CEA Awards $75,000 Grant To Las Vegas Solar Non-Profit

The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA)®, owner and producer of the International CES, today donated $75,000 to Green Chips, a

non-profit organization promoting carbon neutrality, to support sustainable energy in southern Nevada.

“This donation illustrates CEA’s commitment to sustainability in the Las Vegas area as we launch another successful International CES,” said Gary Shapiro, president and CEO of CEA. “Green Chips is creating clean energy and showing the power of green innovation and ingenuity in southern Nevada, which mirrors CES’ dedication to being a green tradeshow and to implementing sustainable practices.”

Shapiro presented a check today to Oscar Goodman, chairman of Green Chips and Mayor of Las Vegas, in a ceremony at the Las Vegas Convention Center, the official site of this year’s CES from January 6-9.

The donation was made to Green Chips’ Non-Profit Energy Audit and Retrofit program, which typically covers the cost of a building’s energy efficiency audit and construction retrofit needs. The Shade Tree, a Las Vegas women’s shelter, has utilized this energy efficiency audit and solar retrofit program, along with installing solar panels, to cut energy costs by a projected 10 percent.

“This contribution will enable Green Chips to conduct more audits and prepare more buildings for clean solar energy,” Goodman said. “We applaud CEA’s contribution and welcome another year of the CES, the world’s largest consumer technology tradeshow.”

In 2009, CEA was honored by Trade Show Executive Magazine with the “Leader in Green Initiatives” Gold Grand Award for the greening of the CES. At the 2010 International CES, CEA worked with the Las Vegas Convention Center to recycle 68 percent (372.2 tons) of the total solid waste generated by show attendees through diversion of cardboard, paper, metal, wood, carpet padding and plastic from landfills.

Last year at CES, CEA donated $50,000 to the Las Vegas Metro Police Department to purchase seven Vetrix electric motorcycles, which are on the streets of the tourist corridor every day helping to keeping Las Vegas both safe and green.