Building Green in Sin City

Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas, the ever-morphing city typically known for consumption and excess.  Now, the city is taking the lead in green development with one of the world’s largest environmentally-sustainable urban communities.

CityCenter, the latest addition to the Strip, is a cutting-edge destination, with an urban core that intends to blend world-class residential, hospitality, retail, gaming and entertainment elements into a synergistic hub of distinctive character.  The $8 billion venture between the MGM Mirage and Dubai World is located between Bellagio and Monte Carlo, and aims for LEED certification.

Here are their eco-friendly features, according to City Center’s website:
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Electric Cars Steal the 2008 Paris Motor Show

In a small step away from oil-based transportation, automakers displayed a wide array of electric cars at this year’s Paris Motor Show.  The green statement is a far cry from a recent history that included lobbying against stricter MPG and emissions standards.

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Clean Coal is an Expensive Myth

If last week’s VP debate was any indication, Senator Biden and Governor Palin didn’t get the memo on “clean coal”.  It reads something like this:  ”Coal cannot be effectively cleaned, we should invest our limited government funds (see: Bailout) in energy solutions that are environmentally safe today.”

Clean coal technology is also VERY expensive, and will have rising variable costs over time (transportation of fuel, miners’ wages, maintenance of complex cleaning systems, etc).  Compare to solar and wind energy sources, which have fewer incremental costs once built.  How much does the transportation of sun and wind cost?  ZERO!
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Denim Insulation is So Rad

Never thought you’d bring more old blue jeans in your house?  The golden age of denim may have passed, but a revival of the tight-fitting stuff is at hand.  And we don’t have to worry about how they look or washing them.

Denim insulation (also known as Cotton Batt insulation) is a new wave hit for green home-building projects.  Made from recycled denim cotton fibers, the stuff is comparable to traditional fiberglass insulation, but without the health and environmental concerns.  Here’s a quick list of benefits:

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Paul L. Newman, Organic Food Pioneer and Philanthropist

Paul Newman is a humble philanthropist, Oscar-winning actor, and, to many in my generation, well-know for the tasty salad dressings and pasta sauces we see on grocery shelves.  With his Newman’s Own brand, he helped bring organic food to mainstream America during the past two decades–long before Whole Foods Market and the organics aisle were in vogue.

Mr. Newman started the company with writer A.E. Hotchner in 1982, and since then has grown a highly popular brand with a devoted following.   Read more

Greenwashing: Buyer Beware of Wet Paint

Ahhh, the new age of eco-consciousness.  We now have a massive segment of the consumer population with a hunger for organic food, recycled packaging, energy-efficiency, clean air and water–anything that we think will make a difference.

And there’s a flood of green product marketing following the crowd. Companies continue to launch populist advertising and green product labels that are often, at best, misleading.

So how much of this eco-friendly marketing is simply greenwashing, and how do we recognize it?  Who can we trust to regulate ads, packaging, and the truth?
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