The Stratosphere. Energy Audit Report

Transcription

1 The Stratosphere Energy Audit Report March 28, 2008

2 Table of Contents Hotel Description 3 Audit Summary 3 Project Recommendation Table 4 Environmental Impact (Carbon Footprinting) 5 Environmental Impact Table for Selected Projects 6 Utility Cost Summary 7 Retail Tenant Utility Bill Back 9 Sub-Metering 9 Utility Rebates 9 Energy Policy Act 2005 Tax Benefits 11 EPA Benchmarking Results 11 Most Significant Guest Issues for Engineering 12 Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning - HVAC 12 Building Automation System 15 Domestic & Space Heating Hot Water 17 Lighting 18 Kitchen 27 Water Conservation Domestic Fixtures 29 Operational & Low Cost Opportunities 30 Sustainability 35 Energy & Environmental Certifications 49 Conclusion 50 Attachments: 1. Nevada Power Prescriptive Light Rebate 2. Siemens BAS, VSD Upgrade Proposal Real Time Metering 3. California Public Interest Paper Hotel Bathroom Lighting 4. HydraMetrics Water Proposal 5. Stratosphere Lighting Conservation Opportunity Details 6. MELINK Proposal & Savings Reports Page 2

3 Hotel Description The Stratosphere was built in stages starting in There are four main sleeping room towers: Regency, World 1 & 2 and Premium. Regency, the original hotel, is 9 stories high and the remaining towers are 24 stories high. There are 2,444 sleeping rooms, including 133 suites. There is an 80,000 ft 2 casino plus several restaurants, retail and entertainment venues. There is a large vacant and air conditioned area called area 52 on the same level as the retail stores. The Stratosphere tower pod has fourteen floors and is about 1,142 feet high. The total square feet for the hotel and tower pod is 2,027,395 ft 2. There are two parking garages (lighting loads only) totaling 1,167,122 ft 2. There are also several smaller buildings or trailers for facilities, reservations, employment and purchasing offices that total another 23,900 ft 2. There are a total of 2,320 full and part time employees. All water cooled ice machines and refrigeration system compressors are cooled by the hotel s chilled water loop, saving significantly on water and energy costs. There is no laundry facility at the hotel as this service is outsourced. All rooms have the Smart System International room occupancy based thermostat that saves energy while guests are not in the room but gives them control when they are. We checked several SSI thermostats during the audit and all were functioning properly. All rooms also have compact fluorescent lamps in table, floor and down lights. Audit Summary The audit team identified a total potential savings of $781,077 in recommended capital and low cost/no cost projects. This represents approximately 11.9% of the expected annual utility costs for the Stratosphere. The total budget for all projects is $1,532,316. With an estimated $477,339 in rebates the average simple payback for all projects is 1.4 years. The recommended projects will also reduce the carbon footprint by 5,157 Tons of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ). There is also a recommendation to conduct an engineering evaluation of chilled water ice storage to take advantage of Nevada Power s time of use rate. The three largest energy conservation opportunities at the Stratosphere in order of priority are: 1. Retro-commission the existing Siemens Building Automation System, add variable speed drives on 37 AHU motors and replace the cooling towers (this includes replacing one drive that is not working). 2. Upgrade lighting in the restaurant warehouse and parking garage plus several smaller lighting projects. Add guest bathroom occupancy based night lights. 3. Complete recommended water conservation projects. The following Recommended Energy Projects Table is split into three groups: 1. Capital projects, divided into priority one and two recommendations. 2. Low cost/no cost projects, divided into priority one and two recommendations. 3. Projects that require a detailed engineering evaluation to determine payback. Page 3

4 Project Recommendation Table Recommended Low/No Cost Energy/Water Projects & Paybacks Project Name Estimated Annual Savings Estimated Cost Estimated Known Rebate or EPACT Tax Deduction - Credit Payback Years w/known Rebates Priority Stratosphere Sustainability Committee $50,000 $5,000 $ Staff & Guest Awareness with above with above with above with above with above PC Energy Star $28,000 $0 $ Dishwasher 0.07 GPM Pre-rinse Spray Nozzle $19,700 $640 $ Smart Strip for Computer Peripherals for Offices $400 $1,000 $ Sub Total/Average Low/No Cost Projects $106,300 $22,990 $0 1.1 Recommended Capital Energy/Water Projects & Paybacks Project Name Estimated Annual Savings Estimated Cost Estimated Known Rebate or EPACT Tax Deduction - Credit Payback Years w/known Rebates Priority Motor VFD Installations $112,561 $256,196 $42, Siemens BAS System Retro-commission $173,236 $173,236 $ Lighting Upgrade Projects $148,056 $367,860 $169, Kitchen Exhaust Hood MELINK System* $129,686 $260,000 $11, Water Conservation Projects $84,198 $357,034 $150, Vending Misers $4,740 $7,530 $3, Walk-in Cooler & Freezer Air Curtains $3,900 $9,250 $2, Sub-Meter Accounts $8,200 $16,350 $ Intellidyne Boiler Controllers - Pool Boilers $3,000 $4,900 $ Bathroom Lighting - Watt Stopper Upgrade $15,400 $73,320 $36, Sub Total/Average $682,977 $1,525,676 $417, Grand Total All Recommended Projects $781,077 $1,532,316 $417, Projects Recommended for Engineering Evaluation Project Name Estimated Annual Savings Estimated Cost Estimated Known Rebate or EPACT Tax Deduction - Credit Payback Years w/known Rebates Priority Cooling Tower Replacement Plan unknown unknown unknown unknown 1 Engineering Evaluation of Ice Storage System unknown unknown unknown unknown 2 Engineering Evaluation of Solar Power unknown unknown Tax Credit unknown 2 Engineering Review of Tenant Utility Costs & Bill Back unknown unknown unknown unknown 2 NEMA Premium Motor Replacements - as motors fail unknown unknown unknown unknown 2 Notes: The rebate for the MELINK system is based on the prescriptive vs. custom application and should be higher under the custom. Page 4

5 Environmental Impact Carbon Footprinting Carbon footprinting represents the total amount of greenhouse gases produced to directly and indirectly support human activities, usually expressed in equivalent tons of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ). The Stratosphere s carbon footprint is the sum of all emissions of CO 2 which were induced by the hotel s activities in a given time frame. In the United States, the carbon footprint is calculated in pounds or tons of CO 2 in a year. There are several other greenhouse gases, such as Sulfur Dioxide or Nitrogen Oxides, but carbon has been the standard for cap and trade programs. A complete carbon footprint would include all activities, such as employees driving to & from work (or do some take the less carbon intensive public transportation), the amount and type of fuel used by vehicles, amount of solid waste sent to landfills, etc. For this report we just used the total annual electrical and natural gas consumption. The values used to calculate the lbs CO 2 /kwh or per Therm are different for each state and depend in large measure on the electrical generation mix in that state (e.g. coal, nuclear, natural gas, waste to energy, etc.). Based on the EPA s egrid tables, Nevada electric delivery is equal to lbs CO 2 /mwh (mega watt hours or 1000 kwh). The Energy Information Agency (DOE) uses lbs CO 2 /Therm for natural gas. Total mwh lbs CO 2 /mwh lbs CO 2 Tons CO 2 Reference 54, ,634,545 42,317 Total Therms lbs CO 2 /Therm lbs CO 2 Tons CO 2 Reference 961, ,529,610 6,265 The table on the next page lists several of the recommended projects and the impact each has on reducing CO 2. To put carbon reduction in a more understandable format, several equivalent activities are also included in the table: the equivalent number of trees that would need to be planted to have the same carbon reduction effect, or the number of cars that would be taken off the road. There is also a column for electric project reductions that compares the number of homes that could be served in a year by the project. Page 5

6 Environmental Impact Table for Selected Projects Environmental Impact of Recommended Low/No Cost Energy Projects Project Name Estimated kwh or Therm Reduction Lbs Co 2 Removed by Project Project Equivalent: Annual Number of Cars Taken off the Road Stratosphere Sustainability Committee 545, , Staff & Guest Awareness with above with above with above with above with above PC Energy Star & Smart Strips 140, , Dishwasher Pre-rinse Spray Nozzle 10, , Sub Total/Average Low/No Cost Projects 696,227 1,205, Environmental Impact of Recommended Capital Energy Projects Project Equivalent: Annual Acres of Trees Planted Project Equivalent: Annual Number of American Homes Electricity Needs Project Name Estimated kwh or Therm Reduction Lbs Co 2 Removed by Project Project Equivalent: Annual Number of Cars Taken off the Road Project Equivalent: Annual Acres of Trees Planted Project Equivalent: Annual Number of American Homes Electricity Needs Motor VFD Installations 1,211,298 1,880, Siemens BAS System Retro-commission 1,860,215 2,887, Lighting Upgrade Projects 1,623,316 2,519, Bathroom Lighting Watt Stopper Upgrade 164, , Kitchen Exhaust Hood MELINK System 737,633 1,144, Vending Misers 95, , Intellidyne Boiler Controllers 2,777 36, Water Conservation Projects 18, , Sub Total/Average 5,714,035 9,107, , Grand Total Carbon Reductions 11,428,070 10,313,620 1,822 2,495 1,143 Money Is Not All You Are Saving Page 6

7 Utility Cost Summary The following consumption and cost information is based on the last twelve months usage provided by each utility. Each utility bill is reviewed and approved when received by the facilities department before being processed for payment. We reviewed last year s bills and all were paid on time, avoiding any late payments. Stratosphere s Total Utility Bill: $6,555,488 $506,230 $975,421 $5,073,837 electric natural gas water/sewer Electric The hotel purchases electricity from Nevada Power. There are three major accounts on the primary general service rate and eight smaller accounts on the secondary service rate (the secondary service accounts for less than 1% of the total electric usage). The average annual electric cost is $0.093/kWh with June through September averaging $0.11/kWh. The hotel uses about 55 million kwh a year. The hotel s average demand is 7.5 MW. Based on the last 12 months history and assuming no change to the electric rate, the total annual electric bill will be approximately $5,074,000. The hotel is on Nevada Power s time of use rate. The following table outlines the time based pricing. Nevada Power TOU Rate kwh Charges Nevada Power TOU Table for kwh ON-Peak 1 PM to 7 PM Mon - Fri MID-Peak 10 AM to 1 PM 7 PM to 10 PM Mon - Fri OFF-Peak All other times % Reduction between On and Off Peak Summer (June 1 to Sept 30) $0.1021/kWh $ /kWh $ /kWh 45.0% Winter (Oct 1 to May 31) $ $ $ NA Page 7

8 Nevada Power TOU Rate kw (demand) Charges Nevada Power TOU Table for Demand ON-Peak 1 PM to 7 PM Mon - Fri MID-Peak 10 AM to 1 PM 7 PM to 10 PM Mon - Fri OFF-Peak All other times % Reduction between On and Off Peak Summer (June 1 to Sept 30) $8.40/kW $0.063/kW $0.00kWh Winter (Oct 1 to May 31) $0.50 $0.50 $0.50 NA Power Factor There is a power factor assessed on two of the three large accounts bills that totals an estimated $12,000 per year. We estimate a total cost of $90,000 to correct the penalty with capacitors. That would make the payback 7.5 years, so it is not recommended at this time. The power factor penalty should be periodically monitored to determine if it has increased, making capacitor installations a more attractive opportunity. Recommendations 1. A plan should be put in place with Nevada Power to ensure a standby transformer is always available for purchase in case of a failure. 2. As can be seen from the tables, there is a significant difference in the cost of electricity between the on and off peak period. There is considerable opportunity to reduce energy cost by shifting as much load as possible to the off peak periods. 3. Conduct an engineering evaluation for adding an ice storage system. These systems run the chiller(s) to make ice at night and use the stored cooling energy of the ice during the on peak periods to cool the hotel and shut down one or more of the chillers. There are several different systems on the market and the evaluation of the options and paybacks are beyond the scope of this audit. We can help facilitate this research if you are interested. Natural Gas Natural gas is provided by Southwest Gas Corporation through four meters. The average price for the last three months has been $1.08/Therm, which is what we will use for analysis in this report. The hotel uses about 958,502 Therms per year for a cost of $975,241 a year. Water/Sewer Water is provided by Las Vegas Valley Water District. There are eight accounts, two of which are the primary accounts that account for a majority of the water used. There are two different bills, one for water and one for sewer. The combined total water/sewer rate is $7.63/MGal (1,000 gallons). The hotel uses about million gallons a year. Based on current cost and historical data, the expected total water/sewer expense is about $1,089,464 a year. Page 8

