If you don't like buying energy from a power company, make your own. Where's that independent spirit that Nevadans are so proud of? With a combination of efficiency, conscious living and solar panels, our household hasn't paid a dime for electricity in years. Best investment I've ever made. The returns are Madoff-like but with complete security. Why rent energy every month? Do you rent your car?

I attended the meeting. As is so often the case in Nevada politics, it was a done deal before the meeting ever started. It seemed almost obvious by the smug attitudes of those representing the developer and was clearly reinforced by Commissioners Brager and Collins who displayed plenty of bias in favor of the project. Their condescending attitude toward those who opposed the project bordered on disgusting.

This sleazy developer has a very bad track record that includes bankruptcy, admittedly illegal campaign contributions (including a past county commissioner) and paying huge sums of money to another former Clark County Commissioner for "consulting" after she pleaded guilty to federal corruption charges in a bribery case. Based on these facts, Rhodes has a history of at least attempting to influence the commission. It seems that crime pays and ethics mean nothing in Southern Nevada.

Once again, the Clark County Commission, with the notable exception of Commissioners Guinchigliani and Weekly (thank you both very much), have proven they are incapable of supporting the wishes of an overwhelming majority of citizens. Today was a pathetic display of greed, insensitivity and lack of respect for the people of Clark County.

The homes in Sun City Anthem are also very efficient. They use very little energy and most have water efficient landscaping as well.

The amenities are fantastic and include incredible views of the Las Vegas valley and surrounding mountains. The community has shown good leadership in choosing to build its third and final clubhouse / pool facility in a more responsible way. It is the first private facility of its kind in the U.S. to be LEED certified as a green building. This benefits all residents in terms of healthy and reduced operational costs.

Overall, Sun City Anthem is a great place to live!

Great article Mr. Wargo. Thank you for highlighting the value of retrofitting our existing building stock, one of our greatest opportunities to realistically address big issues including jobs, water conservation, energy and climate change.

This project is a good example of intelligent growth (quality not quantity) vs. unsustainable development.

The writer makes three excellent suggestions for programs to help homeowners install programmable thermostats, energy-efficient equipment and renewable energy systems.

All of these programs have been in effect for some time. See http://www.nvenergy.com/saveenergy/ for details.

This is a good move. The PV industry is growing by leaps and bounds as the price of panels and other hardware fall. Grid parity is not far away and the added benefit of shaded parking will be a welcome relief for those who use it!

I would think most would agree that the concept of a "free market" is just that, a concept. There are subsidies for everything under the sun, and the fossil and nuclear energy industries have gotten more than their fair share. To insist on zero subsidies for a new form of clean energy that can help heal our planet, while ignoring the ongoing massive subsidies for oil, coal, gas and nuclear is pure folly.

The BP oil disaster is just the latest example of the exorbitant costs that we are all burdened with. How expensive is that? No rational person can even put a price tag on the environmental destruction that is far from over. What about our military adventures in the Middle East? You think they have nothing to do with protecting the oil industry? The toll is measured in thousands of lives and trillions of dollars.

I think we should RAISE incentives for clean energy and remove them for dirty, non-renewable and dangerous sources, at least until we've leveled the playing field by including environmental and other major impacts.

And by the way, what business would purposely avoid taking advantage of a tax break or other incentive that could save them money? Shareholders would be up in arms!

Why is it OK for corporations to spend millions to influence lawmakers in their favor so they can save billions, but bad for a homeowner to help move a fledgling industry forward by investing their hard-earned dollars in clean energy while taking advantage of relatively small incentives?

Yes, I'm proud that I have an extremely energy efficient home that will obtain all its electrical energy from the sun for decades to come. I feel good that my dollars went to support a local business who pays their union employees a living wage and that the money stayed in our own state, helping to maintain our fragile economy and build a new industry.

Every bit of your so-called "cheap" energy sends dollars out of state or overseas. How long can we afford that?

With PV, everyone benefits from the cleaner air and the cost to ratepayers is minuscule compared to the damage being done every second by energy generated from fossil and nuclear fuel. In the long run, it ends up being a good investment for everyone.

I'll tell you what we can't afford - the illusion that our existing energy use is sustainable, healthy or cost-effective.

Like the author of the letter I too am a stay-at-home senior, although I've chosen a different path. I've spent time learning about the effects of our energy use on our world and the impact it will have on our children and all future generations. I've spent time learning that there are better ways to use energy more efficiently and that smart meters are one of the best tools we have to do so.

I've been proactive too. I worked hard and saved enough money to make sure my home is energy efficient. I installed solar panels on my home to help reduce the cost of electricity (one of the best long-term investments I've ever made, BTW).

You know, it wasn't that long ago that blacksmiths complained about those new-fangled "auto mobiles" and accounts said that no "computer" would ever replace their tried-and-true hand-written spreadsheets and manual calculators. Ha!

Using energy is a privilege, not a right. Paying for it's true cost, as during peak periods, is the way our capitalist market should work. It's the American way, isn't it? Doesn't it make sense to let the market determine when and how we use energy efficiently?

Whining about government conspiracies or people who are genuinely concerned about our environment is simply deflecting responsibility. I've know plenty of people, including seniors, who are taking action by weatherizing their homes, improving efficiency, and by modifying their habits in an effort to live more responsibly. They are not only ready for smart meters, they can't wait!

Perhaps smart meters are more appealing to people who care about others. Future generations will surely appreciate their efforts.

The title of this article is a bit misleading but the event is significant. Retrofitting our built environment is of great value. Green building and renewable energy are a winning combination for creating a better society. Here are a few thoughts on LEED:

LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. It is simply a tool to help create healthy, efficient, high-performance buildings.

Companies like Shangri-La and Thompson are smart. They are looking at life-cycle operating costs and a triple bottom line reflecting economic, environmental and social return on investment.

There are ample studies on the cost of LEED that illustrate its true value and there are thousands of certified LEED projects that prove it. (ex: http://tinyurl.com/leedcost) In fact, many buildings have achieved LEED certification at no additional cost compared to standard construction alternatives. There are many factors that influence cost, including familiarity with the concept. Contractors who are unfamiliar with LEED often mistakenly inflate their bids to cover the unknown. As the article states, "the cost of green building will come down as it becomes more mainstream. Building codes are already evolving and catching up with LEED certification requirements."

LEED in particular, and green building in general, is mainstream and is transforming the construction industry. It has been embraced at all levels, from small residential builders to the highest strata of corporate decision-makers. In fact, most standard construction projects that are not using LEED (or a system like it) are obsolete before they are even complete, since "building to code" is really just another way of saying "barely legal."

Membership in the non-profit U.S. Green Building Council (not a government agency) is open to any company and the LEED rating system is developed by the members. Millions of hours of volunteer work, in the form of thoughtful application of best practices, are embedded in LEED. The real scam is the ongoing practice of antiquated building practices that result in waste and toxic environments.

Tax incentives are often used to accelerate the adoption of beneficial practices but the value of LEED stands on its own.

One reason people don't make changes to their energy consumption is that the fossil and nuclear energy industries already receive huge tax breaks and other production incentives.

You can't have it both ways.

Either allow incentives for efficiency and and green industry, or eliminate all incentives across the board. (BTW, that will never happen.)

Nevada should do everything possible to encourage green building, energy efficiency and renewable energy. It is the best (and safest) investment we can make.