Miami's Tamiami Automotive Group to be nation's first-ever LEED 'Gold Certified' automobile dealership - New facility to be developed on former Superfund site - Chrysler announces plans to develop an incentive program for dealers interested in environmentally-friendly building MIAMI, July 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Ground was broken today for a facility that, when completed, will be the most environmentally-friendly automobile dealership in the country. The Tamiami Automotive Group announced plans to relocate and expand to a building that will achieve the prestigious Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) "Gold Certification." The LEED Green Building Rating System is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high performance green buildings. It was developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, a 10,000-member non-profit building trade organization, which has developed the LEED system to promote a whole-building approach to sustainability. LEED recognizes performance in five key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality. In conjunction with the event, Chrysler announced plans to give other dealers in their network incentives to pursue LEED certification. "We are proud of the way that Carlos Planas and his team at Tamiami have embraced their environmentalism," said Steven Landry, Executive Vice President -- NAFTA Sales, Global Marketing, Service and Parts for Chrysler. "This dealership has set the bar for environmentally-friendly dealers, and will be a model for other dealerships in our network. We are pleased to announce plans to provide support for other dealers interested in building green to achieve their goals and enhance their communities." The Chrysler program will give support to dealers interested in obtaining LEED certification in their efforts in everything from design and materials choices to landscaping and energy management systems. Specific examples of sustainable design principles would include: -- Selecting paints, sealants and adhesives with low VOC (volatile organic compound). -- Using heating and air conditioning components which avoid HCFC refrigerants. -- Increasing the thermals values of the exterior, including high performance glass. -- Providing energy management and monitoring systems. -- And harvesting storm water run-off for landscape irrigation. Many of Chrysler's facilities already use several of these concepts. The program would also give recognition to dealers who are leaders in environmental activism. The new Miami-area 18-acre location is a former Superfund site that previously was home to a lumber yard. Upon completion, the new 400,000 square- foot facility will be the most environmentally-friendly auto dealership in the country, with numerous water conservation and energy management systems, and a design that relies on natural light rather than artificial. "We are reusing land that was contaminated and revitalizing it to build an eco-friendly structure that cooperates with the environment," said Carlos Planas, Chairman of Tamiami Automotive Group. "We owe it to our children and grandchildren to do everything possible to conserve our environment. We view this as a must, and encourage others to do the same." Chrysler is dedicated to protecting the health of its communities, natural resources and the global environment. The company addresses environmental challenges by working continuously to improve the environmental performance of its products and operations. The company supports the development of advanced sustainable technologies and is an industry leader in promoting the use of alternative fuels.
