More than 35 years ago American architect Robert Venturi along with Denise Scott Brown and Steven Izenour published a treatise on architecture titled Learning from Las Vegas: The Forgotten Symbolism of the Architectural Form. The premise of the work relates to a perceived need at the time for a shift in architectural design and meaning. According to the American Studies program at the University of Maryland, “The mission . . . was to document and analyze the physical form of Las Vegas in order to learn from contemporary urban sprawl.” Urban sprawl represents truly unsustainable behavior.

After visiting Las Vegas this past weekend, 2nd Green Revolution came away with a vision of an updated version of this work with a focus on sustainable development. The country’s recent economic woes have been particularly challenging for the city, which depends heavily on tourism. Flying into Las Vegas, one appreciates the difficulties facing the city. From the air, there is a lack of fresh water, fertile land, and growth plan. As a result of these limitations and the faltering economy, now is the time to reinvent the city. In late March, we wrote about a “New Vision for Paris” in which urban planners and architects submitted proposals for a re-envisioned layout of Paris. The bold thinking exhibited exemplifies that ideas abound for the future of cities.

One of the main inhibiting factors is the lack of diversity in Las Vegas’ economic engine. Dependent on tourism (including gaming, conventions, and restaurants) the city has one major industry upon which the rest depend. When the tourists and financing dry up, as has happened over the past several months, the construction jobs also disappear. Using the construction work force that is currently underemployed, Las Vegas would benefit from an overhaul of their city planning and their resource usage. With abundant sunshine, the use of solar thermal collectors and concentrators to generate hot water and electricity would be a fitting use of clean energy. In addition, a proposed high speed rail line between Las Vegas and Los Angeles would reduce the congestion on the streets. Many of the trips between hotels and clubs are currently taken using taxis which could be upgraded to hybrids or augmented by a fuel cell, electric or alternatively fueled bus system that shuttles visitors around the city. In addition, making the city walkable helps connect people with the city itself.

On the bright side, change is coming to Las Vegas. There are several examples of green building, namely the Palazzo hotel, largest (as of April 2008) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified building in the country, which is located on The Strip. Developer Pardee Homes is building energy efficient homes, with Energy Star appliances, integrated roof top solar panels, and water saving features all under their “Living Smart” product line.

The Sierra Club, along with several other organizations, founded Nevada Clean Energy, a campaign against coal fired power plants. Due to a lack of coal resources and an abundance of solar, wind, and geothermal energy, the consortium backs a mixed portfolio of renewable energy sources and conservation. According to a survey from The Nevada Clean Energy Campaign, “A stunning 87% of the electorate prefers to address Nevada’s current energy situation by ‘increasing energy efficiency and using more clean energy sources like geothermal and solar power’ rather than by ‘building new coal-fired power plants in Nevada’ (9%).  Overwhelming majorities of voters across the state and of every demographic and partisan group side with a clean energy approach to address the state’s energy needs, including 81% of Republicans, 87% of Independents and 94% of Democrats.” This is not a partisan issue. Instead, it is smart business that will allow for responsible growth with regional energy production, enabling Las Vegas, and Nevada in general, to become more independent and economically robust.

- 2nd Green Revolution