The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), owner and producer of the International CES, has continued its tradition to award local organizations with funds for sustainability projects.
This year, CEA is donating funds to University of Nevada, Las Vegas’s (UNLV) DesertSol solar house and to the Springs Preserve toward the DesertSol project.
“The International CES has called Las Vegas home for decades, and we are grateful for the continued partnership with the city,” said Gary Shapiro, president and CEO, CEA. “Our industry is making great strides forward in increasing sustainability and we’re proud to invest in local sustainability projects that benefit Las Vegas residents and visitors. This year’s donation will help support UNLV’s DesertSol project transition and expand its role in educating the public about sustainable living in the Southern Nevada region.”
The DesertSol solar house, created by UNLV, was the second-place winner, and first among U.S. organizations, at the 2013 U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Solar Decathlon. This donation is to congratulate the UNLV DesertSol team on their success and help further the project. DesertSol will be transported to the Springs Preserve where it will act as a living classroom for the next year, reporting data back to UNLV students and faculty.
“One of the main goals of this project was to help educate not only our students but the community about the benefits of building and living sustainably in our region,” said Dr. Tom Piechota, interim vice president for Research and Economic Development at UNLV. “We were very happy about how enthusiastically community members embraced this project and our success. This gift from CEA will help us continue what we started and is an investment in future sustainable learning projects in Nevada and on campus. We are thrilled to be partnering with CEA.”
CEA’s donation to the Springs Preserve will assist the move of DesertSol to its new location. The Springs Preserve is a world-class facility that promotes community, conservation, preservation and sustainability in the Southern Nevada region, and is the world’s largest campus of platinum-rated U.S. Green Building Council LEED buildings. The Preserve aims to inspire visitors to implement green living practices and technologies in their own homes, and for the house to remain a site for continued research and development of renewable energy for UNLV faculty, students and industry professionals.
“We deeply appreciate the Consumer Electronics Association’s support of both the Springs Preserve and the award-winning DesertSol exhibit,” said Jenna Morton, president of the Springs Preserve Foundation. “DesertSol will share with the community cutting-edge examples of sustainability and will shape people think about desert living.”
Last year, at the 2013 International CES, CEA donated funds to Green Chips, a unique public/private partnership to encourage environmental sustainability initiatives in Southern Nevada, which used the investment to support a solar installation project at the iconic ‘Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas’ sign on Las Vegas Boulevard. Additionally, CEA donated funds to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) to install two electric vehicle charging stations recently at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
The 2014 International CES opens tomorrow and runs until Friday at the Las Vegas Convention Center and other locations throughout the city. The 2014 CES will feature more than 3,200 exhibitors unveiling the latest consumer technology products and services across 15 product categories. At the 2014 CES, CEA will incorporate a number of sustainable practices, including the use of recyclable carpet and exhibit materials; mandating that paperless exhibitor press kits be available online, or via USB or DVD; and printing on recycled paper, using soy-based ink and meeting the standards of the Sustainable Forest Initiative and Forest Stewardship Council. For more information on sustainability efforts at CES, visit CESweb.org/green.
During the 2013 International CES, CEA increased its overall reuse/recycle rate to 81 percent and collected a record amount of show materials and graphics to recycle and repurpose, totaling over 108,000 square feet and 19,000 pounds. CEA produced over 243,000 badge holders made from last year’s vinyl banners and collected over 58,000 badge holders after the show to repurpose for a third life.