9 Retail Tenant Utility Bill Back The retail tenants are billed at the following rates for utilities: Electric: $0.21/ft 2 Chilled Water: $0.15/ft 2 Sprinkler: $0.03/ft 2 We believe this price has been in place for a long period of time. It is recommended that this be reviewed for applicability under the current utility costs by an experienced landlord/tenant engineer and should be adjusted, if allowed, as rates change. We can provide an engineer to perform this work if desired. Sub-Metering You Can t Manage What You Don t Meter is a fact if a hotel is going to achieve and maintain an energy efficient property. A majority of the hotel s primary power comes from three electric meters in one location (the same location as the emergency generators) with fiber optics readily available. Adding meter monitoring would put the daily, real time energy use on Scott s PC and allow for ongoing performance benchmarking and alerting when energy use is outside of set parameters. Recommendation Recommend installing electric utility sub-meters to the BAS system. Siemens has provided a proposal for this project for $16,356 and it is assumed there would be a 2 year payback. Utility Rebates Utility Rebates There are significant rebate opportunities from both Nevada Power and the Las Vegas Valley Water District. Nevada Power Nevada Power Sure Bet program has several opportunities to obtain rebates. There are prescriptive rebates for lighting, refrigeration and cooling equipment (e.g. PTACs). We have attached the lighting rebate as an example in attachment # 1. There are also custom rebates that can apply to any project and are awarded at 10 cents/kwh. These rebates need significantly more documentation than the prescriptive ones do. In all cases there is a pre and post inspection that must be completed (in addition to the application form that can be found at Total incentive limits per facility are divided into four tiers. Any combination of prescriptive and custom projects applies to the incentive limits of the program. Page 9

10 Tier 1: Incentives earned up to $100,000 (per calendar year) will be paid at 100% of the earned amount Tier 2: Incentives earned between $100,001 and $500,000 (per calendar year) will be paid at 50% of the earned amount Tier 3: Incentives earned between $500,001 and $1,000,000 (per calendar year) will be paid at 20% of the earned amount Tier 4: All incentives earned over $1,000,001 (per calendar year) will be paid at 10% of the earned amount Incentive payments are capped at the incremental cost of the efficiency measure as well. Please refer to the Sure Bet Program Policies & Procedures (found under the "Documents" link on the Sure Bet website at for further information regarding eligibility. Southern Nevada Water Authority Water Efficient Technologies The Water Efficient Technologies program offers financial incentives to commercial property owners who install water-efficient devices. Up to $150,000 can be earned for implementing new, water-saving technologies. SNWA offers a menu of pre-approved water-saving technologies with predictable savings and a defined monetary incentive. Examples include: Efficient showerhead retrofits Waterless and low-flush urinal retrofits Retrofitting standard cooling towers with qualifying, high-efficiency drift elimination technologies Custom Technologies The Water Efficient Technologies program provides financial incentives for capital expenditures when businesses retrofit existing equipment with more water-efficient technologies. Custom, consumptive-use (innovations that conserve water not returned to the sanitary sewer) includes most outdoor water use. Reducing consumptive-use water extends Southern Nevada's water resources - SNWA places a premium value on such conservation. These technologies can earn a one-time incentive of up to $10 per 1,000 gallons of water saved annually. Non-consumptive use technologies (innovations that conserve water returned to the sanitary sewer) that have no net resource impact to Southern Nevada. SNWA encourages conservation of non-consumptive use water to save the community power and infrastructure costs and because it is environmentally responsible. Businesses can earn up to $2.50 per 1,000 gallons saved annually. There is a lifetime incentive cap per property of $150,000, but, because Stratosphere has changed ownership, the full lifetime amount is once again available even though the hotel has taken advantage of the program before. Recommendation Rebate programs change constantly. Do not start any project without first contacting the appropriate utility to see if the rebate program is available for the project. Page 10

11 Energy Policy Act of 2005 Tax Benefits EPAct 2005 Tax Incentives The Energy Policy Act of 2005 contains several opportunities for the property owner to receive tax deductions up to $1.80 per square foot or tax credits for energy projects completed by December 31, The deductions are further sub-divided into three categories that can qualify for up to $0.60 per square foot each: Building Envelope HVAC and hot water generation Interior lighting According to the tax code, any energy project that qualifies for a tax deduction or credit must be reviewed and inspected by a certified person. The code states a certified person is an engineer or contractor who is licensed in the jurisdiction in which the building is located (we interpret that as having a state license) and represents himself as being qualified to do this type of building analysis. To date we know that the certifying individual cannot be an employee of the company, but otherwise can be a licensed engineer or contractor (the law is not clear who is qualified in states without licensing requirements). We doubt there will be much opportunity for tax incentives for the building envelope or HVAC system because we do not believe the requirements can be reasonably met in a retrofit situation on an existing building. What is certain is the economics of some lighting retrofits will be greatly improved because of this incentive. Also, there are tax credits for renewable energy projects that we are recommending for further evaluation. The bottom line is, for every energy reduction project you consider in 2008, you should task the contractor or engineer involved to determine if it qualifies for a tax deduction or credit and to calculate the tax benefit for you as part of their scope of work. The lighting projects in this report should qualify for a deduction. This is a self reporting program and does not require any special forms. Like all tax returns, the certifications and other records need to be retained for auditing purposes. You should contact your tax professional for specific details. A good place to find more information is EPA Benchmarking Results We benchmarked the property s most recent 12 month energy data using the EPA s weather normalized national performance benchmarking tool, Portfolio Manager. The EPA converts kwh and Therms to kbtu/ft 2 (thousands of British Thermal units per square foot) for their benchmarking. The EPA ranking uses a 1 to 100 scale where 100 is the most efficient hotel possible. The results for the Stratosphere are in the table below. Commodity kbtu/ft 2 Ranking Electric Electric & Gas Page 11

12 This is provided for general information only. We are not concerned about the low benchmark and believe the hotel is performing better than the EPA score indicates. The EPA primary benchmark metric for hotels is the number of rooms and does not use the total number of square feet for the hotel which, when comparing casino & entertainment hotels to typical hotels, is biased against the larger property. Most Significant Guest Issue for Engineering The areas of concern relative to guest complaints that we will address in this audit: Slow water drains. Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning - HVAC The hotel has two different HVAC systems. The older Regency and part of World Towers have 12,000 Btu Packaged Terminal Air Conditioners (PTAC). The remainder of the property, including the casino and pod, has a four pipe system. There are five chillers with cooling towers. The four main chillers are all 1,200 Ton each and there is a smaller 650 Ton unit that just serves the pod in the summer. The chillers are very efficient 16.4 KV units. During the week of the audit, only one chiller was required to maintain space temperature a majority of the time. There is also a plate & frame heat exchanger for water side free cooling. The opportunity for free cooling is mainly at night in the non-summer seasons. Plate & Frame Heat Exchanger The chillers were replaced in All are in good condition and appear to be well maintained. The cooling towers, also replaced in 1996, are galvanized and are in fair to poor condition. A plan should be developed to replace them within the next few years. There is about 60,000 ft 2 of space behind the retail spaces (called Area 52) that is not currently being used. There are only a handful of light fixtures in this area but the temperature is being maintained at 69⁰F. Recommend blocking off a majority of the HVAC to this area so that energy is not wasted cooling it. Page 12

13 Variable Speed Drives (VSD) on Fan Motors Not all AHU motors have VSDs (also called variable frequency drives - VFD). VSDs slow a motor speed down when full load speed is not required. Because several motors are oversized when installed, the VSD right sizes the motor load and reduces energy. An example would be when full fan speed is not needed in a vacant meeting room. Energy costs and motor heat are reduced and motor life is extended. The savings per motor is significant because power is the cube of the fan speed. For example, an AHU fan motor connected to a VSD with its speed reduced by 20% will use 50% less energy compared to the motor running at full speed. A majority of existing motors are all standard efficiency, not NEMA premium motors. NEMA premium motors use 10% to 15% less energy, run cooler and last longer than standard efficiency motors.. Recommendation 1. Install VSDs on AHU motors in the following table. This table is based on costs provided by Siemens and paybacks based on the assumption in the table. Nevada Power has a $60 per HP rebate for VSDs. The proposal also has a replacement VSD for AHU 5 s 20 HP motor that has failed. Motor VSD Installations AHU Serves Supply Motor HP kwh Saved $Savings Return Motor HP kwh Saved $ Savings Total Savings Budget $ Estimated Rebate Payback Years Roof B-3 AHU 7A Mall 30 50,824 $4, ,412 $2, $7,090 $13,684 $2, AHU 6 Mall 25 42,353 $3, ,412 $2, $6,302 $13,684 $2, AHU 5 Mall 15 25,412 $2, ,706 $1, $3,545 $13,684 $1, AHU 20A Main Cage 25 42,353 $3, ,412 $2, $6,302 $13,684 $2, AHU 20 Outside Main Cage 25 42,353 $3, ,412 $2, $6,302 $13,684 $2, AHU 19A Casino 20 33,882 $3, ,706 $1, $4,333 $13,684 $1, AHU 19 Sports Book 25 42,353 $3, ,941 $1, $5,514 $13,684 $2, AHU 18A Casino 25 42,353 $3, ,412 $2, $6,302 $13,684 $2, AHU 18 Casino 20 33,882 $3, ,941 $1, $4,727 $13,684 $1, AHU 17A Pits 20 33,882 $3, ,941 $1, $4,727 $13,684 $1, AHU 17 Casino 30 50,824 $4, ,941 $1, $6,302 $13,684 $2, AHU 16A Sports Bar 30 50,824 $4, ,412 $2, $7,090 $13,684 $2, AHU 16 Pits 20 33,882 $3, ,941 $1, $4,727 $13,684 $1, AHU 15A Poker 30 50,824 $4, ,412 $2, $7,090 $13,684 $2, AHU 15 Poker 30 50,824 $4, ,412 $2, $7,090 $13,684 $2, T-1 Roof AHU 22 Casino 50 84,706 $7, ,882 $3, $11,029 $23,568 $4, AHU 11 Showroom 30 50,824 $4, ,412 $2, $7,090 $13,684 $2, AHU 11A Showroom entrance 30 50,824 $4, ,412 $2, $7,090 $13,684 $2, Total ,179 $75, ,119 $37,025 $112,651 $256,196 $42, AHU 05 Replace Bad Supply VFD 20 $3,800 Motors to be controlled by MELINK Intelli-Hood VS VSD AHU 31 - Kitchen Roof AHU 12A - Roxies Kitchen Savings based on reducing the motor from 100% full load to 90% for 1/2 the time and 80% 1/2 the time for 365 days a year 24 hrs. a day. Savings would increase if motors ran less that 80%. Savings do not take into account soft start or scheduled off times. Savings based on.92 motor efficiency. All Drives to include NEMA-3R weather proof enclosure, 2 contactor bypass w/circuit breaker and EMI/RFI filter Budget includes electrical installation of the VFD's and Co2 sensor into space for VFD control or DP sensor for VFD control. Page 13

