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“Sustainability serves as a lens through which business decisions are examined. Sustainability is not the responsibility of one department or the task of a few select individuals. It can be viewed as the mandate of our time: ‘We are all part of the problem and we are its solution.’”
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“Sustainability serves as a lens through which business decisions are examined. Sustainability is not the responsibility of one department or the task of a few select individuals. It can be viewed as the mandate of our time: ‘We are all part of the problem and we are its solution.’” --CEDCO Strategic Plan
We’re GREEN at The Mill Reduce Reuse and Recycle
Recycling and Conservation Practices Began on Day One • 1995 – The Mill recycled: • office paper • cardboard • newsprint • 1996-1997 – The recycling effort added: • confidential document destruction • bottles • scrap metal • construction material • cans • batteries
1998 Energy Audit • Energy Trust Audit led to addition of: • new HVAC controls • new occupancy sensors to offices and employee areas • energy-efficient lighting upgrade. • Project Cost • $106,000; including $60,000 in rebates from Energy Trust • The Results • Electrical usage decreased by 62,500 KWH per month • Electrical bill reduced by $3,500 per month • Investment returned in 14 months
Lodging Facilities • The Mill Hotel (Lodge) • Initial demolition materials salvaged/sold • Propane heating, water, laundry • Energy efficient lighting • Insulation met or exceeded energy standards • RV Park • Drainage swells, vegetation filters manage storm water • Natural gas for heating, cooling, water heaters, appliances • Low-flow fixtures • Energy efficient lighting with occupancy sensors
Expansion • Project high emphasis on conservation measures and energy efficient design • Hydronic heat systems in the guest rooms • Converting two 6 million BTU boilers to Natural Gas • Converting kitchen equipment to Natural Gas • Vacancy sensors in guest rooms, offices and meeting rooms. • Energy Efficient fluorescent lamps throughout the project • Installed low flow showerheads and fixtures. • Computerized digital controls on pumps, HVAC equipment
The Results • Heating and cooling guest rooms is much quieter and more efficient • Energy from boilers heating only the casino now heats all tower rooms and domestic hot water for both hotels. • Natural gas conversion resulted in cost savings of over $250,000 per year • Vacancy sensors, fluorescent lamps cut energy consumption • Low flow showerheads save about 257,000 gallons of water per year • During construction scrap material was recycled, woody material was stock piled and given to the Tribe for future projects or employees. The remainder was ground and recycled to a biomass facility.
Recent Recycling and Conservation Efforts • Began capturing plastic water bottles, wine and liquor bottles • Began collecting all recyclable material • Installed a recycle trash compactor for co-mingled material • Recycle used light bulbs and lamps • Second Energy Trust Energy audit • As a result of the audit 106 showerheads in the lodge hotel were changed to low flow creating an estimated savings of 322,368 gallons of water annually.
New Technology Adds to the Effort • Increased electronic material recycling • Converted to soy ink recyclable cartridges. • Upgraded to Energy Star 5.0 rated PC’s and silver-rated monitors • Exchangeable, recyclable batteries for PC backup power • 11.4% of electricity from renewable sources as Visionary Partner of Pacific Power Blue Sky program
2010 Results: • Collected and returned 92,460 water bottles • RV Park recycled 18 tons of co-mingled material • Casino recycled 32 tons of co-mingled material • 12 tons of glass bottles • 288,000 lbs of cardboard newsprint • 3250 lbs of scrap metal • 280 lbs of light bulbs • 63,141 lbs of confidential documents destroyed and recycled • Using synthetic oils with extended drain intervals saved 18 oil changes or 48 quarts of oil. In 2011 we expect to change to a 10,000 mile oil change saving an additional 30%.
Kitchen Waste • Began collecting waste cooking oils in 2007 for conversion to bio-diesel used as truck fuel • One year ago, started Vermicomposting • Worm farm recycled 1,100 pounds of kitchen waste in 2010 • Worm farm generated 35 gallons of compost Leachate to fertilize flower beds and landscaping • Have not harvested worm castings
Final (for now) Results Efforts produced about 47% reduction in waste disposal, reducing expense by over $20,000 Received $4,623 in refunds for water bottles. Received $1,174 for scrap metal Overall benefits (savings and refunds) of recycling $25,797 Prospective sustainability projects -Photovoltaic solar system and Biomass
Reduce Reuse Recycle