47. Las Vegas, NV

Think Vegas, and what comes to mind? Ironically, water! Bellagio’s dancing fountains. A gondolier paddling through faux canals at the Venetian. The lazy rivers of the Mandalay Bay resort. Surprisingly the Southern Nevada Water Authority says it’s residents—and not the lavish resorts on the strip—that use the lion’s share of the city’s short water supply. In a unique strategy to curb consumption, the utility pays residents $1.50 for every square foot of lawn converted to drought tolerant landscaping. The program has been a success; 80 million dollars has been paid out to participants, saving an estimated 20 billion gallons of water a year. The same Vegas’ spirit is echoed in the city council’s sustainability strategy. Adopted in September of 2008, it calls for a 30-percent reduction in the city’s carbon footprint by 2030, the adoption of a more efficient energy code, and the start of a residential solar rebate program. The initiative sets many goals for the city, and hopefully, policy will follow shortly.