Water Conservation
The primary source of water for the Las Vegas region is the Colorado River. Over the past two decades, Southern Nevada’s per capita water consumption has decreased 34% despite an increase of 800,000 new residents. Currently, residents, businesses, and visitors consume approximately 90 gallons per person, per day. However, 25 years of drought in the American West continues to take its toll on water supply, resulting in cuts to Nevada’s Colorado River allocation of 300,000 acre feet annually. Nevada, as well as other Colorado River Basin states, are working to negotiate new cuts and guidelines before their expiration at the end of 2026.
The city plays a crucial role in the conservation and management of the water supply for its residents and businesses by supporting regional management efforts by the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA). The city has adopted water conservation in compliance with state laws in support of SNWA’s policies including:
- Prohibition of turf and non-functional and turf replacement by 2027
- Fountain and water feature limits
- Spray irrigation prohibitions
- Evaporative cooling moratorium
- Swimming pool size limits
- New golf course prohibition
- Septic restrictions
Two of the primary means of water conservation to reduce consumptive use that have been the most successful have been incentives through SNWA’s Water Smart Landscapes and Water Efficient Technologies programs. In 2024, 15.3 million-square-feet of lawn was converted to xeriscaping by residents and businesses saving 534 million gallons of water annually. A total of 239 million-square-feet of turf were converted to water smart landscapes. Approximately 1.2 billion gallons annually at an annual cost of $7 million for city operations. Nearly 80% of this consumption is from irrigation at park facilities. To support SNWA and regional water goals, the city assessed conservation opportunities at 65 city parks and facilities and determined 4 million-square-feet of non-functional turf could potentially be removed resulting in an annual savings of up to $1 million. In 2023, the city approved an interlocal agreement with SNWA to participate in the Water Smart Landscapes Program, to help finance a portion of the total cost of the projects. The city also participates in SNWA’s Water Efficient Technologies Program to replace evaporative cooling at city facilities.
Clean Energy
The city has been a national leader in municipal clean energy development. Actively participating in renewable energy provides opportunities for the city to reduce environmental impact and costs. As a member of the Southern Nevada Water Authority, the city also supplies renewable energy toward the Renewable Portfolio Standard. Through a renewable energy agreement with the state’s investor-owned utility NV Energy, the city of Las Vegas receives 100% of the energy it needs from renewable sources:
- 40 city buildings and facilities, parks, fire stations and community centers have approximately three megawatts of net-metered solar covered parking.
- A three megawatt solar plant at the city’s Water Pollution Control Facility provides power for wastewater treatment.
- Two megawatts of hydropower from Hoover Dam.
- Additional renewable power provided by NV Energy.
The city’s investment in renewable energy and energy efficiency has delivered notable benefits over the years. By reducing overall demand for electricity, the city’s installed solar capacity has helped lower energy costs across municipal operations. The city consumes an average of 120 million kilowatt hours and 1 million therms annually at a cost of $10 million. The city’s six megawatts of solar, hydropower and renewable power provided by NV Energy has helped the city meet clean energy targets. Since 2020, biogas use has displaced more than 250,000 MMBtu (a common unit of energy used for pricing and measuring the heat content of fuels) of natural gas, avoiding more than $16,000 in annual fuel costs. To reduce energy consumption, the city participates in NV Energy’s PowerShift program for existing city facilities and new projects to reduce energy consumption from exterior lighting, streetlights and air conditioning. In 2024 alone, these savings accounted for roughly 7% of the city’s total electricity costs.
Waste & Recycling
The city is committed to improving our environment by reducing, reusing and recycling. Community involvement is vital to the city’s success in reaching our waste diversion goals. The city regulates the collection, transportation and transfer of waste and recycling, which is handled by Republic Services of Southern Nevada. In 2013, the city introduced single stream recycling at all facilities, including parks, which have reduced the city’s waste expenses by more than $300,000 from $821,000 annually. As a result, the city reduced the amount of waste sent to the landfill by 30,000 cubic yards (yd3) from 68,000 yd3, and increased its diversion rate to 55 percent.
Clean Transportation
Transportation impacts the environment as a result of the direct burning of gasoline and other fuel sources. The resulting mobile emissions can lead to poor air quality. The city works closely with the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC) to plan, construct and maintain transportation networks in the region, including complete streets that allow for multiple modes of transportation. In addition to RTC Transit that provides bus service to more than 52 million passengers on 39 routes annually, the city has improved bicycle and pedestrian networks, including 500 miles of bike lanes and 100 miles of trails and paths. As a result of these efforts, the city has previously been recognized as a Bronze-rated Bicycle Friendly Community by the League of American Cyclists.
As a LEED Gold certified city recognized by the U.S. Green Building Council, the city recognizes that land use and transportation directly influence each other. Vehicle miles travelled has continued to increase as the city’s urban footprint continues to expand; transit usage has declined since the pandemic while telecommuting has increased; and while the drive-alone rate has fallen, overall vehicle miles travelled continues to increase. The city has a number of important actions and opportunities it must take to achieve long term outcomes:
- Development of a new Mobility Master Plan in line with the city’s 2050 Master Plan.
- Coordination of efforts of high capacity transit between the city and RTC.
- Higher rates of adoption of electric vehicles and installation of electric vehicle charging stations.
- Completion of complete streets, major trails, bike facilities and pedestrian infrastructure that enhance safety for all users.
- Emphasis on transportation demand management.
The city was a previous leader of a Clean Cities Coalition and has again participated in the re-launch of the Southern Nevada Clean Cities Coalition. Through those previous efforts, nearly 100% of the city’s vehicle fleet ran on alternative fuels. In addition to its hybrids, the city was Nevada’s first public agency to purchase electric vehicles. The city also installed more than 80 electric vehicle charging stations at seven garages, community centers and facilities for general public use, including City Hall.
Urban Forestry
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At the Sept. 7, 2022, Las Vegas City Council meeting, the City Council adopted its Urban Forestry Program to assist with the 2050 Master Plan’s Urban Forestry goal to plant 60,000 drought tolerant trees by the year 2050. Trees are an important asset and can be used to reduce impacts from the urban heat island effect, as they improve air and stormwater quality, improve energy and water conservation, and enhance public health and property values. The urban forestry program will maintain the city’s Tree City designation, establish public outreach and awareness efforts, develop an inventory of trees and establish a management plan. It also adopts an approved tree and plant species list for residential and commercial development projects.
The city of Las Vegas has received $5 million in federal funding to focus on planting drought tolerant shade trees in areas most affected by the urban heat island. Due to the lack of tree canopy and an overabundance of concrete, asphalt, buildings and traffic, these areas have increased temperatures which is known as an urban heat island. Residents within city of Las Vegas neighborhoods, including those in the downtown Las Vegas, East Las Vegas and the Charleston areas, may be eligible to receive a tree. Details on how to receive a tree will be released soon.
