A casino is a place where people can participate in gambling activities from slot machines to games of chance (roulette, etc) or skill (poker, etc). Depending on the country, gambling is limited to people over the age of 16 – 21 years of age. Most casinos are built within close proximity or in the same complex as hotels, retail shopping centers, restaurants, cruise ships and other attractions. To add to its appeal, casinos usually boast a venue for live entertainment to attract customers. They even give out comps which are free items. Comps include drinks, food, penthouse suites, limo service, airfares, etc. The more money a player uses, the more comps he gets.
Considering casinos are a 30 billion dollar industry with massive amounts of money traveling through the system, there is a large focus on security including cameras and a highly specialized security department that involves surveillance and patrol. With its fancy lights, music, slot machines, staff, security, food, drinks and entertainment, millions of dollars are spent to successfully run a casino. The amount of electricity that is consumed is enormous. Considering gambling is a consistent business, it would be ideal to transform the traditional casino into an eco friendly building that supports the environment. This transformation will have long term benefits that include a considerably large reduction in costs. Morally it will counteract for all the money that gets lost into the system by average wage earners who suffer gambling addictions as well as entice other businesses to take lead to have environmentally friendly buildings.
The first step to create an eco friendly casino is to construct the building using revolutionary methods that will still be aesthetically beautiful. Even the placement of doors and windows will determine the heating and cooling you need so it needs to be strategically positioned. It is suggested that Eco-Block Insulating Concrete Forms be used as they are expanded polystyrene panels that can create walls of any thickness. The spaces between the panels are then packed with concrete giving the building incredible strength and resistance to moisture, mold and fire. There is a range of natural material you can consider including recycled timber for windows and doors as well as stones, slate and marble for flooring. Solar energy can be generated through the installation of solar panels. A waste water system can be built and a more dramatic option is to install composting toilets which means it uses no water at all. The grey water from the kitchen and bathrooms can go through a tank into gravel filled troughs that process bad organisms in the water. This water can then be recycled.
To make the casino the epitome of eco friendliness, the smallest detail must be considered to create an impact. From recycled poker chips, slot machines that are biodegradable and reusable furniture to natural fibers for staff uniforms and natural soaps and sanitizers to prevent toxic waste. Placing pot plants and miniature gardens throughout the casino will encourage natural ventilation. Cross flow ventilation should be placed on the side to capture winds and breezes. Perhaps even incorporating games that benefit non-profit organizations will raise awareness about the environment and any community issues.
By constructing a casino that is eco-friendly, it not only serves the environment, it makes a moral example to the rest of the community and encourages us to be aware of our surroundings.
Green building design concepts/strategies/principles/priorities include the following:
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"Build it small if at all" (don't over-build; recycle existing buildings if possible) |
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Protect, enhance, restore the site |
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Build on brownfields, not greenfields |
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Locate to minimize transportation impacts |
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Maximize energy efficiency |
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Use renewable energy -- for heat, cooling, daylighting, electrical generation, etc. |
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Use materials efficiently |
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Select environmentally friendly building materials |
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Conserve water |
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Create a healthy indoor environment |
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Promote recycling by building occupants and including during construction |
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Employ building commissioning |
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Utilize green operations and maintenance |
Green buildings cost less, not more. Here's why.
We tend to think of the cost of a building as only it's "first costs," i.e. what it costs to design and build it. We conveniently forget that buildings typically remain standing for a long time and during that period cost their owners a fortune in operating costs (far exceeding first costs)
Yes, it is true a green design may cost more than a convention design. Yes, some green design elements may add construction costs. But these first costs must be weighed against off-setting savings.
Green design buildings can have substantially lower energy and operating costs than conventional buildings, producing much lower long-term or lifecycle costs. Also consider the value of employee productivity gains which are likely with green design. Given the high cost of labor, even small improvements in productivity produce huge dollar benefits -- which can dwarf any additional first costs
That being said, it should be noted that green design may not even increase first costs. A green building's reliance on efficiency, daylighting and/or solar heating makes it possible to downsize conventional HVAC systems. This reduces costs, generating savings which off-set additional costs for green design features or materials. Thus, it is possible to build a high-performance green building without any (or just minimal) additional costs.
The cost equation may be better yet. Subsidies may be available from utilities and state and federal governments to offset costs associated with green design. These can make it even easier to overcome the first cost hurdle.