Las Vegas Grand Prix races toward net-zero water consumption

Sustainability and water conservation may not be what first comes to mind when considering high-performance racecars zipping around street tracks at over 100 miles per hour and even reaching speeds over 200 mph. But, the Las Vegas Grand Prix, Inc. put itself in the pole position with water-saving initiatives that, at scale, could make it possible for the motorsport event to be the first net-zero water consumption race in Formula 1 history.

In preparation for the race, the Formula 1 Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2023 installed mechanical cooling systems throughout its pit building instead of water-intensive evaporative cooling systems, which consume 10 percent of Southern Nevada’s limited water supply.  Local ordinances and development codes prohibit the water-cooled systems in new commercial construction projects that submitted building permit applications after Sept. 1, 2023.

The pit building construction was well within the timeline to use evaporative cooling, but the race organizers opted to be good water stewards and installed dry cooled systems as part of its goal to achieve net-zero water consumption.   

The Las Vegas Grand Prix also installed an atmospheric water generator (AWG) to capture water vapor exhaust from an existing evaporative cooling tower at the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino to help offset race-related water consumption.

AWGs are used around the world to create water from humid air. The moist air vented from evaporative cooling towers is typically 99 percent relative humidity, and AWGs can capture and condense the water vapor and produce more than 2,500 gallons of water per day.

In the weeks leading up to the race, the Las Vegas Grand Prix conducted a pilot test of the AWG to assess its effectiveness at converting the moist air vented from the MGM cooling tower into water. The Las Vegas Grand Prix partnered on the project with the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA), MGM Resorts International and WaterStart, a nonprofit organization that finds innovative technologies for municipal water agencies. Through this partnership, the Las Vegas Grand Prix event is setting a sustainability precedent for future large-scale events in Southern Nevada as well as establishing a new water stewardship standard for future Formula 1 races.

Facility managers also are in the pole position to help their companies cross the sustainability finish line, and the SNWA offers rebates to help offset the costs associated with site improvements and new technologies.

The SNWA has long been a world leader in progressive conservation measures and programs, which have helped the community save billions of gallons of water over the past two decades. Water conservation is a key strategy for managing water resources and responding to ongoing drought conditions in the Colorado River basin that are challenging water supplies in the West.

To help business leaders green flag water-saving solutions, the SNWA offers the Water Efficient Technologies (WET) rebate program. Commercial and multifamily property owners who install water-efficient technologies are eligible for a variety of WET cash incentives.

The SNWA recently increased the WET incentive for projects that improve the efficiency of existing evaporative cooling systems or replace the systems with dry-cooled versions to torque up participation in the program.

Converting evaporative towers to air-cooled systems can require millions of dollars to implement, and system upgrades also can be costly.  The changes to the WET program will help incentivize non-residential customers to invest in equipment, site improvements, control systems and other cooling projects that improve water efficiency or replace the systems completely.

The new incentives for evaporative cooling projects include:

• ·         Increasing the incentive from $45 to $70 per 1,000 gallons of consumptive water saved annually.
• ·         Increasing the incentive for wet-to-dry cooling from $950 to $1,500 per ton.
• ·         Removing the $500,000 annual cap for evaporative cooling to support larger projects.  

The total rebate incentive will continue to cover up to 50 percent of the total project cost. Businesses are not required to replace the entire evaporative cooling system to qualify for the WET rebate. System modifications and upgrades also are covered by the rebate program.

For more information about the WET rebate and how your facility can participate and achieve a water-saving Grand Slam, visit snwa.com or email our business conservation experts at cashincentives@snwa.com. 

 

 

PHOTO

 

The Las Vegas Grand Prix installed an atmospheric water generator to capture water vapor exhaust from an existing evaporative cooling tower at the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino to help offset race-related water consumption.

 

 

High winds are known to regularly occur in broad regions of Nevada. The presence of high winds can potentially place outdoor workers at risk of serious physical injury or death. Examples of such hazards include, but are not limited to:

In general, wind speeds are highly variable depending on the location, altitude, and season. Employers are expected to monitor working conditions at any location where their employees are performing work, to identify hazards that are causing or are likely to cause harm to their employees, and to implement effective methods to control those hazards.

