Las Vegas is notorious for bright lights, excess and hedonism. But America's playground – or to use its better-known nickname, Sin City – is going green. From water conservation and waste management to solar power, the city has invested millions in pushing sustainability initiatives.

Solid wood is an attractive alternative to energy-intensive concrete and steel, which reportedly account for nearly 15 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions. At the same time, the construction industry as such is responsible for 39 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in the world. Although experts still debate the role of solid wood in the fight against climate change, many consider it a better alternative for the environment than conventional materials, as wood is a renewable resource. Solid wood also offers a different aesthetic, thanks to which the building can appear pleasant and exceptional.

Mass timber is an appealing alternative to energy-intensive concrete and steel, which together account for almost 15 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions. Though experts are still debating mass timber’s role in fighting climate change, many are betting it’s better for the environment than current approaches to construction. It relies on wood, after all, a renewable resource.

Wood engineered for strength and safety offers architects an alternative to carbon-intensive steel and concrete.

This summer has been the hottest on record in Southern Nevada, with temperatures of up to 120 degrees resulting in a spate of heat-related illnesses and hundreds of deaths. Even worse, summers are only expected to get hotter in coming years because of global warming, said Steffen Lehmann, a professor of architecture and urbanism at UNLV.

During a record-breaking summer, experts suggest ways for Southern Nevada to beat the heat. According to officials from the National Weather Service, summer 2024 was the hottest on record in Southern Nevada. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officials expect longer waves of intense heat to increase in frequency over time, with concrete areas remaining warm during warm triple-digit Southern Nevada nights.

During a record-breaking summer, experts suggest ways for Southern Nevada to beat the heat. According to officials from the National Weather Service, summer 2024 was the hottest on record in Southern Nevada. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officials expect longer waves of intense heat to increase in frequency over time, with concrete areas remaining warm during warm triple-digit Southern Nevada nights.

I wasn’t actively looking for an earth-bermed home when I stumbled upon the property that would become our home, but my husband and I were searching for something that would allow us to live more sustainably and homestead with greater awareness of and integration with the natural world around me.