MGM Resorts pilots hybrid cooling technology at Bellagio to reduce water use

By integrating hybrid cooling technology into the Bellagio Spa Tower, MGM Resorts International expects to reduce water use by up to 21 million gallons annually — a strategy that could lower operational costs and inform future retrofits across the company’s property portfolio.

The initiative involves the installation of the first hybrid cooling tower on the Las Vegas Strip, combining dry and evaporative cooling processes to reduce reliance on consumptive water use.

According to the company, the project conserves approximately 18 million gallons per year through dry cooling and an additional 3 million gallons from reduced evaporation during peak summer months.

Evaporative cooling is the second largest source of consumptive water use in Southern Nevada, after outdoor irrigation, accounting for 10% of the region’s annual water consumption from the Colorado River. Hybrid systems such as the one implemented at the Bellagio are designed to use outdoor air temperatures for cooling most of the year, minimizing water usage.

“For nine months of the year, the Bellagio Spa Tower uses the hybrid fluid cooler in dry cooling mode based on outdoor temperatures, conserving 18 million gallons of water annually,” MGM Resorts said in its press release. “During the hottest months, a newly installed wet cooling tower operates with greater efficiency in tandem with the hybrid cooler, cutting evaporation losses by 20–30% and saving an additional 3 million gallons of water each year.”

MGM Resorts developed the pilot in collaboration with the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) and utilized its Water Efficient Technologies Program. The program offers financial incentives to commercial and multifamily property owners who implement water-saving systems.

“As Southern Nevada implements its progressive and comprehensive water conservation programs, companies like MGM Resorts International provide foundational contributions to improve water efficiency within the local business sector,” said Michael Bernardo, SNWA Enterprise Conservation Manager. “This type of investment in hybrid cooling technology is critical to the long-term sustainability of our community, and MGM is helping lead the way.”

The project aligns with MGM Resorts’ broader resource management approach. According to Michael Gulich, Vice President of Sustainability at MGM Resorts, “MGM Resorts is committed to piloting innovative water conservation technologies that will save water and money, to building strategic partnerships that help us de-risk these initiatives, and then to scaling these technologies to our enterprise portfolio as it makes sense to address regional water issues.”

MGM Resorts operates multiple resort properties in Las Vegas and other US markets. The company continues to explore technologies aimed at improving efficiency and reducing environmental impact across its operations and supply chain.