14 2. Install NEMA premium motors as existing motors fail. Nevada Power does not have a motor specific rebate program and it is not recommended replacing motors as an energy project without a utility incentive. Recommend that you monitor Nevada Power s rebate program for changes and re-evaluate the project if they develop a high efficiency motor rebate program. Or you could ask you Nevada Power rep to help develop one. 3. Assess each cooling tower and its expected remaining life expectancy and develop a capital plan to replace with stainless steel prior to failure. It is recommended that, in Las Vegas, cooling towers should always be stainless steel. ASHRAE specifies that cooling tower s average life span is 20 years nationwide. The life expectancy is reduced in Las Vegas because the towers are in service all year. Galvanized cooling tower life expectancy should be considered 15 years in Nevada. Stainless steel will be about 25 years so is usually worth the incremental cost increase. Choosing the right towers and control equipment will be important to ensure maximum rebates from SNWA. As it stands, the project would qualify for $150,000 in rebates if the money is not used on other water conservation projects listed below. There may also be a Nevada Power rebate under the custom program, but that will need to be determined at the time the project is engineered. Note that Scott is planning on the stop gap measure of coating the bottom of the towers if they are not replaced soon. That should add a few more years before replacement is necessary. 4. Conduct an engineering evaluation for adding either solar or ice storage to the existing plant. Solar would provide a permanent demand reduction as well as kwh reductions. Ice storage would be used with the existing BAS system to automatically use ice during on peak periods vs. running the chillers (a system could be developed to offset one or more chillers). These projects would have a significant impact on energy costs, but the details are beyond the scope of this audit. We would be glad to help the Stratosphere evaluate professionals or any proposals in this area. Page 14

15 Building Automation System (BAS) Building Automation System Overview The hotel has a Siemens BAS system that is about ten years old. The system has complete graphics and appears to be functioning well. It has not been retro-commissioned in several years, so there is an opportunity to improve the performance of the system by 10% to 15% by retro-commissioning. Graphic Example There is a mixture of DDC (direct digital controls) and pneumatic controls at the property. Recommend replacing pneumatic as they fail with the more accurate DDC controls. BAS Recommendations We have received a proposal from Siemens to retro-commission the system. See attachment # 2. This project typically pays for itself within one year. 1. The first step is to work with Siemens to develop a standard, detailed BAS specification tailored for the systems installed at the Stratosphere. The existing system is very comprehensive, so this information is just provided as a review check list. The document should contain four major components: specifications, operational sequencing, BAS point list and system diagrams. At a minimum, BAS specifications should include: Install complete graphics package. This will increase the ease of use so more users can easily understand and operate the system System hot links for the different major equipment s maintenance web sites (e.g. Carrier) Be completely web enabled and networked (wired, wireless, power line carrier, etc.) Reports and summaries will be generated and directed to the user interface displays, with subsequent assignment to printers or disk. At a minimum, the system should provide the following reports: o All points in the BAS o All points in each BAS application o All points in a specific controller o All points in a user-defined group of points o All points currently in alarm o All BAS schedules o The system shall allow for the creation of custom reports and queries. Page 15

16 Historical Data Collection. All numeric, binary or data points in the system database shall allow their values to be logged over time (trend log). Each historical record shall include the point s name, a time stamp including time zone, and the point s value. Active schedules specific to each building s operating hour s w/local overrides. At a minimum, the following functions shall be provided: o Regular schedules o Repeating schedules o Exception schedules o Weekly schedules shall be provided for each group of equipment with a specific time use schedule o It shall be possible to define one or more exception schedule for each schedule, including references to calendars Specify the required sensors o CO 2 o Humidity (internal and external) o Zone temperatures o Outside air o Damper position o Loop temperatures o Steam pressure and flow o Outside light sensors Control all energy consuming equipment (air conditioning, boilers and, where possible, lighting) Alarms feature shall allow user configuration of criteria to create, route, and manage alarms and events. It shall be possible for specific alarms from specific points to be routed to specific alarm recipients. The system shall provide unlimited flexibility with access rights. A minimum of four levels of access shall be provided along with the ability to customize the system to provide additional levels. Have dynamic color graphics able to display real-time data that is acquired, derived, or entered Operation from graphics It shall be possible to change values (setpoints) and states in systems controlled equipment within the Web browser interface. Provide electric meter pulse data for the large energy consuming buildings Add enthalpy controls to take advantage of free cooling during certain times of the year Install thermostats that only override for a set point of time Control and schedule all space thermostats Control internal and external lighting when possible o Outside light sensor & control site lighting Ensure the same zone does not simultaneously heat and cool Directly control all chillers and RTUs Commissioning & acceptance criteria 2. Retro-commission the Siemens BAS to the standard specification developed for the hotel. 3. Sophisticated controls and data gathering ability are of little use without a facility team trained and actively monitoring the system. Develop a training program for facility associates that will qualify Page 16

17 BAS System operators. That way, more than one person can respond to system problems and building occupant complaints. 4. Because of the complexity of today s BAS systems it is suggested that, once the upgrades are complete, a maintenance contract be established with the contractor that will monitor and ensure the system is functioning properly, preferably doing a mini-commissioning of one quarter of the system four times a year. Independent studies have shown that buildings with a complete, optimized BAS are between 10% and 20% more efficient than facilities that have not been optimized. Domestic & Space Hot Water Generation A majority of the hot water generation is provided through three 16 MMBtu/h boilers. The two main boilers with modulating burner controls are just two years old and are in well maintained condition. The older unit should be evaluated for replacement within the next five or six years. The boilers serve space heating through a plate & frame heat exchanger and domestic loads through eight tube heat exchangers. The pool has stand alone boilers that run all year. Intellidyne Controllers Intellidyne is an energy management control device for hot water generating equipment that monitors system load and delays boiler firing under low load conditions, essentially adding accuracy and intelligence to less than accurate thermostats that come with the boilers. Intellidyne was independently tested by New York State (NYSERDA) at the Tarrytown, NY Marriott. It reduced boiler cycling by 34% and reduced natural gas use by 12% during the test (some end users report a 24% reduction in gas use). This product could reduce gas costs as much as 20% without compromising system performance. Intellidyne guarantees a minimum 10% natural gas savings and that is what was used for payback analysis. Recommendations Install Intellidyne controllers on the four pool heaters. The estimated savings will be $3,000. The cost will be $4,900 providing a 1.6 year payback. Page 17

18 Lighting Hotel Lighting General Condition The following is an overview of the existing lighting conditions at the Stratosphere. A majority of the lighting is energy efficient, but there are some recommendations for improvements that will be summarized in a table at the end of the condition assessment. Guest Rooms Guest rooms have 19 watt 3000K compact fluorescent lamps installed in the bed side lamps and the desk light. One recessed ceiling can has a 26 watt 4 pin recessed can and 3000K color temperature. The bathrooms have one light strip fixture located over the sink area with one 4 Ft T-8 lamp. Light levels in the rooms averaged foot-candles with the curtains drawn closed. Guest Room Corridors Room corridors leading from the elevators to the guest rooms have wall sconces on both sides of the hallway, with one compact fluorescent lamp in each wall sconce. In addition, located over each doorway are two recessed cans with a 13 watt compact fluorescent lamp in each fixture. Light levels in the hallway average foot-candles and 11 foot-candles near the room entrances. Casino Several different lighting systems are used throughout the casino gaming floor. Rope lights using LED technology are used in 60% of the high ceiling drop bulkhead. Blue neon is installed over several alcove areas in the sports betting area. The Nevada Gaming Commission requires that 50 watt MR-16 recessed cans be installed over the gaming tables and 20 watt MR-16 recessed cans over the slot areas. Select sections of the slot machine areas have had the lamps removed. The lounge area with the nightly entertainment has recessed cans with 75 watt par 30 lamps. The bar area has special designer lamps with round globes and a candelabra base located in hanging fixtures over the bar. The large lounge area has a combination of ceiling mounted cans and special designer light fixtures with compact fluorescent, MR-16, and par 30 lamps. Light levels over the gaming tables average foot-candles and 3-5 foot-candles in the slot machine areas. A majority of the light in the slot machine areas is provided by the machines. The two large staircases leading to the Theater of the Stars and the shopping area are illuminated by LED rope lights under each stair riser. The ceiling of the Casino and gaming room is illuminated by 4 Ft strips with T-8 lamps located in the alcove area. Several areas serving the back wall area are illuminated by track light with 75 watt MR-16 lamps. There are approximately 40 track heads. This is a good location to test the 5 watt LED MR-16 lamps. Retail Sales Area The retail area consists of approximately 40 retail tenants ranging from McDonalds to various specialty shops and food court type eating establishments. Approximately 10% of the tenant spaces are vacant and dark. The common areas, including hallways use 100 watt metal halide recessed cans spaced on 8 foot centers. Light levels range from 23 to 35 foot-candles. It should be noted that some light is being contributed from Page 18

19 the tenant spaces. Therefore, it is recommended keeping the front lights on during normally occupied time in vacant tenant spaces to eliminate dark spots in the common areas and walk ways. The following are some examples of the lighting systems being employed in the various retail tenant spaces. Danielle General lighting is provided by 62 track heads par 30 using lamps with no identification on them. Space also has two 250 watt metal halide fixtures. Light levels average 28 to 35 foot-candles. Avanan Shoe Store General lighting is provided by a combination of par 30 track heads and recessed cans. As the par 30 lamps fail, they are being replaced with CFLs. Light levels average 34 to 43 foot-candles. Alpaca Pets General lighting is provided by 100 watt track heads. This is one of the brightest and over lit retail spaces in the facility. Light levels average 40 to 50 foot-candles. Desert Star General lighting is provided by 75 watt par 30 track heads. As the par 30 lamps fail they are being replaced with compact fluorescent lamps. Light levels average 23 to 32 foot-candles. Magic Shop General lighting is provided by a combination of track lights with par 30 lamps and recessed cans with compact fluorescent lamps. Light levels average 23 to 30 foot-candles. Business Center General lighting is provided by 9-2x2 lay in fixtures with 2 T-12 U-tube lamps and magnetic ballast and a combination of 43 par 30 track heads and recessed cans. All track and recessed cans utilize 15 watt compact fluorescent lamps. The back supply room has 3 8 foot fixtures with 2-8 foot T-12 lamps and magnetic ballasts. Light levels average 34 to 40 foot-candles. Leather World General lighting is provided by track light utilizing 18 watt compact fluorescent lamps. There are approximately 20 track heads in the space which is under lit for a retail application. Light levels average 7 to 10 foot-candles. Bon Josef Salon & Spa General lighting is provided by a track light system with 75 watt incandescent bulbs. System consists of approximately 85 track lights. Light levels average 35 to 40 foot-candles. Gifts Plus General lighting is provided by approximately watt MR-16 track heads and 8 recessed cans with two compact fluorescent lamps per fixture. Light levels average 28 to 35 foot-candles. Page 19

