Retro-commissioning means increasing the resource efficiency of existing building systems through systematic upgrades to lighting and heating, air conditioning and ventilation equipment. For Caesars, this typically includes replacing obsolete central plant controls with state-of-the art technology, installing new sensors, upgrading equipment, rebuilding pumps and converting when possible, constant-volume air and water delivery systems to variable flow to reduce unnecessary pumping and fan energy.
A typical retro-commissioning initiative can save up to 15% of energy consumption at any of our destinations. Overall, since the start of our retro journey, we have reduced our energy consumption by over 18.5 million KWh per year.
In 2017, we completed our fifth comprehensive retro-commissioning initiative at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. At this property, a key focus was the optimization of the chilled water plant that delivers cool water throughout the building.
Together with hardware upgrades and advanced control strategies, Caesars Palace now controls indoor temperature and humidity conditions with much lower energy use, consistently throughout the year, irrespective of external weather conditions.
An example of how our UK operations are supporting Caesars Entertainment’s PEOPLE PLANET PLAY environmental commitments is the progress we have made in advancing renewable energy. We have now signed contracts for the supply of electricity from renewable sources for all our owned and operated destinations in the UK (with one exception) in effect beginning October 2018. This will reduce our greenhouse gas emissions by more than 9,000 tons of CO2e annually, equivalent to powering close to 1,000 homes for a full year.
Reducing energy consumption is a key element of our CodeGreen strategy to practice comprehensive environmental stewardship through ongoing energy efficiency projects. In the last decade, we have invested in more than 180 major energy efficiency initiatives. From 2007 to 2016, Caesars Entertainment’s U.S. and international operations reduced energy consumption (fossil fuel based) per square foot by 21 percent.
