by Shane Henson — March 26, 2012—Although casinos are not normally associated with saving money, for Rivers Casino in Des Plaines, this is definitely the case, at least for the owners. The newest casino in the Chicagoland area has been awarded the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)—reportedly the first casino in the world to achieve LEED Gold.
LEED Gold certification of Rivers Casino is based on a number of green design and construction features that positively impact both the project and the local community. These features could be used by building owners and facilities managers preparing to build a new facility or make a present one more sustainable. They include:
- Light-emitting diode (LED) light fixtures in the parking garage and other areas throughout the casino building save on energy usage and maintenance costs.
- 70% of the electrical energy consumed by the building over a two-year period is being offset with green power.
- Skylights and clerestory windows add natural light for guest and employee comfort while saving on lighting costs.
- Low-flow plumbing fixtures and sensor-controlled faucets reduce water usage by 40%.
- Paint and adhesive materials with low levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) provide a healthier environment for workers and future inhabitants.
- Casino operations include a single-stream recycling plan, reducing the amount of waste delivered to landfills.
- 90% of all construction waste, more than 70 million pounds, was recycled or utilized on site—avoiding the landfill.
- Interior living green walls provide better air quality and comfort.
- Occupant sensor-controlled lighting provides lighting when needed and saves energy at other times.
- Complimentary electric car-charging stations are provided for customer use. Free valet parking is available to low-emissions and fuel-efficient vehicles.
- The project is a brownfield redevelopment, which rehabilitated a previously developed and contaminated site and reduces pressure on undeveloped land.
- The project managed site water runoff with a Surface Water Intake Protection Program (SWIPP) program during construction to prevent runoff damage to adjoining areas.
- The project stormwater treatment system removes 98.6% of total suspended solids from site runoff.
- Installation of concrete drives, landscaping, a multi-level parking structure and white roof reduce the urban heat island effect.
- More than 43% of the material for the project was sourced from within 500 miles of the project site, reducing carbon emissions from transportation of that material and supporting local economies.
- The site is close to public transportation to promote efficient travel. Rivers Casino adjoins two Pace bus lines and is within one mile of both METRA and CTA rail stations.
- Bike racks are provided for workers and customers and preferred parking is provided for alternate fuel vehicles.
- Landscaping is largely made up of native and drought-tolerant plant species, eliminating the need for irrigation and saving both potable water and hundreds of thousands of dollars.
- 70% of the electrical energy consumed by the building over a two-year period is being offset with green power.