20 Lagmania General lighting is provided by 9-2x2 lay in fixtures with T-12 lamps and magnetic ballast. Accent light is provided by 23 track lights with Par 30 compact fluorescent lamps. Light levels average 35 to 45 footcandles. Stratosphere Gift Shop General lighting is provided by a combination of track light, recessed cans, and pendant mounted 50 s style street light fixtures. Track lights and recessed cans use 50 watt MR-16 lamps. Pendant type fixtures have 27 watt compact fluorescent lamps. Light levels average 15 to 20 foot-candles. Lucky s Café Restaurant deploys a combination of several different lighting systems for general, accent, and special design lighting. General lighting over the tables and along the walls is provided by a pendant mounted fixture with two compact fluorescent lamps. Aisles are lit with pendant mounted cans with compact fluorescent lamps. Track light with 50 watt MR-16 lamps is used extensively throughout the space to illuminate graphics and pictures that carry out the restaurant theme. Recommend that 5 watt LED MR16 lamp be tested in Lucky s to replace the 50 watt Halogen bulb. Light levels average 6.3 to 8 foot-candles. Courtyard Buffet General lighting is provided by recessed cans with compact fluorescent lamps. Alcove lighting is 4 ft strip fixtures with T-8 lamps and electronic ballast. There are 26 wall mounted candelabra type fixtures using 40 watt incandescent lamps. Recommend retrofitting the 40 watt lamps to 6 watt compact fluorescent lamps. The hanging chandelier located in the entrance currently uses 9-75 watt A lamps, recommend retrofitting with 9 to 13 watt compact fluorescent lamps. Theater of the Stars General lighting is provided by ceiling mounted cans with 90 watt par 38 incandescent lamps. During the show the house lights are dimmed down to 90%. Lights surrounding the stage are round globes with a candelabra base. Stage lights are dimmed down during performances. Lights for the step risers are rope lights deploying LED technology. Light levels average 6 to 8 foot-candles. Main Floor Hallways General lighting for the hallways serving service corridors, restrooms, and main entrances is provided by recessed cans with two compact fluorescent lamps per can. Light levels average 25 to 30 foot- candles. Reservation Trailer (Temporary Building) General lighting is provided by 39 2x4 lay in fixtures with 4 T-12 lamps with magnetic ballast. Any additional fixtures that have been added to the space are 2x4 lay in with 4 T-8 lamps and electronic ballast. Should this building remain active and on site beyond the next two years, it is recommended that the T-12 fixtures be retrofitted to T-8 with electronic ballast. Light levels average 23 to 30 foot-candles. Restaurant Warehouse Currently the general lighting for the dry goods food warehouse is provided by watt metal halide light fixtures. Recommend that the metal halide fixtures be replaced with 2 lamp T-5 HO fixtures. There are three 4ft strip fixtures with 1 lamp T-12 and magnetic ballasts serving under rack area that can be Page 20

21 retrofitted with T-8 lamps and electronic ballast. The various offices have 2x4 lay in fixtures with 4 T-8 lamps and electronic ballasts. The Food Warehouse has five freezers and coolers to store perishable items including beer, vegetables, meat, and fruit. The following is an overview of the lighting systems used in the freezers and coolers. Freezer #1 - General lighting is provided by 10 vapor proof fixtures with T-8 lamps and electronic ballasts. Freezer #2 - General lighting is provided by 13 vapor proof fixtures with T-12 lamps and magnetic ballasts. Recommend replacing the T-12 magnetic ballast with the energy efficient T-8 electronic ballast. Freezer #3 - General lighting is provided by 5 vapor proof fixtures with T-12 lamps and magnetic ballasts. Recommend replacing the T-12 lamps and magnetic ballast with the energy efficient T-8 lamps and electronic ballast. Freezer #4 - General lighting is provided by 10 vapor proof fixtures with T-12 lamps and magnetic ballasts. Recommend replacing the T-12 magnetic ballast with the energy efficient T-8 electronic ballast. Freezer #5 - General lighting is provided by 10 vapor proof fixtures with T-12 lamps and magnetic ballasts. Recommend replacing the T-12 magnetic ballast with the energy efficient T-8 electronic ballast. Commissary General lighting in the Commissary hallways is provided by 2 lamp strip fixtures with wraparound acrylic lenses. Each fixture has 2 T-8 lamps and electronic ballasts. There are several lamps with missing acrylic lenses, and the fixtures are in need of a wash and relamp. The food service offices and all kitchen areas have 2x4 lay in fixtures with 4 T-8 lamps and electronic ballasts. All light fixtures in the kitchen and office areas are in need of a wash and relamp as the light fixtures are showing dirt on the lenses. The Commissary has cooler and freezer walk-in boxes in various kitchen locations. A majority of the locations have T-12 lamps installed in vapor proof fixtures with magnetic ballasts. The following is an overview of the lighting systems used in the freezer and coolers. Cooler B-5 - General lighting is provided by 6 vapor proof fixtures with 2 T-12 lamps and magnetic ballasts. Recommend replacing the T-12 magnetic ballast with the energy efficient T-8 electronic ballast. CO 2 Room - General lighting is provided by 4-2x4 lay in fixtures with 4 T-12 lamps and magnetic ballasts. Recommend replacing the T-12 magnetic ballast with the energy efficient T-8 electronic ballast. Cooler B-6 - General lighting is provided by 3 vapor proof fixtures with 2 T-12 lamps and magnetic ballasts. Recommend replacing the T-12 magnetic ballast with the energy efficient T-8 electronic ballast. Cooler C-5 - General lighting is provided by 2 vapor proof fixtures with 2 T-12 lamps and magnetic ballasts. Recommend replacing the T-12 magnetic ballast with the energy efficient T-8 electronic ballast. Cooler C-1 - General lighting is provided by 2 vapor proof fixtures with 2 T-12 lamps and magnetic ballasts and four 2 ft 1 lamp T-12 lamps and magnetic ballast. Recommend replacing the T-12 magnetic ballast with the energy efficient T-8 electronic ballast. Page 21

22 Bar Kitchen Area for the Neon Armadillo Restaurant This area is not being used, so there is an opportunity to turn off 7-2x4 lay in fixtures with T-12 lamps and electronic ballast. Currently the lights are burning 24 hours a day seven days a week. Cooler D-2 General lighting is provided by 1 vapor proof fixtures with T-12 lamps and magnetic ballasts. Recommend replacing the T-12 magnetic ballast with the energy efficient T-8 electronic ballast. Cooler D-4 General lighting is provided by 3 vapor proof fixtures with T-12 lamps and magnetic ballasts. Recommend replacing the T-12 magnetic ballast with the energy efficient T-8 electronic ballast. Cooler D-3 General lighting is provided by 2 vapor proof fixtures with T-12 lamps and magnetic ballasts. Recommend replacing the T-12 magnetic ballast with the energy efficient T-8 electronic ballast. Freezer D-1 General lighting is provided by 1 vapor proof fixtures with T-12 lamps and magnetic ballasts. Recommend replacing the T-12 lamps and magnetic ballast with the energy efficient T-8 lamps and electronic ballast. Cooler E-7 General lighting is provided by 5 vapor proof fixtures with T-12 lamps and magnetic ballasts. Recommend replacing the T-12 lamps and magnetic ballast with the energy efficient T-8 lamps and electronic ballast. Freezer E-6 General lighting is provided by 2-75 watt A lamp. Recommend replacing the 75 watt A lamps with energy efficient compact fluorescent fixtures. Cooler S-1 General lighting is provided by 3 vapor proof fixtures with 2 T-12 lamps and magnetic ballasts. Recommend replacing the T-12 lamps and magnetic ballast with the energy efficient T-8 lamps and electronic ballast. Cooler S-2 General lighting is provided by 1 vapor proof fixtures with 2 T-12 lamps and magnetic ballasts. Recommend replacing the T-12 lamps and magnetic ballast with the energy efficient T-8 lamps and electronic ballast. Public Elevators Lighting in the 15 public elevators is provided by 6 recessed cans with 50 watt par 20 incandescent lamps. Recommend that a test be run utilizing 6 watt LED lamps to replace the 50 watt par 20 lamps. Tower Level 104 Meeting Rooms General lighting in the Majestic and Syria meeting rooms is provided by 28 recessed cans using 75 watt A lamps. Lighting is controlled by a multi level dimmer system located in the space. Seven-Level Dimmer System Page 22

23 With the current seven level dimmer system in place, the lamps in the recessed cans must be dimmable. Therefore, it is recommended that compact fluorescent lamps with dimmable ballasts be tested in the fixtures. It should be noted that, at 5AM, 100% of the lights were on in the meeting rooms. Eight wall sconces (four per meeting room) in the meeting rooms with 150 watt metal halide double ended lamps are used for accent light when the general lighting system is turned down. Recommend the current wall sconces be replaced with new wall sconces using compact fluorescent lamps. Tower Level 103 Wedding Chapel #1 General lighting in Wedding Chapel #1 is provided by 45 recessed cans with 75 watt A lamps. Lighting is controlled by a multi level dimmer system located in the space. With the current seven level dimmer system in place, the lamps in the recessed cans must be dimmable. Therefore, it is recommended that compact fluorescent lamps with dimmable ballasts be tested in the fixtures. It should be noted that, at 5AM, 100% of the lights were on in the Wedding Chapel. Tower Level 103 Wedding Chapel #2 General lighting in the Wedding Chapel #2 is provided by 28 recessed cans with 75 watt A lamps. Lighting is controlled by a multi level dimmer system located in the space. With the current seven level dimmer system in place, the lamps in the recessed cans must be dimmable. Therefore, it is recommended that compact fluorescent lamps with dimmable ballasts be tested in the fixtures. It should be noted that at, 5AM, 100% of the lights were on in the Wedding Chapel. Tower Level 103 Wedding Reception Area General lighting in the Reception Area is provided by 39 recessed cans with 75 watt A lamps. Lighting is controlled by a multi level dimmer system located in the space. With the current seven level dimmer system in place, the lamps in the recessed cans must be dimmable. Therefore, it is recommended that compact fluorescent lamps with dimmable ballasts be tested in the fixtures. It should be noted that at, 5AM, 100% of the lights were on in the Reception Area. Tower Level 108 Indoor Observation Deck General lighting for the indoor observation deck is provided by recessed cans using compact fluorescent lamps with colored gel cells taped over the cans for effect. It was noted that no light switches were visible to operate the lights. As a result at, 5AM, 100% of the lights were on in the observation deck. Tower Level Romance at Top of The World & Tower Level Top of the World Restaurant Top of the World Restaurant and the adjoining lounge, Romance at Top of The World, are the signature feature of the property. Located more than 800 feet above Las Vegas, the award-winning Top of the World Restaurant provides an elegant atmosphere with unparalleled views of Las Vegas as the restaurant revolves 360 degrees every one hour and 20 minutes. The lighting system is as much a part of the atmosphere as the views and décor. A combination of LED alcove lighting, MR-16, recessed cans with dimmable incandescent lamps, and various architectural specialty lighting systems provide the lighting for Top of the World Restaurant. Page 23

24 Public Parking Garages General lighting in the North Parking Garages is provided by foot strip fixtures with one F-96 T- 12 lamp with magnetic ballast. The West Parking Garages has 1, watt high pressure sodium fixtures. The stairwells have 30-2 lamp T-8 strip fixtures with wraparound lenses. Recommend replacing the 8 foot T-12 strips and the 150 watt high pressure sodium fixtures with 4 foot strip fixtures using 2 lamp, T-8 32 watt lamps with electronic plus ballasts. Bathroom Lighting We assume there may be a room renovation in the near future. There are several products on the market that improve the efficiency of guest bathroom lighting by providing occupancy based night lighting so guests do not keep the bathroom lights on. We have attached a State of California Public Interest Research Paper (attachment # 3) that profiles two of the products. The Smart Vanity Light incorporates an occupancy sensor and LED night light within a fluorescent light fixture. A Watt Stopper light switch replacement product incorporates an occupancy sensor with an LED night light. Testing in Sacramento shows a 50% reduction in energy use from the lamp with these products installed (a 2 hour reduction in on time would be about $15,400 at the Stratosphere). The Watt Stopper product has a quick payback if the fixtures are not replaced. At $30 a room (less an estimated $15 rebate) the payback should be around 2.4 years. Watt Stopper LED Night Light Switch Another less sophisticated but even lower cost item is the addition of a LIMELITE electroluminescent switch plate that has a built in night light that is always on when the lights are out. The payback for this product would be about 1.2 years. See for more details. LIMELITE Switch Plate Example Page 24

