Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino Bets on Sustainability

by RaeAnne Marsh

“We acknowledge the science behind human-induced climate crisis and combat its effects with science-based targets and strategies that reduce our greenhouse gas emissions within our own operations and through our value chain,” says April Stovall, director of surveillance and facilities at Caesars Entertainment, Inc., Greater Phoenix Area.

Reducing energy consumption is a key element of the property’s CodeGreen program, which was established in 2008 by Caesars Entertainment. Just a few of the energy conservation efforts at Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino are retrofitting lighting to energy-efficient LED lighting, offering free electric vehicle charging stations for guests and implementing building automation systems with economizers and HVAC systems with recovery wheels. The property’s Energy Management System Legrand Watt Stoppers default lighting and HVAC in 12-story Tower and HVAC in five-story Tower when rooms there are unoccupied.

Additionally, by adding aerators, low flow shower heads and energy-efficient dish machines, Harrah’s Ak-Chin Resort and Casino is reducing water consumption. Diversion of waste from landfills is also a significant objective both to save costs and lessen the impact on the environment. 

On the broader scope of global corporate citizen, the property is dedicated to collaborating with other organizations to advance industry-wide and overall corporate climate leadership. Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino participates in a variety of global climate awareness activities, including Earth Day and Earth Hours events, Adopt a Highway clean-up efforts and hosting educational activities for members of the Pinal County community.

And the property brings the efforts down to the personal level. Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino hosts regular Shred-It events and promotes plastics recycling across the property recycling 1,845,201 lbs. in 2020 and 2,288,786 lbs. in 2021; figures for 2022 are not yet available. By partnering with Clean the World, the property collects discarded soaps and shampoos for processing and redistribution to individuals in need who include military veterans, the homeless, and even for third-world countries. Employees also built hygiene kits for military veterans in need that benefitted the Diana Gregory Foundation.

It’s a long-term view of what Stovall considers a facet of the new pathways to economic success. “Economic growth and environmental sustainability must go hand in hand,” she says.

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