Eco-Friendly Auto Dealership
By Lee Nelson
Chuck Theisen’s love of the outdoors, especially fishing, prompted him to go “green” when building his new Mercedes-Benz of Arrowhead dealership.
“I love the Valley. But as I’ve seen our population grow, I’ve been upset with pollution,” says Theisen, who has been a dealer in Phoenix for forty-five years.
The $13 million facility became the first luxury car dealership to earn the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. Sustainable features can be seen inside and out, including within the roof-mounted solar panels. They generate thirty-five percent of the power during off-peak hours. Any extra power can be sold back to the electric company.
Sweeping roof extensions and canopy screens shade the building from the summer sun. Many of the items used in construction came from recycled products, including steel, concrete, and asphalt.
Water conservation also gets a boost with water-saving toilets, an innovative six-gallon car wash as compared with the typical twenty gallons, and a water-recycling system to irrigate landscaping. Theisen also believes that running a good business means taking care of the employees. A state-of-the-art air system improves his employees’ quality of air, with less carbon dioxide. They also receive incentives to change their environmental impact, with a shuttle service to public transportation, close parking spots for those driving environmental-friendly cars, and showers and lockers for those biking or walking to work.
“Social responsibility has become very important in business,” Theisen says.
Visit arrowheadmb.com for more information.