dibble's blog

So maybe you're getting ready to go to Vegas this week. And you can't help but see the irony of talking about being green, about concern for the environment, about reducing impact . . . in the city of sin. We've been thinking the same thing. Here are a few things that might help you bridge the gap between your desire to be green and your need to have one hell of a time in Vegas:

Use less water. Vegas is in the middle of the desert. Water, as it turns out, can be tough to come by in deserts. Bring your water conservation awareness along with you, and keep up the same practices you use at home. You've heard it all before. Turn the tap off while you brush your teeth, take short showers, or better yet, shower with a buddy. It's all about networking right?

Eat good food. There's no lack of options for food in Vegas, but maybe you want something a bit more green than the buffet at the casino. The Canyon Ranch Café serves seasonal produce and grass-fed organic meats. With a couple of locations in the city, the Go Raw Cafe offers live, vegan, and organic foods. There is also a Whole Foods Market on Las Vegas Boulevard, and a Trader Joe’s on the Green Valley Parkway. You can even get vegan donuts in Vegas; apparently they're all the rage at Ronald's Donuts. If you simply can't resist the buffet, hold the beef. The UN's Food and Agriculture Organization has estimated that meat production accounts for nearly a fifth of global greenhouse gas emissions.

Buy local, buy direct. A local farmers' market happens on Saturday, February 19 at Floyd Lamb Park from 10-2, on Tuesday at Gardens Park from 2-6 pm, Wednesday at Bruce Trent Park from 2-6 pm. Las Vegas Farmers’ Market.

Ride green. According to their website, the Las Vegas Monorail aided in the annual removal of an estimated 2.7 million vehicle miles from Southern Nevada’s major roadways in 2009. The rail runs for nearly four miles along the Strip. There's also a double-decker bus, the Deuce. It's $2 a ride, which seems an appropriate price. Lucky Cab Company has a fleet of Prius taxis.

Drive green. If being the captain of your own ship is important, there is a rental car agency that rents hybrids and natural gas cars: EV Rentals. Or maybe a scooter is more your style; rent one from 702.

Shop green. Turn your recycling habit into a fashion statement. Why not go for a different take on the classic Vegas shopping spree? Try hitting up some of the great vintage shops like The Attic, or Buffalo Exchange.

See a greener side of Vegas. The Las Vegas Springs Preserve is a center for eco-friendly practices in the Southwest. Built around the original springs that allowed for Vegas to be built, the Preserve has an educational center, museum, gardens, trail systems, and offers workshops on sustainability and green building techniques.

The little things count. Turn the lights off when you leave your hotel room. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Refill one water bottle rather than reach for a new one each time you get thirsty. Sit down for a meal rather than loading up a take-out container bound for the garbage.

Leave it behind. If you wanted to bring an extra suitcase of pamphlets, flyers, and shwag home from the trade show, you most definitely could. But you could also take notes on which companies to check out online when you get home, and leave all the excess behind. It may be wasted this year, but you'll help get the message across to marketers that paper isn't the only way to have an impact.