Did you know that 20% of the electricity consumed in Las Vegas is accounted for by casinos? With roughly 2.1 million bulbs lighting up Fremont Street Experience of Las Vegas, it just shows the extent of casino energy use.

Every week, around the world, millions of people visit casinos to enjoy spending time and relax. However, bank balances aren’t the only things being impacted by casinos, as our planet faces major impacts by the energy used.

So, is there a way we can make casinos more energy efficient? Can they reduce their carbon footprint? In what ways can casinos become greener?

In this article, we will take a look at how much energy is used, what the main factors are and ways the latest technology can be used to not only reduce energy usage but also save a fortune. Let’s go!

How Much Energy Do Casinos Use?

Taking Las Vegas as the main example, 20% of all the electricity used comes from casinos. Whether it is lighting, ventilation or air conditioning, all the factors add up to create a huge amount of energy usage.

Looking at the gaming machines in the city, they account for up to 35% of all the electricity used. In Las Vegas alone, there are more than 209,000 machines that are in operation 24 hours a day. That’s a lot of energy.

What Types Of Energy Do Casinos Use?

An enormous amount of energy is needed to keep up with the demands from casinos. When compared to the average large hospital, a casino can use more than five times as much energy per square foot. Let’s look at the ways casinos use energy:

Giant TV screens

Electronic advertising boards
Audio systems
Heating
Air conditioning
Ventilation

Lighting

The main contributor is lighting. Think about when you first walk into a casino, you are greeted by thousands and thousands of lights trying to attract your attention. Whether it is the machines, overhead lighting or advertising, lighting is the biggest factor due to the need for an uninterrupted electrical supply.

How Much Does Energy Cost For A Casino?

According to Las Vegas Advisor, one of the biggest casinos the MGM Grand will pay $287,280 per year to light its casino just on lighting. Of course, this is an extreme example, however, it puts into perspective the costs that come with running a casino.

Can Casinos Use Renewable Energy?

Yes! There are many ways for renewable energy technologies to be utilised across the world’s casinos to help save energy as well as money. Over the last few years, there have been more and more casinos adopting renewable energy technology across the industry.

What Casinos Use Renewable Energy?

As stated earlier, one of the largest casino brands in the world is MGM. They are conscious of its environmental responsibility and all its properties are green efficient.

In Las Vegas, the Bellagio has received 5 Green Keys for its energy efficiency, becoming one of only six in North America to have done this. Sustainability information and conservation tips are encouraged to employees.

Over the past 5 years, 420 million kilowatt-hours of energy has been saved by MGM Resorts through various methods, as well as lowering its grid energy consumption by over 16% in 10 years.

What Renewable Energy Technology Can Stadiums Use?

You don’t have to be a huge brand like MGM to reduce your energy intake and save money. Niccolo can help you take energy-saving steps and help your business get serious about energy. For more information, check out the website. Below are some ways to use renewable energy in casinos.

Solar	One of the easiest ways to reduce the impact of energy use on the plane is by using solar panels. They are effective, cheap and environmentally sound making them the perfect fit for casinos. In America, an example is the Rincon Casino in San Diego. Power for this casino is generated by a solar panel farm close by. This came as one of the largest solar endeavours by a private company, costing up to $8 million and was 50% funded by the California Solar Initiative. However, fear not as you don’t need these sorts of funds to get started. Solar panels can be used by all casinos and most buildings have more than enough roof space to fit them on. Another example is the largest rooftop solar array in the United States. The MGM Resorts installed the renewable technology at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino and guess how much electricity is produced by them? 20 percent!
Energy efficient lighting	Switching to LED light bulbs instead of traditional light bulbs is one of the easiest ways to make huge savings. The best part is that LED light bulbs can be applied to slot machines, as well as gaming machines, making the savings double as good. Just think, if the game machines are accounting for up to 35% of all the electricity used in a casino, how much could be saved by simply adopting LED lighting. In Las Vegas alone, 209,000 game machines can be found, with the majority of these running all day, all week, all year round.
Smart lighting	Another method is smart lighting. Occupancy sensors can be applied to rooms and machines that aren’t in use, reducing energy usage, as well as cooling down the casino due to less heat emitted from lighting. This has the double benefit of saving energy and cooling the casino floor, making the experience better for guests and players. In addition, lighting retrofits can be installed. This technique can see savings of almost 30%, meaning that the investment will be paid for in just two years of purchase. Smart lighting indeed.
Water efficiency	Casinos use a lot of water. From toilets to taps to fountains outside, there are many ways the buildings use up water. To combat this, many establishments are installing low flow water fixtures. Low flow water fixtures are handy tools that can be fitted to taps and toilets, as well as being extremely cost-effective and paying for themselves very quickly. With extensive industry knowledge and experience working with all business types, Niccolo Gas are the people to call if you’re interested in saving energy. So, if you want to become more energy-efficient, give them a call. Businesses of all sizes can massively benefit. In addition, an extra tool could be geothermal heat pumps. This method will transfer heat from the ground to make the water warmer. Rather than wasting resources, this new technique is energy efficient. Consider using recycled water filtration systems for your location. In addition, facilitating nano-filtration could be a key way to save tonnes of water every year, helping to keep it entirely off the grid.
Online	After the pandemic, many casinos had to find alternative solutions as customers couldn’t visit the site in person. This led to more casinos migrating to online platforms. Sure, it isn’t the same experience as being in person, however, you would save plenty of money and energy by this. There is a growing number of green-conscious players that are making the switch to online casinos, ensuring they are securing a solid gaming experience as well as being responsible members of the planet.
Using eco-energy suppliers	By far the simplest method to improve energy efficiency is to speak with an eco-friendly supplier. There are plenty of energy suppliers that use renewable energy and it could benefit your casino dramatically. By receiving your energy from a green energy company, you could save huge amounts of money whilst doing your part for the planet, something many customers enjoy and be more enticed to use your brand. Energy Solutions offers Carbon offset and RGGO Green Gas options and REGO backed Green Electricity
Other methods	There is an assortment of methods that can be utilised to help reduce energy usage in a casino. Think about replacing standard equipment with variable-speed options when it comes to pumps, fans and compressors.