Greening IECA's Conference

As an environmentally–based organization, IECA practices green techniques when producing a conference and exposition for 2000 people. Here are some things we are doing in partnership with our facility to be sensitive to our environment.

Reduce:

Offer online registration and publish the conference itinerary online
Offer conference information by email
Exhibitors are encouraged to minimize amount of collateral material distributed
Exhibitors are encouraged to minimize packaging
No paper exhibitor kits will be produced, CD and electronic versions only

Re-use:

We re–use as many signs as possible
Exhibitors are encouraged to re–use their packaging
GES uses recycled carpet for the aisles

Recycle:

Request exhibitors participate in recycling cardboard and freight materials
Recycle cans, bottles and paper
IECA will recycle name badges

Partnership with Soil-Tech

Soil Tech is excited to partner with IECA to elevate EC12’s green initiatives. This year, Soil Tech will be providing special bins at the end of the show where demonstration products can be disposed of in a responsible manner. Each bin will be segregated to accommodate each type product/material (i.e.: Liquids, Dry Powder, Straw, Paper, etc.). Soil Tech will utilize these donated products for special projects in need of assistance in the Las Vegas Valley. This past year Soil Tech participated in two elementary school projects in which they provided products to schools in need – helping to create a demonstration garden and trail system. Using the materials recycled at EC12, we will seek out schools, businesses, or communities that are in need and can benefit from their use.

Rio All Suite Hotel and Casino

Book your room at the
Rio All Suite Hotel and Casino.

Harrah’s Entertainment has incorporated environmental sustainability into all of its properties and activities, integrating a fundamental commitment to the environment into its everyday business operations. Aggregated as CodeGreen, the programs reflect the company’s Code of Commitment – the standards that govern the company’s relationships with guests, employees and local communities. As the Harrah’s Code of Commitment clearly states, “We recognize the importance of being responsible stewards of the environment, and we’re committed to environmental sustainability and energy conservation.”

Recognitions and Awards: Harrah’s is the only gaming company to win an Environmental Quality Award, the highest level of public recognition from the EPA. We stood as the only US gaming or hospitality company on the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index, for six years. The index is a select group of the world’s 2500 largest companies based on their corporate citizenship, corporate governance, environmental policy, talent attraction and labor practices. Harrah’s has also received PRNews, Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International, and Global Green 100 Awards for its sustainability accomplishments and leadership in IT and innovative practices.
EPA’s Climate Leaders: In February 2008, Harrah’s became the first casino company to partner with the EPA and other leading firms committed to targeted, measurable reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.
CodeGreen Teams: At the core of CodeGreen is an ambitious 18-month calendar of employee driven, grassroots environmental initiatives that aims to develop employee driven grassroots programs around a comprehensive approach to dramatically reduce energy consumption, improve solid waste and recycling programs through good procurement practices, create a more sustainable supply chain, increase renewable energy supply, reduce carbon and other greenhouse gas emissions, and build strong partnerships with the EPA, carbon offset supplier Native Energy, and key nonprofit groups.
Corporate Energy & Environmental Services: Harrah’s demonstrated its commitment to conservation with the formation of a corporate-level function to identify and implement energy and water conservation projects across Harrah’s portfolio of properties. We have invested $60 million in energy conservation programs over the last six years – equivalent to removing the carbon emissions of 100,000 round trip flights from Los Angeles to New York and $14 million in utility expenses each year.
More than 100 major conservation projects at individual Harrah’s properties, including programs to:

Install energy efficient indoor and outdoor lighting, and reduce lighting usage;
Improve efficiency and effectiveness of air-handling systems;
Retrofit equipment with energy-efficient upgrades;
Reduce water consumption in laundry facilities;
Upgrade guestroom thermostats;
Replace technological controls with advanced energy-saving sensors;
Install lower-water flow controls in guest areas;
Incorporate comprehensive recycling programs; and
Train employees on environment-friendly practices.

Las Vegas Region

Earth Hour: Harrah’s Entertainment led the charge in “powering down” the world famous Las Vegas Strip for World Wildlife Fund’s Earth Hour on March 28, 2009. Every Harrah’s Entertainment resort in Las Vegas participated, as did 19 other Harrah’s casino resorts across North America.
Earth Day: 100 “Green H.E.R.O.” employees throughout Nevada walked neighborhoods and distributed 75,000 compact fluorescent bulbs to help residents become more energy efficient (light bulbs donated by Nevada Energy).
Recycling for Public Education: Our Las Vegas resorts and the Harrah’s Foundation provided more than $700,000 in funding to upgrade the Teacher EXCHANGE – a re-use resource center where Clark County public school teachers can obtain slightly used computers, office furniture, and classroom supplies.
Climate Friendly Poker: In 2008 Harrah’s offset 306.5 tons of carbon from NativeEnergy to make the 2008 World Series of Poker Main Event the first climate friendly poker tournament in the world.
Laundry Facilities: Harrah’s Las Vegas properties have reduced 72 million gallons of water each year by building and operating a more efficient and resource friendly laundry facility in Las Vegas while increasing capacity by 40%.
In-Room Programs: We clean our 27,000 Las Vegas hotel rooms with Green certified or environmentally preferred products, and our properties participate in the Harrah’s CodeGreen “set back the stat”, in room Power Down and linen exchange programs.
Caesars Palace: Saves 31.5 million gallons of water annually by installing 3,500 low flow showerheads and removing 30,000 square feet of landscaping at Caesars Palace.
Golf Courses: Over a four year period, Harrah’s Las Vegas golf clubs and resorts removed nearly 17 acres of turf: 140,000 square feet at Cascata and nearly 600,000 square feet at Rio Secco. We have reduced water usage at Secco by 23 million gallons annually through using recycled water and other conservation efforts.
Rio Hotel co-generation: Over six years ago the Rio installed a five megawatt co-generation facility, generating and using electricity on-site and recapturing waste heat for hot water requirements. The facility reduces energy losses through transmission and markedly improves on-site energy efficiency.
Recycling: Harrah’s Las Vegas properties have managed recycling and asset recovery programs for a number of years. Programs include comprehensive recycling of PET1 and PET2 plastic at every Harrah’s Las Vegas resort; annual recycling of more than 722,000 pounds of cardboard, 45,000 pounds of plastic, and 7,000 pounds of aluminum at the Rio; Caesars Palace recycled nearly 1 million pounds of cardboard last year; and Paris recovered over 34,000 pieces of glass and silverware in 2007.
Employee Programs: Harrah’s Las Vegas properties and corporate offices host annual CodeGreen Fairs to educate employees on the importance of sustainability. Vendors and public service providers were introduced to employees to raise awareness and provide the means to live a more sustainable life. The Rio, Bally’s and Paris also incorporated Farmers Markets to provide employees with low cost organic produce and crafts to fundraise dollars for Employee Assistance and H.E.R.O. (Harrah’s Entertainment Reaching Out) volunteer programs.
Green Meetings: We established the standards and guidelines to meet customer needs for green meetings, and to encourage all meetings to be greener. This valuable set of best practices helps support the growing number of customers looking for environmentally friendly options when planning meetings and conventions.
Offer guests the option of purchasing carbon offsets through NativeEnergy. To offset travel, we encourage guests to visit http://www.nativeenergy.com/harrahs. Carbon offsets are an increasingly utilized, easily accessible and economical approach to address pollution and climate change.

How you can help:

Stay at the EC12 host hotel, the Rio All Suite Hotel and Casino, where all conference activities are located saving fuel
Be sure our database has your most up to date address to reduce direct mail waste
Pass on any duplicate direct mail pieces you receive to other professionals