MGM National Harbor resort receives LEED Gold certification

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), Washington, has awarded the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification to MGM National Harbor. Located minutes from Washington, D.C., in Prince George's County, Maryland, the resort will is scheduled to open Dec. 8.

“Environmental responsibility is a commitment that extends across all levels of our organization. Achieving our ninth LEED certification exemplifies MGM’s long-standing effort to implement sustainable and responsible practices across our resorts,” says Cindy Ortega, senior vice president and chief sustainability officer for MGM Resorts International. “MGM National Harbor embodies the company’s dedication to environmental leadership in our industry.”

The resort will incorporate a variety of environmentally minded practices and sustainability elements.

“As we approach MGM National Harbor’s grand opening, earning this coveted designation is a meaningful source of pride for our team,” says Lorenzo Creighton, president and chief operating officer (COO) for MGM National Harbor. “It is another example of how MGM National Harbor is helping to charter a new course for sustainable growth in Maryland.”

The resort is situated just off the banks of the Potomac River, in the Chesapeake Bay region. One priority of the MGM National Harbor team was to protect the water resources in and around the project site. MGM designed and implemented a range of innovative approaches to store, reuse and reduce consumption of water to help protect the local ecosystem.

Environmental attributes of MGM National Harbor that supported the LEED Gold rating include:

• Waste and recycling: More than 96 percent, or more than 15,000 tons, of construction debris was diverted from landfills during the building of MGM National Harbor.
• Resiliency: MGM National Harbor designed and built one of the largest privately operated combined heat and power (CHP) energy plants in the Washington D.C. region. The system works to generate on-site electricity for the resort. By creating its own energy, MGM National Harbor improves reliability, minimizes energy losses in transmission and reduces demand on the local energy grid.
• Rainwater harvesting: MGM National Harbor designed and constructed a 700,000 gallon cistern to collect, store and treat rainwater captured from the roof structures. The repurposed water will be used for the resort’s irrigation, cooling and sanitary needs and will reduce the amount of water taken from the Prince George’s County water supply.
• Water conservation: High-efficiency fixtures, including automatic faucets, low-flow toilets and shower fixtures help reduce the property’s water consumption by more than 45 percent. An on-site well provides recalculated water to help further minimize water loss due to evaporation.
• Energy efficiency: MGM National Harbor was built with comprehensive integration of LED (light emitting diode) high-efficiency lighting technology. The use of these lighting systems not only allows for less direct lighting energy to be consumed, but also a significant reduction of cooling energy required throughout the building.
• Alternative transportation: To encourage the use of alternative transportation, MGM National Harbor has installed 28 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations and 185 low-emitting-fuel efficient vehicle parking spaces.

Located at the intersection of Interstate 95 and Interstate 295 in Prince George’s County, Maryland, MGM National Harbor will encompass 308 hotel rooms, a 125,000-square-foot casino, 12 food and beverage venues, a 27,000-square-foot spa, a flexible 3,000-seat theater and 18,000 square feet of high-end luxury retail space.