WASHINGTON, D.C.—MGM Resorts International received the Alliance to Save Energy’s highest honor, the Galaxy Star of Energy Efficiency Award at a special awards ceremony in Washington, D.C.. Each year, the Star of Energy Efficiency Awards are bestowed upon individuals, organizations, companies, government programs and learning institutions that have demonstrated a significant and tangible commitment to the cause of energy efficiency both in the United States and abroad.
Secretary Alexis Herman, a member of the company’s Board of Directors and the Chair of its Corporate Social Responsibility Committee, accepted the award on behalf of the company. MGM Resorts was honored for reducing energy use at their Las Vegas properties by more than 420 million kWh and reducing annual carbon equivalent emissions by 100,000 metric tons through their Green Advantage sustainability platform.
“We know that our guests do not dismiss their environmental ideals when they pack their suitcases,” said Cindy Ortega, Chief Sustainability Officer for MGM Resorts. “Our 23 resorts and 62,000 employees are committed to providing memorable experiences for our guests, and that includes continuously implementing practices that reduce our environmental impact.”
Kroger Among Previous Recipients
The Galaxy Star award recognizes outstanding achievements in Energy Efficiency for entities earning more than $150 million in annual revenue. Previous recipients of the Galaxy Star include the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Kroger Co., Briggs & Stratton and U-Haul International.
“MGM Resorts International has already achieved impressive energy savings in its facilities through building management systems, employee driven efficiency efforts and other strategies,” said Alliance to Save Energy President Kateri Callahan. “With the continued leadership of Jim Murren and Cindy Ortega, I look forward to seeing how the 2014 Galaxy Star of Energy Efficiency builds upon these accomplishments in the near future.”
Through its sustainability program, Green Advantage, MGM Resorts has reduced its annual energy usage by 14 percent since 2007. Earlier this year, MGM Resorts announced that it is joining the U.S. Energy Department’s Better Buildings Challenge, a national pledge calling for organizations to voluntarily reduce their building portfolio energy use by 20 percent in 10 years.
Additionally, MGM Resorts recently announced the expanded Convention Center at Mandalay Bay that will include a rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) array making it the largest convention center array in the world. The anticipated size of the array is approximately 1.9MWdc with an approximate annual production of 3.4M kilowatt hours. The previously announced 6.2MWdc solar PV array on the current Convention Center is slated for completion in October; the combined array will generate enough electricity to power the equivalent of 1,300 homes.
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