25 We are just beginning the evaluation process for these products and have not completed a thorough evaluation of all the options at this point. If this is of interest please contact me and I will provide you with updated information. Lighting Retrofits The audit team identified lighting retrofit opportunities that are summarized in the table below (except for guest bathrooms). The majority of projects are retrofitting the existing parking garage with electronic ballast and T-8 lamps. A detailed lamp by lamp recommendation is attachment #4. Lighting Retrofit Recommendation Summary Table Area Scope of Work Annual Energy Savings in KWH Load Reduction in Watts Annual Energy Savings Estimated Project Cost Rebate Program Payback in Years Reservation Trailer 1) Retrofit approximately 39 2x4 four lamp T-12 lay in fixtures with 32 watt T-8 lamps and electronic ballast. 12,849 2,574 $1, $2, $ Food Warehouse Commissary Public Elevators Lucky's Café Courtyard Buffet Business Center Tower Level 104 Meeting Rooms Tower Level 103 Wedding Chapel # 1 Tower Level 103 Wedding Chapel # 2 Tower Level 103 Reception Area Parking Garages 1) Replace the existing watt metal halide fixtures with 2 lamp T-5 high output fixtures. Fixtures will be replaced one for one. 2) Retrofit the 4' T-12 one lamp strip with T-8 lamps and electronic ballast. 3) Replace the current magnetic ballasts with electronic ballast and T-8 lamps. 1) Replace various light fixtures in freezer and cooler boxes with 39 electronic ballasts. 1) Retrofit the fifteen public elevator lighting systems from six 50 watt par 20 to the energy efficient 6 watt LED par 20. 1) Retrofit the existing track lighting systems from 50 watt MR-16 to the energy efficient 5 watt LED MR-16. (Approximately 70 track heads) 1) Retrofit the wall sconces from 40 watt incandescent to 6 watt compact flourescent lamps. 2) Retrofit the entry chandelier from 9-75 watt "A" Lamps to 13 watt compact flourescent lamps. 1) Retrofit approximately 9 2x2 two lamp T-12 U-tube lay in fixtures with 32 watt T-8 U-tube lamps and electronic ballast. 1) Replace watt "A" Type lamps with 20 watt compact fluorescent lamps with dimmable ballasts. 1) Replace watt "A" Type lamps with 20 watt compact fluorescent lamps with dimmable ballasts. 1) Replace watt "A" Type lamps with 20 watt compact fluorescent lamps with dimmable ballasts. 1) Replace watt "A" Type lamps with 20 watt compact fluorescent lamps with dimmable ballasts. 1) North Parking Garage has 631 8' strip fixtures with one F-96 T-12 lamp and the West Parking Garage has 1, watt high pressure sodium fixtures. 2) Replace with 4' strip fixtures with two F-32 T-8 lamps and electronic plus ballast. 38,597 4,406 $3, $6, $2, , $ $1, $ ,690 3,960 $3, $2, TBD ,594 3,150 $2, $2, TBD ,325 1,407 $1, $ $ , $ $ $ ,211 4,328 $ $ $ ,906 2,385 $ $ $ ,408 1,484 $ $ $ ,318 2,067 $ $ $ ,436, ,754 $133, $350, $165, Totals 1,623, ,499 $148, $367, $169, Page 25

26 Rebate Program As mentioned above, Nevada Power is offering the Sure Bet Incentive Program to assist in facilitating the implementation of cost-effective energy efficiency improvements in businesses. Incentive payments are capped at the incremental cost of the efficiency measure as well. It is strongly recommended receiving project pre-approval before implementation of energy savings projects. Rebates for LED technology need to be calculated by the Nevada Power Company. Lighting Mock Up Re-Visit The lighting auditor will be in Las Vegas on other business May 28 th & 29 th. He plans to return to the Stratosphere Hotel with several lamp manufactures of compact fluorescent and LED technology to test lamps for effectiveness and light levels. This service is provided as part of the audit. All meetings and test installations (e.g. one elevator will be retrofitted with LED Par 16 lamps that will reduce energy by 60% and also reduce heat buildup) will be coordinated and scheduled through Scott Shultz. The best products will be left for review by hotel senior management. Compact Fluorescent Lamp Recycling Scott expressed concern about the high cost of recycling CFLs in Las Vegas. He is paying $7/lamp locally, which makes the cost effectiveness of the lamp poor. We found a national recycling company, Air Cycle Corporation, that recycles CFLs for about $0.83 each, making the total life cycle costing for CFLs still attractive, with a good return on investment. Air Cycle has also developed the Bulb Eater, a product that helps make recycling easy and more economical for the customer. The Bulb Eater can only be used for 4 and 8 foot straight lamps and U-tube lamps. For CFLs, Air Cycle has developed a prepaid plastic bucket that holds up to 90 compact fluorescent lamps, HID, and /or circular CFLs (up to 55 lbs). One fee covers everything including the container, shipping to the recycling center and the recycling charge. The cost is $74.95 per bucket and if you order five at a time there is a 10% discount. The Procedure: 1. Order containers. 2. Containers will be shipped with return shipping labels and instructions. 3. When container is full, seal the lid on the bucket, fill out the supplied shipping label. 4. Ship the container via FedEx Ground to the recycling facility for processing. The web site for Air Cycle is Page 26

27 Kitchen There are eight kitchens at the hotel including the EDR, commissary and bakery. Air Curtains None of the 30 walk in coolers or 7 freezers have air curtains except for the large units in the restaurant warehouse. Typical Walk-in Box w/o Air Curtains Typical Air Curtain Installation Recommendation Add air curtains to the boxes. Not having curtains allows the relatively hot kitchen air to infiltrate into the box whenever the door is opened or even partially opened and keeps the refrigeration equipment running longer than necessary. Adding air curtains will reduce heat infiltration by 75%. Nevada Power has a rebate of $3/ft 2 or around $75 per door. Kitchen Exhaust Hoods There are a total of 10 kitchen exhaust hoods with about 20 motors that total 190 HP. The exhaust motors total 135,000 CFM (cubic feet per minute) and waste large amounts of electricity when they are on for no reason. For visualization, one cubic foot is about the size of a basketball. Additionally, they draw conditioned air from the dining areas around the kitchen and discharge it to the atmosphere, creating additional work for the air conditioning system. Recommendation It is recommended that the MELINK Intelli-Hood variable speed control device, which slows the motor down when there is no cooking activity, be installed. The motors are installed with VFDs and save energy, as noted in the HVAC section above. Optical and heat detecting sensors are installed to monitor the cooking activity and automatically adjust the motor speed based on the amount of heat, steam or smoke present (see drawing). Page 27

28 As part of the audit, MELINK sent two system experts to the hotel for four days to do a detailed engineering and payback analysis. They have provided a proposal that is attachment #5 (2 parts). The total annual savings for the project will be $129,686. The project cost will be $260,000. We have used a $60/HP rebate (from the prescriptive rebate table) in the calculations, but we expect it to be higher when the hotel submits a custom application form. The payback should be well under the 1.9 years in the recommended project table. Make sure that you work closely with Nevada Power on this project to ensure the correct amount of rebate. Pre-Rinse Spray Nozzle There are 8 dishwashers with two 1.6 GPM pre-rinse spray nozzles each that operate about five hours a day. The current standard for pre-rinse spray nozzles is 1.6 GPM. A 0.70 GPM nozzle is available that passes the 22 second paste test better than standard 1.6 GPM nozzles. This nozzle is manufactured by Bricor. Go to for information. Recommendation Install 0.70 GPM pre-rinse spray nozzles at the dishwashers. The Food Safety Technology Pre Rinse Spray Nozzle Calculator (results below) was used to estimate savings. Assuming five hours of operation, it is estimated that nozzles will save about $ 19,700 per year in natural gas and water/sewer cost. The payback is almost immediate as the cost for each nozzle is about $80 ($640 total). Pre-Rinse Spray Nozzle Calculator Results Page 28

29 Water Conservation Domestic Fixtures HydraMetrics conducted an engineering analysis and building water use modeling of Stratosphere s domestic water systems. Their detailed report is attachment # 4. The 2,444 guestroom toilets are 1.6 GPM pressure assisted. All tested are operating per design and there is no recommendation for these other than routine maintenance. Other fixtures (see table below for fixture list) were operating poorly and using as much as 50% more water than necessary. Based on building modeling, it is assumed that the hotel s water use can be reduced by about 8.6 Million Gallons a year. Natural gas will also be reduced by about 18,000 Therms because the reduction of the hot water waste. Water Project Fixtures Table Number of Project Name Fixtures to be Replaced or Reconditioned Replace Lavatory Sink Aerators 2748 General Use Sinks 3 Multipurpose Lav Sinks 138 Retrofit Tank Type Toilets Components 89 Replace Flushometer Toilet Operators 212 Replace Urinals 81 Replace Showerheads (wall mount) 2429 Replace Showerheads (hand held) 59 Total Number of Fixtures 5759 Recommendations Replace current diaphragm flushometer urinal operators with piston type operators. Piston valves maintain accurate flow four times longer than diaphragm units and are easier to maintain. Replace all guestroom showerheads with pressure independent units and all faucet aerators with tamper proof units. There are options for the showerhead replacement. They should be evaluated by Highgate and Stratosphere senior management to ensure agreement with the selection. We can arrange for a sample to be delivered, if desired. Total Water/Sewer Savings Water Project Payback Table Total Natural Gas Savings Total Project Cost Estimated Utility Rebate Payback in Years $65,289 $18,900 $357,034 $150, This turnkey project will, within two weeks, change the hotel s water use baseline and provide more robust, pressure independent devices with long life expectancy. It will also qualify for a SWNA rebate (we are assuming that all of the above projects will qualify for a total of $150,000 in rebates). We believe this is the best use of the rebate dollars. Page 29

30 Operational and Low Cost Opportunities Energy & Sustainability Committee Stratosphere does not have an energy & sustainability committee. With volatile energy costs and increasing water costs forecasted, all opportunities to reduce cost should be considered. Operational practices can reduce utility costs by as much as 5%. And, as reported in the sustainability section below, this will become critical to attracting government business in the future. Recommendation Establish an energy & sustainability committee to develop a hotel wide plan to place emphasis on the importance of conservation and to educate everyone at the hotel. The committee should involve members from all staff departments in developing a written energy and water conservation policy and a sustainability policy. At monthly meetings, they should make recommendations and assess success of ongoing conservation efforts at the Stratosphere. Look for a volunteer to become the hotel s energy & sustainability champion and chairman of the committee, preferably a motivated non-engineer. Through the committee, develop a written policies specific to the property. Through the committee, problems can be brought to light so not only do energy costs improve but occupant satisfaction will increase as well. It is recommended that the GM be present at the kick off meeting to lend emphasis to the program. Employee Awareness and Training Energy conservation & sustainability is the responsibility of everyone at the hotel, not just the facilities department. The best conservation program is only partly successful unless there is understanding and buy-in from everyone involved. Several companies have implemented company-wide employee education programs that have reduced energy cost between 5% and 10%. Companies like JC Penney, Marriott International, Johnson & Johnson, Verizon and Unilever, plus several colleges, have reported great success with these programs. Recommendation The energy & sustainability committee should develop property specific training for each department or group, to be repeated on a periodic basis. For example, all security personnel should be trained to look for energy waste at night and correct or report it as part of their duties. o Energy and water conservation items should be part of the security check list. o Any discrepancies that cannot be addressed immediately, like turning lights off in unoccupied spaces, should be formally reported to engineering the next morning (e.g., trouble ticket submitted). Another campaign that is very successful in the hotel industry is the turn it off and set it back campaign. One of the best opportunities in conservation is to turn off energy consuming equipment when it is not needed. A good place to find more information on setting up an awareness program is the EPA Energy Star web site at: Page 30

