Central City in Colorado, the once popular Rocky Mountain tourist destination, thinks it can create a green gambling atmosphere. Thanks to the mayor Buddy Schmalz, the 500 denizens have become very eco-conscious. And now Schmalz intends to make Colorado the first eco-gambling city in the US.

This is how he plans to do it. The University of Colorado reports that the blinking, buzzing and jingling gambling machines produce so much heat that air conditioners have to be kept powered on all the time. So to attack both issues with one solution, Central City has deided to replace the standard Las Vegas style lighting with efficient LED bulbs.

The step will reduce the energy requirement for each machine by a substantial 75 per cent. Plus the casinos intend to follow recycling programs and install solar panels too. The idea behind is to bring back tourists to the area which has been suffering in the economic slowdown. Las Vegas had better be paying heed to this one. After all, healthy green competition is a huge welcome.

Via treehugger