Businesses can take proactive steps to mitigate the effects of high winds and meet their general duty to protect their employees and SCATS is here to help! SCATS can review and make recommendations on best practices and implementation of an employer’s high wind protocols. If your business has questions or needs onsite training or consultation, please call 877-472-3368 or visit our website to submit a consultation request.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL GUIDANCE

Pursuant to Executive Order 2023-003, the Division of Industrial Relations of the Department of Business and Industry is holding a public hearing to receive comments from all interested persons regarding the comprehensive review of all regulations administered and enforced by the Division.

The public hearing will be conducted by Webex on May 4, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. This public hearing will be held via remote technology system only (WebEx) in accordance with Nevada’s Open Meeting Law, Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS) Chapter 241. Members of the public may attend and participate in this meeting in the following ways:

Webex Access

Meeting Link: https://nvbusinessandindustry.webex.com/nvbusinessandindustry/j.php?MTID=mf09fdbc2aba18 c0f59317ad32db092fc

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NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING EXECUTIVE ORDER

SCATS is excited to invite you to join us for the upcoming American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) March Chapter Meeting, featuring a panel discussion moderated by Todd Schultz, Chief Administrative Officer of Nevada’s Safety Consultation and Training Section (SCATS). Todd will be joined by a few of our awesome VPP and SHARP sites for the discussion, which will take place online. It's free to attend and open to anyone who wants to learn about the SHARP or VPP programs!

The panel discussion will be a great opportunity to hear from businesses about SCATS' cooperative programs and the benefits of safety and health management they've experienced in their own workplace. Whether you are an employer, employee, safety professional, or just interested in learning more, this event is for you!

The event will take place virtually on March 21st, with networking starting at 7 am and the meeting kicking off at 7:30 am. To register for the event, please visit the link below.

We hope you can join us for this exciting discussion and look forward to seeing you there!

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GUIDANCE ON REPORTING INCIDENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ADEQUATE CONTROLS TO MITIGATE WORKPLACE VIOLENCE IN MEDICAL FACILITIES

Nevada OSHA has released a guidance document for reporting incidents and recommendations for adequate controls to mitigate workplace violence in medical facilities.  The purpose of the guidance is to provide background on the Workplace Violence in the Medical Industry regulation R044-20 as well as provide guidance on reporting requirements and adequate controls that an employer may utilize to comply with the requirements under R044-20.

NRS 618.7301 to 618.7318 was adopted in 2019 to address workplace violence at medical facilities. This legislation required the Division of Industrial Relations to adopt regulations. On December 21, 2021, regulation R044-20 was approved by the Legislative Commission, which became effective on December 22, 2021.

SCATS is here to help! We are available to answer questions and provide onsite training or consultation for your business. Please call 877-472-3368 or visit our website to submit a consultation request.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL GUIDANCE

NPFMA Members,

The time to elect your Board of Directors for the 2023-2024 term has arrived.  Your candidates are listed on the ballot.  

Voting for your candidates has never been easier!  You can download and submit the ballot to:  info@npfma.com.  You can also vote online by clicking on the button below!

For additional information, you may contact by telephone at (702) 798-5156 or email info@npfma.com .Please note:  all ballots must be received by Thursday March 2, 2023 in order to be counted. 

Check your emails for the link to vote online!

Wednesday, February 22, 2023
1 p.m. -  2p.m.

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Good Afternoon,

This email is to inform you of the progress related to the proposed ordinance amendment that would amend various provisions of LVMC Chapter 6.95 and Title 19.12 to include cannabis consumption lounges and repeals LVMC Chapter 6.96 in its entirety.

Please note the bill has been held in abeyance until the Wednesday, March 1st, 2023 City Council meeting.  We will continue to keep you updated as to the progress of this bill.

Best Regards,

Anthony Scarpelli

Senior Management Analyst

Department of Community Development | Business Licensing Division

Phone 702.229.6943

mscarpelli@lasvegasnevada.gov

495 S. Main St. | Las Vegas, NV  89101

lasvegasnevada.gov