31 The EPA has seven guideline steps to a successful energy management program based on best practices from experienced energy star partners that can be found at ( The seven steps are: 1. Make a commitment 2. Assess performance 3. Set goals 4. Create an action plan 5. Implement action plan 6. Evaluate progress 7. Recognize achievements The chart below shows graphically that it is a process of continuous review and improvement. For this report, a cost of $5,000 was estimated to fund the committee and awareness programs. It is conservatively estimated that these two programs will reduce energy and water costs $50,000 a year. Page 31

32 Personal Computers The audit team met with Mike Essig to discuss computer energy and environmental aspects of computers. There are 568 PCs at the hotel and if one PC and color monitor is left on 24/7 all year, it will waste about $49 a year in excess energy. Energy Star Power Management features, standard in Windows and Macintosh operating systems, place monitors and computers (CPU, hard drive, etc.) into a low-power sleep mode after a period of inactivity. Simply touching the mouse or keyboard wakes the computer and monitor in seconds. Activating sleep features saves energy and money and helps protect the environment. For analysis in this report an average eight hour work day for seven days a week was assumed with 50% flat screen monitors and 50% CRTs and someone constantly at the computer. The analysis also assumes that 36% of PCs are powered off by users at all times because of vacations, holidays or weekends. These assumptions make this is a conservative analysis. There is no savings when the screen saver is on. Recommendation Hundreds of leading organizations have realized significant energy savings by activating computer standby or hibernation settings. The EPA web site has several success stories from GE, University of Wisconsin- Oshkosh, North Thurston Public Schools and others recording saving as much as $75 per computer annually. There are several ways to activate sleep features across entire networks of computers, including free solutions that utilize open source software and/or tools that you may already have at your disposal. Alternatively, a number of commercial software packages offer more feature-rich solutions for a fee and may deliver more energy savings. The EPA web site can help determine the best way to activate alternative power management features in the Stratosphere s environment. For example, each PC could be activated individually by this simple procedure: Right click on the desktop, click properties and the screen saver tab; then click the power button by the Energy Star Label. This will bring you to the page below. The PC can be automatically placed into the off position, hibernation or standby. Page 32

33 For a network solution vs. individual computers, Energy Star has EZ GPO, a free software tool that easily allows IT professionals to implement the Energy Star functions for an entire network. EZ GPO is for Windows 2000 or XP. Windows Vista has Vista Group Policy resident in the software so does not need EZ GPPO. Windows EZ GPO can be downloaded at: Savings will also depend on the PCs and monitors used. For example, LCD monitors use about 60% less energy than CRT monitors, so it is recommended that CRT monitors be replaced with LCD models as they fail. 568 PCs with flat color monitors left on, utilizing the above assumptions, would cost $28,000 a year in unnecessary energy costs. All computers and their peripherals still use a small amount of electricity when they are powered off at the switch. Additional savings can be obtained in offices with their own printer, speakers or other peripherals by replacing standard power strips with Smart Strips : Smart Strips turn off the power to peripherals and eliminate the idle power draw. For example, LCD monitors will draw about 4 Watts and stand alone printers about 5 Watts. Recommend surveying offices and installing Smart Strips where appropriate. Assuming 40 offices, the savings will be $400 a year. The approximate cost will be $1,000 with a payback of 2.5 years. Alternatively, the incremental cost of a Smart Strip compared to standard power strip has a payback of less than one year. So stocking Smart Strips as the standard replacement power strip will save energy over time with a moderate cost increase. Page 33

34 Vending Machines Another way to reduce the building heat load and have a small impact on the energy bill is to install Vending Misers and Snack Misers on the approximately 42 vending machines at the hotel. Vending Misers save about $112/year for each machine and have a payback of about 0.8 years with rebate. Snack Misers save about $50 a year with a 3 year payback. Vending Miser EDR Vending Machines Recommendation Install Vending Misers on cold drink vending machines (a few are already installed). The cost for 42 vending machines will be $7,350 and the annual savings will be about $4,740 per year. As a second priority to the cold drink machines, add Snack Misers (we are unsure of the total number). Vending Miser Payback Calculator Table See for more details on this product. Page 34

35 Sustainability What is Sustainability? The World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED) defines Sustainability as development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Hospitality Impact The hospitality industry, along with essentially all other business sectors, is under extreme scrutiny as customers, environmental groups, investors, shareholders and employees increasingly demand socially responsible business practices, primarily driven by the growing awareness and understanding of global warming. According to the Travel Industry Association of America, business travel expenditures totaled $185 billion in 2000, with $37 billion allocated to accommodations for 2.6 million rooms per day. The lodging industry uses an estimated billion gallons of water per year, generates million tons of solid waste per year, and is the fourth largest user of electricity within the commercial sector. Collectively, the industry has a significant impact on critical ecosystems and enormous potential to reduce their ecological or carbon footprint. Hoteliers that recognize the benefits of integrating sustainable practices enjoy improved customer loyalty, market share and position among their peers. An improved bottom line is one end result of eliminating wasteful practices. Government Impact Government entities, environmental groups and the general public are increasing pressure on the hospitality industry to implement green initiatives. Government and environmental groups have put the industry on notice that monies will not be spent at properties that have not implemented sustainable practices. These markets represent significant revenues to the hospitality industry and a lack of response to the implementation of requested sustainability measures would greatly impact profits. The solutions presented in this report will improve the sustainability of hotel operations by reducing the environmental impact and consequently the carbon footprint of the hotel. By becoming a member of an organization like Globally Green Hospitality Consortium (see below for origination details), reductions in carbon footprinting are well documented and can lead to certification as a green hotel. Many states are mandating that their agencies only hold meetings or conferences in green hotels or conference centers. Sustainability Audit Summary The sustainability portion of the audit covered all areas of the property including casino, rooms, kitchen and restaurant areas, back of the house operations, common grounds, loading dock and pool areas. Interviews were conducted with housekeeping, purchasing, facilities management, information technologie, and catering and convention staff members to get an understanding of the extent of sustainable practices used at the hotel. Page 35

36 The overall results of this audit indicate a lack of a formal environmental policy. There is no one at the hotel that is accountable for environmental issues. Staff members interviewed were unable to articulate the hotel s environmental policy or understand the environmental initiatives of the hotel. Without an environmental policy with goals, benchmarks, and performance tracking, it is impossible to have knowledge of what the true costs and losses of the operation are. Additionally, the hotel s suppliers cannot comply with initiatives or know that they are meeting the spirit of the hotel s environmental goals. A proactive environmental management program will include energy management, sustainability, waste stream program development, accountability levels and development of metrics. Metrics are crucial. Without them it is impossible to measure where you are and where you want to be. Sustainable Programs Linen Reuse Program The Stratosphere does have a linen reuse program in place to conserve water resources. However, it was observed that use of the program was not consistently communicated via signs placed in the rooms. Some rooms did have a sign but not always in a visible location. A linen reuse program has been proven to be favorably received by most guests and provides a considerable reduction in water usage. Although the Stratosphere outsources linen services to Mission Linen, the contribution to conserving water resources for Las Vegas through a consistent linen reuse program is significant. Mission Linen has incorporated water conservation technologies in their operation. It is estimated that they use approximately one gallon per pound of linen washed. Full service hotels typically use a minimum of 20 pounds of linen per room per day (including spa and pool areas). At 2500 rooms and with 93% occupancy, over 46,000 pounds of linen are processed daily or almost 1.4 million pounds per month. That means 1.4 million gallons of fresh water is used every month for washing linens. A consistent linen reuse program can effectively reduce water usage by 20% to 30% and energy use by 10%. Recommendations Reevaluate the linen use program for effectiveness and associate performance. Consider a room sign that is more visible than the existing one. Sign Example Page 36

37 Housekeeping Practices Recommendations Close draperies. A consistent policy of closing the draperies after cleaning a room will reduce energy usage. Use natural lighting when cleaning guest rooms to reduce energy usage. Consistently place signage communicating linen reuse policy to guests in a visible spot. Create a Green Team See Low & No Cost opportunities. Environmental Policy See Low & No Cost opportunities. Waste Management and Recycling Recycling is defined as the process of collecting materials otherwise destined for disposal for reuse as raw materials for new products. Recycling of useful materials reduces the waste otherwise sent to landfills and conserves energy and resources. A hotel recycle program is two-fold - collecting recyclable material from the waste stream for recycling and purchasing products made from recycled content, otherwise referred to as eco-purchasing. A 1990 s study conducted by the Florida DEP and University of Florida found that waste generation in hotels ranged from a low of pounds per room per month for limited service to pounds per room per month for a full service property. The practice of recycling, reuse and waste prevention can reduce the total waste stream up to 50% to 65%. Paper, food waste and landscape debris typically represent the three primary waste sources. Waste disposal costs in Las Vegas are based on the size of the container and the frequency of pick up as opposed to the weight or volume of waste. It stands to reason then, that practices that reduce the volume of waste will also reduce disposal costs. According to the Nevada DEP, many Las Vegas hotels contract with an outside recycling company to sort through waste and separate recyclables since a significant investment in time, space and employee training would be required to perform this function in-house. This additional cost is offset by the reduction in disposal fees and the value of the materials recovered in the sorting process. It is documented on the Nevada DEP that Harrah s of Las Vegas pays $6,700 per month for a local recycling company to provide round-the-clock waste sorting at the hotel to reduce the volume disposed of. This reduction in disposal volume results in a cost savings of close to $50,000 per year in avoided waste hauling fees. Similar programs have been implemented at the Monte Carlo and MGM Grand Hotel. Guest room amenities Privately labeled lotion and shampoo are provided in 1 ounce plastic disposable bottles. Amenities are replaced as they are used by the guest and upon checkout. Unused amenities are disposed of as solid waste. Standard guest room amenities at the Stratosphere include the following: 1-ounce bar soap in plastic wrapping Page 37

38 Lotion in 1-ounce plastic bottle Shampoo in 1-ounce plastic bottle Toilet paper Tissue box 4 Individually wrapped plastic cups Plastic ice bucket with plastic liner Actual year to date usage of soap, shampoo and lotion at the Stratosphere was provided by the purchasing department. Item costs for cost savings calculations were not made available. Year to date usage (as of 3/14/08): Shampoo: 280 cases / 288 per case Lotion: 224 cases / 288 per case Soap: 360 cases / 500 per case Standard Stratosphere Amenities According to information provided, housekeeping staff typically replaces and disposes of the above amenities when 50% of the product has been used. Based on the actual usage and replacement practices, the following calculations for product disposed of in a landfill are as follows: The current amenity practice at the Stratosphere is estimated to produce over 28,000 pounds of unused soap bars annually and over 900,000 wrappers per year. Shampoo and body lotion waste is estimated at over 2,800 gallons annually, adding over 725,000 one-ounce containers to the landfill. Bar soap, lotion and shampoo waste is estimated to consist of over 1,700 bags of nonbiodegradable waste to landfill. Amenities Sent to the Las Vegas Landfill Annually Unused Packaging Waste Unused Product BAR SOAP PRODUCT Product (Wrappers) (Ounces) (Pounds) Total Soap Wasted 900, ,000 28,125 LIQUID PRODUCT Packaging Waste (1-ounce bottles) Unused Product (Ounces) Unused Product (Gallons) Shampoo 403, ,600 1,575 Body Lotion 322, ,280 1,260 Total Liquid Waste 725, ,880 2,835 Page 38

