The Three G's of Las Vegas

Glitz, Glamour, and now Green

edited by Madelyn Miller, the TravelLady

You expect Glitz and Glamour in Las Vegas. But now even Vegas is going Green. And as the emerging culinary center of the country, it marks a trend that is reaching across the country.

The Palazzo and the Venetian are continuing their position and trend-setters by having the first Certified Green Restaurants™ on the Las Vegas Strip.

Celebrity chef Mario Batali and Partner/Winemaker Joe Bastianich’s remarkable line-up of restaurants, Carnevino at The Palazzo and B&B Ristorante and Enoteca San Marco at The Venetian have officially been certified by the Green Restaurant Association.  

Greens are more than Lettuce

e restaurants join The Palazzo, a Silver LEED® certified building (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) in its efforts to be a true eco-friendly property. Being the largest LEED certified building in the world, The Palazzo worked closely with LEED consultants to establish an array of strategies in developing a truly “green” building. The total annual environmental savings generated as a result of the the green technology, creates a positive impact now and for generations to come. The LEED Green Building Rating System is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings.

“The Palazzo and The Venetian are conscious of guests needs for a healthier, cleaner environment,” said Ron Reese, Corporate Vice President of Las Vegas Sands Corp.. “We applaud Mario and Joe for their contributions and willingness to adapt this philosophy throughout their restaurants as we continue to work together in making our campus an eco-friendly destination.”

Small Carbon Footprints

“We’ve always been conscious about the impact our choices have on our environment, so working with the Green Restaurant Association to certify all of our restaurants was clearly the next logical step,” says Mario Batali. “We are proud of our efforts to minimize our carbon footprint, and the GRA affords us the opportunity to make these changes more efficiently and effectively.”

The following environmental accomplishments have been recognized within each Batali-Bastianich restaurant at The Palazzo and The Venetian:

• RECYCLING & COMPOSTING
• PAPER CONSERVATION
• WATER CONSERVATIONE
• NERGY and PAPER CONSERVATION
• ELIMINATION OF BOTTLED WATER

Once certified, all of these environmentally important factors must be maintained on a daily basis and are checked each year to make sure they are up to the Green Restaurant Association standards. But being certified doesn’t stop just there. Each restaurant is required to obtain more steps in being environmentally friendly each year in order to maintain their certification.

Getting even Greener

Contributions at The Palazzo include: 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 use 37% less water than conventional buildings as a result of water-efficient showerheads, moisture sensors monitor site specific temperature factors to provide daily watering cycle adjustments, and the building’s structural steel averaged 95% recycled content.

With the ever growing popularity in creating a healthier environment, more restaurants and resort properties are becoming green. The Green Restaurant Association, a national non-profit organization, helps the restaurant industry improve its environmental practices through research, environmental consulting, education, and certification. Founded in 1990, the GRA utilizes a collaborative strategy that involves restaurants, manufacturers, vendors, community organizations, government, media, and restaurant customers. The GRA’s model provides a convenient way for all sectors of the restaurant industry to become more environmentally sustainable. For more information please visit www.dinegreen.com.

To experience The Palazzo and the certified green restaurants, Carnevino at The Palazzo or B&B Ristorante and Enoteca San Marco at The Venetian, please visit online at www.palazzolasvegas.com or www.venetian.com or call 702-414-1000 and be transferred directly to the restaurant of choice directly or to suite reservations.

Madelyn Miller is a travel and food writer who loves Las Vegas. Read he stories on www.travellady.com, www.carladynews.com, www.yogayaya.com, www.cocktailatlas.com, www.chocolateatlas.com, www.teaAtlas.com and www.coffeeAtlas.com