renewable resources. David Bobzien, the Assemblyman in Nevada said, we are too dependent on the use of natural gas, and we should stop using it and focus on the development on renewable energy (2). Bobzien explains the importance of using the renewable resources.
The NV Energy mainly provides the electricity use in Las Vegas, and the city government has started to generate electricity in certain ways.
In 2008, the City Council started to build a more sustainable community, which helped the city to conserve energy by increasing the use from renewable resources.
1. Install 32,000 LED streetlights within the city
2. Install solar panels at city-owned facilities which generate 5 megawatts of electricity
3. Constructed 7 LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) certified buildings
According to the report on the city’s website, the above measures have saved more than $9 million since 2010 (1).
Alternative Fuels Program
The city of Las Vegas has been a charter member of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Clean Cities Program since October 1993. Clean Cities aim to reduce the consumption of petroleum and advocate the use of alternative fuel and renewable resources. David Bobzien, the Assemblyman in Nevada said, we are too dependent on the use of natural gas, and we should stop using it and focus on the development on renewable energy (2). Bobzien explains the importance of using the renewable resources.
The NV Energy mainly provides the electricity use in Las Vegas, and the city government has started to generate electricity in certain ways.
1. Hydro-power
Hoover Dam was built in 1930s with the technology of electric power transmission, also known as hydro-power. It collects water from the Coronado River and Lake Mead. Every year, the Hoover Dam generates an average of 4 billion kilowatts of hydro-electricity, and serves the residents in California, Nevada and Arizona. 23.37 % of hydro-electricity is generated in Hoover dam and delivery to the State of Nevada annually (3). |
2. Solar Energy
Solar energy is a fast growing technology which generate electricity from sunlight. This kind of renewable resource could safe up a lot of energy cost compare to the traditional one. Nevada receives abundant of sunlight throughout the year and it is one of the best location in U.S. to develop the solar power.
There are more than 25 solar projects have been done in the City of Las Vegas, and most of them are installed at the city's facilities. These solar projects help the city to reduce the energy cost and safe up to $1 million per year(4). A new solar project is under construction in 2013. It is located next to the Waste Water Treatment Plant in Las Vegas and it can generate up to 6 million kilowatts of electricity annually when completed. These solar energy will be used in the Waste Water Treatment Plant and save more than $2.5 million energy cost every year. It benefits both the government and citizens as it could reduce the burden of paying a high cost of electricity from the sewage treatment plant (4).
3. Wind Power
In Las Vegas, wind power is a new attempt in both home and business buildings. Currently, installation of wind turbine could receive wind energy rebates from the Federal Government. Nevada receive abundant of wind and it has enough land to build a large-scale wind farm (5). Wind energy is safe and does not pollute the environment. Installing wind power is a long-term investment, it has a high cost, however, we can protect the planet by using thse renewable resources.
Reference
1. Sustaining Las Vegas. Retrieved from http://www.lasvegasnevada.gov/sustaininglasvegas/
2. Wind power is win-win for all. Retrieved from http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2013/apr/24/wind-energy-win-win-all/#axzz2ZIAKezuE
3. Hydropower at Hoover Dam. Retrived from http://www.usbr.gov/lc/hooverdam/faqs/powerfaq.html
4. Las Vegas plugging into solar energy. (June 2012). Retrieved from http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2012/jun/18/city-plugs-solar-energy-wastewater-plant/
5. Dasolar.com. Retrieved from http://www.dasolar.com/home-wind-power/nevada/las-vegas
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1. Retrieved from http://www.usbr.gov/lc/hooverdam/faqs/powerfaq.html
1. Sustaining Las Vegas. Retrieved from http://www.lasvegasnevada.gov/sustaininglasvegas/
2. Wind power is win-win for all. Retrieved from http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2013/apr/24/wind-energy-win-win-all/#axzz2ZIAKezuE
3. Hydropower at Hoover Dam. Retrived from http://www.usbr.gov/lc/hooverdam/faqs/powerfaq.html
4. Las Vegas plugging into solar energy. (June 2012). Retrieved from http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2012/jun/18/city-plugs-solar-energy-wastewater-plant/
5. Dasolar.com. Retrieved from http://www.dasolar.com/home-wind-power/nevada/las-vegas
Image
1. Retrieved from http://www.usbr.gov/lc/hooverdam/faqs/powerfaq.html