39 Recommendations 1. Bulk amenity dispensers are an environmentally friendly and cost saving option to consider. This option not only reduces liquid and solid waste, but reduces housekeeping labor associated with stocking, replacing and disposing of individual containers. In addition to contributing to a significant reduction in the waste stream, disposal costs associated with this waste stream will also be reduced. Bulk Amenities 2. The purchase of environmentally friendly amenities in biodegradable, recyclable containers will reduce the waste stream if these containers are sorted for recycling. Many all natural or organic amenities eliminate or minimize the use of preservatives and chemicals used in the product, further reducing the environmental impact. Environmentally Friendly Amenities 3. Evaluate replacing plastic cups currently provided in guest rooms with biodegradable beverage glasses to reduce the waste stream. E-Waste Rapidly changing technology has contributed to one of the fastest growing waste streams in the world today. E-waste is the trendy term for electronic products that are at the end of their useful life. The waste stream typically consists of broken or unwanted cell phones, televisions, radios and computers. The National Safety Council estimates 250 million computers will become obsolete by Americans discard around 100 million cell phones annually, with a significant number of them disposed of in landfills. The e-waste stream is a major source of toxins and carcinogens and represents up to 70% of overall toxic substances which may include lead, mercury, silver, antimony and cadmium. A critical component of the e-waste stream is the cathode ray tube (CRT), or the picture tube found in televisions and computer monitors. CRTs contain significant quantities of lead that can be released into Page 39

40 the environment when they are crushed. The lead eventually finds its way into the groundwater, polluting our drinking water. According to the Nevada Department of Environmental Protection, CRTs disposed of by facilities generate more than 220 pounds of hazardous waste per month and are subject to hazardous waste regulations. Current Practice for E-Waste Disposal The Stratosphere purchases approximately 587 computers per year. Printers, fax machines, telephones and other electronic equipment purchases numbers were not available. Some of the computers are refurbished and donated. However, most are placed in the dumpster for removal by Silver State Disposal. Other electronic equipment is disposed of in a similar manner. Quantities specific to the disposal of these items at the Stratosphere are not available at this time. Significant security issues are a concern and should be considered in planning a total hotel program for the disposal of electronic equipment. Although many donation and recycle organizations have good intentions, it is, unfortunately, a common practice for unethical individuals to scavenge these machines with the sole intent of removing sensitive data, including credit card or other information considered a responsibility of the property to protect. This can ultimately be traced to the property and represents a significant liability risk if not properly handled - a liability that extends fifty years out. It is not common knowledge that simply erasing the hard drive does not erase all data. The hard drive must be de-magnetized for final and complete removal of data. An item not commonly considered a part of the e-waste stream is the smoke detector. Smoke detectors disposed of in quantities of ten or more (common in hotel renovations) emit radioactive waste and represent significant liability when not properly disposed of. Recommendations 1. Used electronic equipment can be donated to schools or non-profit organizations. However, make certain that the hard drive has been de-magnetized. Samplings of organizations in Nevada that have reuse programs include the following: The Blind Center of Nevada, Las Vegas: Provides computer recycling services. Information can be found on their web site at Carson City School District The Educators Closet: Contact is Kristi Pulizzotto, 604 W Musser St., Carson City, NV 89703, Clark County Public Education Foundation InterAct Exchange: Washoe County Crayons to Computers Warehouse: Computer Corps in Carson City: Diverse Innovations in Las Vegas: Contact David Crist at E-waste that is recycled is typically broken down into constituent parts. Those materials that are reusable are sent for re-use or re-manufacture. Recycle centers in Las Vegas that accept computers include: Page 40

41 Cyber Core: Computer Surplus Outlet: Goodwill Industries of Southern Nevada: Tweeter Retail Store locations Republic Services in Nevada does provide e-waste recycling services. As of the date of this report, e-waste recycle services available through Silver State Disposal were unable to be confirmed. 3. Many computer manufacturers have implemented take-back or recycling programs as part of their green initiatives, disposing of this waste in an environmentally friendly and responsible manner. Most will even take back e-waste regardless of the original manufacturer and charge only shipping costs. Manufacturers that have implemented such programs include Dell, Epson, Hewlett Packard, Gateway and IBM. The EPA maintains a database of electronic industry companies that are taking proactive steps to manage their e-waste stream. These suppliers will not only take back used equipment; they will provide written certification that the data was erased critical to a comprehensive program to reduce liability. Most of these suppliers will provide a discount with the take-back program that can be applied to the purchase of new equipment. This must be written into the original purchasing plan. Current General Waste Disposal Practices Since there is no comprehensive systematic waste disposal practice in place, it is not possible to quantify the costs or losses associated with disposal practices. Recommend implementing a disposal practice plan. We can assist in the development if desired. Newspapers Complimentary newspapers provided by many hotels create an enormous waste stream adding several tons to waste disposal on a monthly basis. The Stratosphere does not provide a complimentary newspaper but does provide them for purchase in hotel gift shops. This is a very positive practice as it significantly reduces the paper waste stream. Cardboard Cardboard is produced in essentially all departments of a hotel and is the most important material in a recycling program. Proportionately, cardboard represents the largest part of recyclables in a hotel s waste stream and occupies a massive amount of space in waste containers. The Stratosphere currently has a recycle program in place for cardboard. The cardboard is compacted and baled for removal by Silver State Disposal. Information provided indicates that the Stratosphere is paid for the cardboard recycled. At the time of this audit, it was observed that there were approximately 15 bales of cardboard on the loading dock prepared for removal. Specific information related to quantities and frequency of disposal were not available. Page 41

42 Cardboard Being Recycled But No Record of How Much Kitchen Grease Kitchen grease is collected on the loading docks. Approximately thirty to forty gallons of grease per week are collected and sold for the production of biofuels. This is a very sustainable practice. It would be possible to convert this waste stream to biofuels on site and provide fuel to the trucks, forklifts, vans and any other transportation vehicles used by the Stratosphere. Information provided indicates that these vehicles consume approximately twenty gallons of gasoline per week. Compact Fluorescent Bulbs See current practices and recommendations in lighting section. Recycling saves energy A former Energy Specialist at the Florida Energy Extension Service, H.J. Whiffen, has calculated the energy savings for commonly recycled materials. This energy savings can be quantified by conversion to pounds of carbon emissions reduced. The following table illustrates the environmental impact, or carbon emission reductions, of recycling commonly used materials (a guide for hotels can be found at CO 2 per Ton of Various Recycled Products MATERIALS KWh EQUIVALENT SAVED PER TON RECYCLED Lbs Co 2 Reduced Newsprint 3,838 5,957 Office Paper 3,838 5,957 Cardboard Boxes 1,875 2,910 Glass 1,289 2,001 Plastic 19,279 29,924 Aluminum Cans 64,166 99,594 Steel Cans 3,193 4,956 Stratosphere Waste Reduction Recommendations Page 42

43 The Stratosphere has opportunities to significantly reduce its solid waste stream that will result in both a reduction in disposal costs and a reduction in the carbon footprint of the building. A successful recycling program must include the commitment of all parties in the hotel operation including ownership, managers and employees. A recycling team consisting of employees from various areas of the hotel is very effective for designing a recycle program and ensuring that the recycling practices are followed. Involving employees in the program allows them to take ownership and improves the success rate of the program. A monthly report for tracking waste disposal and waste management costs should be established for ongoing evaluation of the success of the recycle program. Evaluation and negotiation of the recycle provider s contract should consider collection charges, frequency of pick-ups and materials to be recycled. Guest rooms and common areas 1. Donate or reuse discarded or leftover materials. Donate discarded clothing or leftover bottles of shampoo, lotions and bar soap to charities such as homeless and abuse shelters and churches. Reuse items if the seal is not broken. Mattresses may also be donated. 2. Place recycle bins in guest rooms for recyclable items. In-room recycle bins will increase guest participation. They can save time and increase safety since housekeeping staff will not have to sift through waste cans also. 3. Place recycling bins in vending areas. Make bins visible for guests to recycle newspaper, cans, bottles, etc. Always include a garbage can nearby. 4. Place recycling bins throughout shopping mall areas, replacing receptacles currently in place. 5. Strategically locate recycling bins throughout the casino area. 6. Place recycling bins in the Pod tourist area. Pool 1. If pool furniture becomes unacceptable for reuse or is not able to be repaired, donate these items to charity. 2. Donate old or stained towels to charities or organizations that may use them (humane societies, veterinarian offices, school car washes). They may also be used for many back of the house operations, such as rags for maintenance shops, housekeeping and kitchen. 3. Consider alternative sanitizers for the two swimming pool areas. The main pool has an adjoining spa and fitness area. Both pools use traditional water heaters and chlorine sanitizers. Ozone Ozone and Ultraviolet light have been successfully used to treat drinking water in our wastewater plants for close to 100 years. Ozone is made from oxygen and is a much more powerful oxidant than chlorine. Although the upfront capital cost may be higher, ongoing operating and maintenance costs are reduced as ozone does not cause destruction of pool infrastructure, rusting of ventilation systems or other problems caused by the use of chlorine. Saline Saline (or salt water) purification systems also eliminate or minimize the need for chlorine. As salt is passed through the saline system equipment, chlorine gas is produced from the dissolved salt. The gas dissolves instantly, preventing the formation of chlorine compounds and the side effects commonly associated with the manual use of chlorine. Office Areas Page 43

44 The National Office Paper Recycling Program indicates that approximately 1.5 pounds of recyclable paper waste per day is generated by each office worker. For fifty employees, this is approximately 75 pounds per day or over 27,000 pounds annually. These recyclables are best collected near the points of generation: desks, copy machines, fax machine, printers, etc. 1. Implement a recycling program for office paper. Consider recycling printer paper, file folders, selfadhesive notes and boxes. Reuse envelopes for internal routing or use inter-office envelopes. Reuse paper that is blank on one side for notes, drafts and messages. Reset printers to use double sided paper. 2. Develop a waste reduction and recycling program for fax machines, printers and copy machine operation. o Fax Machine. Use self-adhesive notes or a hotel fax stamp on first page of fax instead of a cover sheet or reduce fax coversheets to a minimal size. o Printer. Choose remanufactured toner cartridges and participate in returning toner cartridges to the office supply company or the manufacturer. o Copy Machine. Double-side (duplex) photocopies or set copier for only double-sided (duplex) copy. 3. Develop a waste reduction and recycling program for contracts, memos and reports. Evaluate whether routine written reports and memos are necessary. Consider communicating these reports electronically or, at a minimum, eliminating unnecessary copies. Proof documents on the computer screen before printing and store documents electronically instead of creating a hard copy. Use internal system and voice mail to curtail paper use. Print reasonable quantities of material needed and reformat reports, especially draft copies, so that more words will fit on a page by reducing fonts and margins. 4. Develop a waste reduction plan for beverage containers. Encourage administrative personnel and staff to use reusable mugs and containers instead of disposable containers and to recycle aluminum cans, plastic and glass bottles. Leased Spaces The Stratosphere leases spaces to retail and restaurant businesses in the mall area. The amount of waste generated by the business and their planned method for disposal should be considered as part of the lease negotiation process. It is particularly important to determine if hazardous waste will be produced. If hazardous waste finds its way into the hotel collection containers, the Stratosphere will be responsible for any waste disposal problems. A common example is the hazardous waste produced from the process of film developing at a photography store. Kitchen and Restaurant Waste Composting Composting is the process by which organic materials decompose into smaller materials that can be used to enrich the soil and improve water conservation. Composting is a relatively new practice introduced to the Las Vegas area. Booming construction of golf courses and properties that require landscaping, along Page 44

