I’m in Las Vegas for a conference of web publishers.   Las Vegas has to be one of the driest; most barren; and sometimes smoggy places you can imagine.  With all the focus on money and greed – I thought I’d try to see just how little environmental impact my vacation in Las Vegas could have.  Here are 5 ways I "left no footprint" in Las Vegas…  These methods worked on this trip – but they could be applied to almost any city — including Seattle or San Francisco even more easily.

1.)  I used public transit constantly.  Las Vegas is actually a very compact city for most of the hotels, restaurants, and shows you will visit.  Even more importantly – the huge number of people who come for conferences and conventions end up at the massive Las Vegas Convention Center.  The Las Vegas Monorail is incredible.  It’s cheap, convenient, and fast.  The people waiting for cabs are wasting time and spewing smog the world just doesn’t need.  Use public transit and the Las Vegas Monorail is world-class in its speed, efficiency, cost, and cleanliness.

2.)  I stayed in a hotel near public transit.  My hotel – Bally’s — was chosen specifically for its convenience to public transit (Las Vegas Monorail).  I spent a lot of time picking the hotel – and transit convenience was a top priority.  Bally’s is a major stop on the Monorail route – and also in easy walking distance of a lot of other cool hotels (like Bellagio).

3.)  I shared a cab from the airport and back to the airport.  By a little friendly encouragement – several other travelers were going exactly where I was — the Las Vegas Convention Center.  With a little organization – we saved money and environmental impact – by ride sharing.  Not only that – it was a fun way to make friends. 

4.)  I hang up my towels in the hotel bathroom.  Remember all those signs about the cost and energy to wash sheets and towels?  The funny thing on this is that the maids ignore what the signs say.  Even when you hang them up – they wash them anyways.  I tried at least.

5.)  Dinner and Entertainment – I ate at the adjoining Paris hotel.  That way I didn’t use any carbon emitting transport — even the monorail. 

It was a great and educational trip to Las Vegas.  If you visit here – or anywhere else – these are some clever ways to have fun; save money; and help our earth.

New Las Vegas hotels from MGM Grand are planning for a green footprint from the ground up and Reno hotels are getting greener by the day.