Green seal of approval for Niagara Casinos

Niagara Casinos was awarded a 4 Green Keys rating from Green Key Global acknowledging its sustainable convention facilities and practices. This topped off another year of environmental initiatives at both Fallsview Casino Resort and Casino Niagara.

Green Key Global, a leading environmental certification body, takes a comprehensive look at how facilities perform in key areas, such as: energy, water, waste, training, policies, procurement, auditing and air quality. Facilities are then awarded a rating from 1 to 5 "Keys," with five being the highest attainable. Detailed performance reports showcase accomplishments while also outlining improvements to be considered.

"We consider this rating a significant achievement for our business" said Greg Medulun, communications director at Niagara Casinos. "Obtaining 4 Green Keys is just a small piece of our overall commitment to environmentally sustainable practices in every aspect of our organization."

Niagara Casinos has operated a successful cross-property green initiatives program since 2010, and the almost 4,000 associates working at the casinos are strongly encouraged to take part in sustainable activities both in the workplace and at home.

Other Niagara Casinos green initiative advancements from the 2014-15 fiscal year include:

•The replacement of all 1,425 incandescent bulbs and 47 pole heads in the 10-story parking garage at Fallsview Casino with energy-efficient LED bulbs for an approximate annual saving of $216,000 and 202.4 kW.

•LED lighting retrofitted into the gaming areas on the third floor and in the front-of-house washroom facilities at Casino Niagara, providing an approximate annual saving of $108,000 and 123.36 kW.

•The purchase of a Bulb Eater 3 machine to breakdown used CFL, MR16 and fluorescent tube bulbs preventing the harmful gases contained within the bulbs from escaping. This device also mitigates the need for monthly pickups, saving money and diverting more than 8,000 bulbs from landfills each year.

•The installation of a 7,000-pound bio-digester unit (EnviroPure's EWP-7000), utilizing an industrial shredder to intake organics and process the resulting matter into grey water. The bio-digester results in a reduction of haulage fees for organic waste previously trucked off-property for composting.

•The installation of utility meters at both properties to help identify energy inefficiencies in real time - information then used in the strategic planning of future green initiatives.

•The addition of 28 of variable speed drives (VSDs) to the 14 air handling units at Casino Niagara, enabling efficiency during the operation of air exchange, resulting in an approximate annual saving of more than $300,000.

•The installation of VSDs on the cooling towers and soft-start motors at Fallsview Casino for the hotel's hot water boosters, reducing electrical grid load and resulting in an approximate annual saving of over $40,000.

•The collection of 1,500 pounds of used sealed cell batteries for donation to The Hotel Dieu Shaver Health & Rehabilitation Centre. Hotel Dieu is able to recycle the batteries for monetary value, using the funds to purchase much-needed patient-care equipment for the rehabilitation program.

Additionally, in an effort to continually improve the carbon footprint of both properties, Niagara Casinos recently partnered with the Niagara Sustainability Initiative to take part in its flagship program, the Carbon Project, whereby organizations work toward measuring, reporting and committing to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.

As a new monitoring member, Niagara Casinos has established a data baseline for energy and fuel usage at both properties, and will be compiling usage data going forward to determine the current carbon footprint and identify ways to reduce it.

For more information on Niagara Casinos' green initiatives, visit fallsviewcasinoresort.com.

For more information about booking an environmentally sustainable meeting or convention space at Niagara Casinos, call 1-888-222-3353 or visit fallsviewcasinoresort.com/group-sales/conventions.