45 with the arid climate, severe water shortage and poor soils in Las Vegas make composting of food waste a very practical solution. A1 Organics is a recycling and composting facility in the Vegas area. The company is said to be working with casinos on a pilot program to refine processes and logistics associated with casino operations. A1 Contact information: Linda Parker, Customer Service Rep, , lindaparker@a1organics.com Other practices to reduce kitchen/restaurant waste include the following Keep condiments in approved bulk containers on tables or make them available upon request for quantities actually needed. Avoid over packaging of takeout orders. Limit use of disposable items including napkins, utensils, etc. Use aluminum foil when possible as opposed to Styrofoam products. Utilize reusable hats and aprons as opposed to disposable items. Offer half-sized portions to customers. Replace individually wrapped straws with bulk straws to reduce paper waste. Require vendors to remove and reuse pallets. Serve food on ceramic dishware rather than paper, plastic or Styrofoam. Separate waste streams. Keep recyclable waste in separate containers according to the type of material. Construction Projects Information sources indicate that renovation projects at the Stratosphere are likely to be underway in the near future. Construction and renovation projects can significantly affect the environment in all aspects from design to construction and waste removal. Working closely with the architects, designers and builders to insure sustainable practices are followed will contribute to a positive environmental impact and a reduction in the carbon footprint. Sustainable building practices result in a healthier environment for staff and guests and the overall performance of the building will increase the return on investment. Following is a sampling of best practices that may be implemented with the cooperation of the designers and builders (from the Monterey County Green Business Program): Design Specify materials such as insulated panels, panelized wood framing and precast concrete that can be delivered pre-cut for rapid, nearly waste-free installation. Specify durable materials with high recycled content. Waste Reduction and Conservation Use Forest Stewardship Council certified lumber for framing, flooring and trimming. This insures that the hardwoods used are from sustainable sources and not from diminishing rainforests. Use reusable aluminum scaffolding instead of site-built wooden scaffolding. Use reusable aluminum forms to replace wood forms in concrete work. Install permeable/pervious surfaces where appropriate, including driveways and walkways. Page 45

46 Purchasing Considerations Choose products with little or no packaging. Seek suppliers who will reuse or recycle the packaging. Reuse as many building components and fixtures as possible. Avoid reuse of inefficient fixtures, components and appliances. Minimize use of materials composed of ingredients that are typically not recyclable or biodegradable. Construction & Renovation Practices Use drywall clips to fasten the drywall. Recycled content polyethylene clips are available as an alternative to metal. Use cardboard or masonite instead of paper for protection of finished floors. These products can then be reused or recycled. Use concrete containing ground up concrete or fly ash as aggregate. Use drywall made with recycled gypsum and Homasote wall board made from recycled paper. Use insulation made from denim, newspaper processed into cellulose or fiberglass with some recycled glass content. Use treated wood without chromium or arsenic for applications specifying treated wood. Use formaldehyde-free materials instead of particleboard and formaldehyde-based MDF. This reduces formaldehyde exposure to occupants. Use Oriented Strand Board (OSB) as an alternative to plywood for subfloor and sheathing. Donate surplus materials. Reuse, salvage or recycle concrete, dirt, lumber, salvaged clean wood scraps, finished wood, metal, cardboard, form boards, drywall, appliances, windows, flooring, doors, cabinets and fixtures. Sweep pavement, sidewalks, and driveway areas. Do not hose down or pressure wash. Sweeping will conserve water resources and prevent contaminants from entering the water systems. Do not hose down dumpsters. If required, have the leasing company remove the dumpster and replace with a clean one. Interior finishes Fabrics made from 100 percent post-industrial and post-consumer recycled yarn are available in custom designs and colors. Carpeting that is PVC-free with low/no VOCs is available through a variety of manufacturers. Shaw, Milliken and Mohawk have recycle programs that will remove and recycle old carpeting. Commercial grade carpet produced from recycled product is available. Wall coverings with low/no VOCs, printed with water-based inks and containing recycled, postconsumer or renewable content are available for commercial use. Some companies will accept and recycle vinyl wall coverings that are being replaced. Paints with low/no VOCs are preferable as they reduce the toxins emitted in the air and in the disposal process. Deconstruction Page 46

47 Deconstruction refers to the dismantling of a building to preserve the useful value of any component materials. This reduces or eliminates unnecessary waste, extends the life of the landfills and reduces disposal costs. Types of material that can be salvaged include finish flooring, appliances, cabinetry, windows, framing, structural sheathing, roof truss systems and floor truss systems. Eco-Purchasing The most effective method for reducing waste is to prevent it in the first place. Eco-purchasing involves the evaluation of procedures and products based on durability, reusability, recyclability, packaging and post-consumer content as opposed to evaluating products solely on the merits of price and quality. The development of a materials flow plan that identifies materials, collection, container size, recycling, reuse and disposal is a first step in eco-purchasing. Realistic goals and objectives established with the involvement of owners, management and staff will aid in the development of reduction programs. Monthly tracking of waste management costs, disposal costs, and volume reduction are essential for documenting and evaluating the economic and environmental benefits gained. Common approaches for an effective purchasing program include the following: (FAU Green Lodging Study, 2006): Practice just in time purchasing. Overstocked inventory can lead to expired products that can t be used will require disposal. Work with vendors to reuse and reduce packaging. Vendors will take back shipping pallets for reuse. Purchase materials of higher quality that will last longer without replacement. As an example, purchase reusable disposable plastic or polystyrene cups. Purchase paper products that have post-consumer recycled content. Opportunities include letterhead, office supplies, printer paper, toilet paper, paper towels, tissues, picnic and park benches. Close the loop by purchasing products that have recycled packaging. Purchasing agents should evaluate contracts and purchases to identify products that minimize packaging and/or waste. Green Cleaning Green Cleaning is defined as using products and services that reduce the health and environmental impacts compared to similar products and services used for the same purpose (from Presidential Executive Order #13101). Green Cleaning offers better environmental performance and improved health and safety while retaining the same sanitation quality as traditional, more chemical-intensive, cleaning methods. The benefits of Green Cleaning extend beyond the environmental impact and include improved employee productivity, reduced absenteeism and turnover, improved profitability and improved air quality. Page 47

48 Indoor air quality hazards as a result of traditional toxic cleaning methods include allergies and asthma and increased absenteeism and lower productivity and performance. Current Practice Stratosphere housekeeping staff currently utilizes four primary cleaning solutions supplied by EcoLab. Concentrated solutions are automatically dispensed into spray bottles by housekeeping staff and stored in non-ventilated utility closets on each floor. OASIS 283 / Air Freshener OASIS 137 / Orange Force OASIS 259 / Glass Force OASIS 499 / Germicidal non-acid cleaner concentrate Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) provided document the above products contain chemicals that are hazardous to the environment. An additional assortment of floor strippers, carpet spotters and other abrasive, toxic cleaning solutions were noted and stored in the warehouse. Recommendations 1. EcoLab products that are less toxic are available. We recommend that you have EcoLab provide you with options. 2. SouthEast LINK provides a total cleaning solution or one-stop shop. In addition to cleaning solutions, recycled toilet paper, paper towels, ergonomic and environmentally friendly cleaning tools are among the products that can be purchased. 3. The Oasis products 137 and 499 can be replaced with one general purpose cleaning solution that is non-toxic, environmentally friendly, Green Seal certified and used routinely in commercial applications. This product can replace hard floor cleaner, all purpose cleaner, carpet spotter, carpet extraction/bonnet cleaner, restroom cleaner, grout cleaner and others. 4. Evaluate the possibility of adding gravity louvered ventilation to the utility closets. Oasis 259, or Glass Force, can be replaced with micro fiber cloths that are effective in cleaning glass, chrome, mirrors, stainless and other surfaces with only the addition of a small amount of water no chemicals. The cloths are guaranteed for 500 washings before replacement is required. Air fresheners (Oasis 283) are, of course, used to mask unpleasant scents. If cleaning is effective, in most cases, air fresheners are not required. However, the Stratosphere does experience a very difficult odor from smoking guests. Air fresheners typically sprayed in the air or on surfaces mask the unwanted odor only temporarily and disperse volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or toxic substances that are harmful to the respiratory system and the environment. Alternatives are available at a much reduced cost. Units are installed in the rooms and emit an all natural fragrance 24 hours per day with no volatile organic compounds. The fresheners typically last 90 days. The cost is approximately $2.00 to $3.00 per month per unit. Environmentally friendly carpet cleaners that use ionized water (no chemicals) and non toxic floor strippers and finishes are additional alternatives to consider when implementing a total green cleaning solution. Please refer to the attached document #6: Attributes of Green Cleaning Chemicals for selecting environmentally friendly cleaning products for your property. Page 48

49 Landscape Practice The property has limited garden beds that contain a variety of plantings including palms, roses and evergreen shrubs. Island areas, for the most part, have been landscaped with a rock material very suitable for Las Vegas climate and an aid in conserving moisture in the soil. It was observed that the bedding areas directly surrounding the planting materials lacked any type of mulch or rock. Irrigation practices vary according to the seasonal watering restrictions. Watering is allowed three days per week through March, seven days per week in winter and one day per week in summer. Automatic irrigation hours are appropriately set for 5am to 12noon, limiting evaporation of the water in the hot sun. Recommendations 1. Bedding areas surrounding plants should be filled with a mulching material to conserve moisture and reduce the amount of water needed to sustain the plant life. 2. Collect landscape debris and include in the composting program developed for food waste. Energy & Environmental Certification This audit is a first step in the Stratosphere becoming more energy efficient and sustainable in the future. There are two organizations that we recommend you join as a member (Globally Green Hospitality Consortium) or partner (Energy Star). As you implement projects and programs, these organizations can help make the community, investors and traveling public aware of the contributions that the Stratosphere has made to reduce energy and water consumption in order to remain competitive and reduce the hotel s impact on the environment. Globally Green Hospitality Consortium Membership Globally Green Hospitality Consortium (GGHC) is a non-profit organization that provides the hospitality industry with the tools and resources needed to implement sustainable practices and reduce the carbon footprint of the property. GGHC membership and certification provides hotels with recognition of the energy reduction and sustainability initiatives implemented. Certification levels of Silver, Gold and Platinum represent an increasing commitment to the execution of green energy and sustainable practices and the reduction of carbon emissions. Certification seals are provided to the property for communicating their environmental efforts to guests and the general public. Page 49

50 Benefits of GGHC membership include education of employees and management on energy conservation, sustainability and carbon reduction. A referral database consisting of environmental solutions that have been GGHC certified insures that those solutions meet the claimed ROI, performance specs and environmental benefits. Certified solutions are assigned a carbon credit rating that will assist properties in choosing technologies that will contribute to carbon reduction. Access to this database reduces the time and cost associated with product evaluation and eliminates today s common problem of greenwashing. Membership information is available at Energy Star Partner As mentioned above, the EPA Energy Star Portfolio Manager is not the best tool for benchmarking of the hotel/casino because of the lack of square feet metric. But, by starting with the current benchmark, the hotel will be able to monitor its own performance over time and help to quantify the success of its energy reduction program. Becoming an Energy Star Partner shows that the Stratosphere has developed an energy reduction strategy that not only helps the bottom line but has an impact on the environment as well. Conclusion The recommended capital and low cost/no cost projects identified in this report have the potential to reduce Stratosphere s expected annual energy costs by 11.9%, improve the hotel s utility performance metrics and increase occupant satisfaction significantly. Thank you for the opportunity to perform this energy audit. The audit team would welcome the opportunity to assist Stratosphere in their efforts to develop a program for further reducing energy and water consumption. Energy partner recommendations or a review of any proposals received from other vendors can be provided upon request. Page 50