Peppermill

"The only resort in the United States whose heating source is totally provided from geothermal energy produced on the immediate property."

(Reno, NV) – Being part of the unique high desert canvas of Reno-Tahoe has inspired the Peppermill Resort Spa Casino to adopt sweeping green initiatives to dramatically reduce the Resort’s carbon footprint. For several years the Resort has been mindful to minimize the impact of operations on the environment while maintaining a premiere level of service and experience for guests. The Resort has used geothermal energy to heat the domestic hot water for the Tuscany Tower, including the 43,000 square foot Spa Toscana and Fitness Center as well as the two outdoor swimming pools and spas, since the 2007 expansion project. With the culmination of a $9.7 million investment, the entire Resort is now on-line to heat both space and dosmestic water with geothermal energy.

As the demand to conserve increased, the Peppermill continued to investigate new and innovative ways to save precious resources. Peppermill President, Bill Paganetti, engaged world-renowned geothermal expert, Dr. Jim Combs of Geo Hills Associates LLC of Reno, to consult on the existing historical data and information from earlier projects.  Because the Peppermill already had a reinjection well on the property, Dr. Combs recommended a new geothermal well be drilled on the property.  
It was a gamble. Drill a well tapping in to the geothermal aquifer, betting on finding water at the correct temperature that could be captured and converted to energy through a closed loop system then returned to the earth via a reinjection well, which would heat the entire Resort’s water and mechanical heat via geothermal energy.

With no guarantees and just a steadfast commitment, the Peppermill successfully hit proverbial pay dirt at over 4,400 feet deep, becoming geothermal energy innovators and making local history with a well of this magnitude.  “No one else has a geothermal well of this depth in the city of Reno”  said Dean Parker, Executive Facilities Director at the Peppermill. “In order for a well to produce the level of geothermal energy that could accomplish what we set out to do, we had to find water at 170 degrees that can pump 1,200 gallons per minute at 150 psi. With this well, we found that and more.”

The Peppermill is able to harness geothermal energy which now heats 100% of the Resort’s domestic water and mechanical heat throughout the 2.1 Million square feet foot facility, 24/7, effectively replacing the natural gas boilers that currently heat the facility. This renewable energy will help the Peppermill reduce its dependency on fossil fuels and save the company millions of dollars in natural gas use.

According to Dr. Combs, “The green energy heating addition to the HVAC system at the Peppermill will now make it the only resort in the United States whose heating source is totally provided from geothermal energy produced on the immediate property.”

The Peppermill Resort Spa Casino features 1,635 luxurious rooms and suites, two resort pools, 10 award-winning restaurants, 16 themed bars and lounges including EDGE nightspot and Terrace Lounge, free nightly entertainment in the Casino Cabaret, 24/7 gaming action, headliner entertainment as well as the 43,000 square foot Spa & Salon Toscana and Fitness Center featuring northern Nevada’s only Caldarium with indoor pool, sun deck and Secret Garden.

Peppermill Green Initiatives

The Peppermill Resort Spa Casino in Reno, Nevada acknowledges a crucial role in minimizing the impact of its operations on the environment while at the same time, maintaining an uncompromised level or service and experience for each of our guests.

In response to the movement toward energy conservation and sustainability, we continue to investigate and implement green and alternative energy sources and products that maximize efficiency and reduce our carbon footprint for future generations.

These ongoing steps have included the following programs:

• A complete overhaul of existing geothermal system resulting in a $9.7 million investment in geothermal energy including wells to handle heating for all of the resort’s water and space including new wells on property to supply all water and heating property wide
• LED and fluorescent retrofit lighting throughout entire resort The Peppermill obtains a monetary rebate each year from Sure bet by using low energy bulbs such as LED’s and fluorescents. The Peppermill average rebate check each year is around $30K, not including the electrical savings on top of this. We spent approximately $350K on changing out our incandescence lighting to florescent lighting, and had a four month return on investment.
• Installation of a water recycling system for all laundry services conserving millions of gallons of water each year.
• A building management system to control and regulate heating room and water temperatures as opposed to constantly heating the water throughout the day. It is difficult to estimate the savings by having our facility controlled by “Building Control System” (Computer) but the BCS, in conjunction with DDC (Direct Digital Control) stats and VFD’s (Variable Frequency Drive) units, makes our entire control systems 1,000% more efficient than running manually.  
• A hydronic system (Water) to heat or cool the facility by using a closed loop system. The cold water is cooled by a pre-chill system utilizing outdoor temperatures instead of chillers; the hot water is heated by geothermal. In the winter time, we use our cooling towers to cool the return hydronic chill water and then sends it through a plate and frame exchanger that acts like a our big Trane Chillers. The pre-cooling process keeps the Trane chillers shut off which saves the Peppermill approximately $5K per 24 hour period. On the Boiler side, the geothermal will heat our entire facility – keeping our Cleaver Brook boilers shut off that will save the company around $1.7 million dollars per year.  
• An ongoing property wide water conservation program through room placards encouraging reuse of towels and water conservation and changing guest bed linens and towels per stay on a request only basis
• Creation of a virtually paperless HR department through the implementation of new software systems and transferring all forms and documents into digital applications
• Shredding and recycling paper receptacles in all administrative offices including onsite print shop and advertising departments
• Use of reusable serving utensils, eating utensils, napkins and tablecloths in all restaurants