Chrysler To Open First-Ever LEED Gold Certified Dealership In The Country
Tamiami Automotive Group, one of the top volume Chrysler Jeep® dealers in the Southeast, is relocating and expanding to a facility that will be the first-ever 'LEED Gold certified' dealership in the country. LEED is the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™, which is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high performance green buildings.
The new 18-acre dealership, located at 7090 Coral Way, in Miami, is a former Superfund site that Tamiami will transform to LEED ‘Gold’ certified upon completion. "We are reusing land that was contaminated and revitalizing it to build an eco-friendly structure that will cooperate with the environment," says Carlos Planas, Chairman of Tamiami Automotive Group, one of the country's top Chrysler Jeep dealers. “Our plan for the new location is to develop a one-of-a-kind facility, both as a ‘green’ building, and for its innovative approaches as an automobile dealership.”
Slated to open in late 2008, Tamiami Chrysler/Jeep/ Dodge will be one of Florida's most energy-efficient businesses, with numerous water conservation and energy management systems, and a design that relies on natural light rather than artificial.
New ‘Energy Store’ Debuts In South Florida
A new concept of retail store has opened in Hollywood, Florida called The Energy Store. The Energy Store offers a wide variety of energy-saving and renewable energy products and solutions for sale to people who are interested in saving energy, saving money and saving the environment.
This unique retail location features solar panels, chargers, inverters and incredibly efficient appliances like washers that use less than 3 cents of electricity. They offer refrigerators, freezers and air conditioners that run on solar panels and deep cell batteries, as well as, environmentally-friendly, non-metallic hot water heaters that are guaranteed for as long as you live in your home.
The Energy Store manufactures its own line of energy-saving compact fluorescent bulbs called “PhotoClear” that are quicker starting and more pleasingly color balanced to a whiter white, similar to that used in television studios (3200K). It has built roofs inside the store where customers can see how actual products such as solar panels, daylighting tubes and attic fans actually look and work when installed and, they will assist you with the design and installation of renewable energy systems. It carrys a line of quiet, portable, ‘smart’ generators that use less fuel and adjust themselves to the energy load.
The Energy Store displays ‘Energy Art,’ like lighted moving water pictures, highly unusual designer candles that never burn out and Chinese fiber-optic silk flowers that blink and bring you good luck. It also sells clever contemporary buttons and bumper stickers and ‘eco-chic’ tee shirts that are clay-dyed and made of organic cotton and have beautiful pictures and funny slogans.
Coca-Cola Announces Environmental Initiatives
The Coca-Cola Company also pledged to lead its global beverage operations, including those of its franchise bottlers, to replace the water it uses in its beverages and their production. The Company will focus its actions in three core areas: 1) reducing the water used to produce its beverages, 2) recycling water used for beverage manufacturing processes, and 3) replenishing water in communities and nature.
“We are focusing on water because this is where The Coca-Cola Company can have a real and positive impact,” said E. Neville Isdell, Chairman and CEO of The Coca-Cola Company. “Our goal is to replace every drop of water we use in our beverages and their production. For us that means reducing the amount of water used to produce our beverages, recycling water used for manufacturing processes so it can be returned safely to the environment, and replenishing water in communities and nature through locally relevant projects.”
Market For Ethical Consumer Products Soaring
“Conscientious Consumerism,” the trend towards upscale and premium products with an ethical bent, has taken root across America as consumers increasingly preach their social concerns through their pocketbooks. Sales of organic, hormone-free, eco-friendly, locally-grown, cruelty-free, and other ethical products have skyrocketed, according to “Ethical Consumer and Corporate Responsibility: The Market For Ethical Products” report from market research firm Packaged Facts.
Packaged Facts estimates that U.S. retail sales of grocery products making some form of ethical claim reached nearly $33 billion in 2006, up 17% from 2005. The report projects that sales of products containing ethical elements will maintain double-digit growth over the next five years, surpassing $57 billion in 2011.
With organics becoming popular in all retail channels, the awareness of ethical edibles has skyrocketed, making hormone-free, pesticide-free, fair-trade and other ethically-labeled foods and beverages widely popular. Manufacturers are creating new “ethical” product lines and are going “green” to build consumer confidence and get a piece of the ethical pie.
PULSE Reports On Riding the Green Wave
How much do we really care about sustainability and eco-friendly? According to the PULSE Report from WSL Strategic Retail, when it comes to energy conservation, we do care and we do try to do something about it. 76% of consumers say they're trying to do things like buying CFL light bulbs or lowering the thermostat to conserve energy in their homes. Almost all of those who aren't conserving energy wish they were, and hardly anyone thinks there's no need for energy conservation.
The number of people who are trying to conserve energy is the same among each income group, so it seems that the need to save money isn’t the only motivation for going green.
Surprisingly, the Greenest Americans are the oldest. Fully 85% of those over 55 try to conserve energy at home compared to only 65% of those under 35. Those under 35 do more “wish I was doing something, but I’m not.”
Ozarka Launched In EcoFriendly Bottle
Ozarka’s half liter bottle has thirty percent less plastic than the average half liter plastic beverage container. The new Eco-shape bottle is the lightest half liter plastic beverage container on the market.
“Ozarka is committed to reducing the amount of plastic in our bottles,” said Ty Brannen, of Ozarka Brand Natural Spring Water.
Green Toys™ Launches Plastic Toys Made From Corn
Green Toys™ has launched a line of classic toys made from a new generation of environmentally friendly bioplastic material derived from renewable, sustainable resources like corn. “We’re offering a real alternative for consumers looking for earth-friendly toys,” said Robert von Goeben, co-founder of Green Toys.
The raw material used to make Green Toys brand toys is produced by Cereplast, a leading manufacturer of proprietary bio-based plastics.
Henschel-Steinau Unveils EcoPDQ
Henschel-Steinau has announced the EcoPDQ, a patent-pending PDQ display designed to be environmentally friendly. The EcoPDQ measures 30" and features a corrugated graphic panel that acts as a sleeve around the PDQ, beneficial for storage and transportation. The display reduces material, manufacturing, shipping and recycling costs dramatically. Savings comes from a decrease in the square footage of corrugated materials used, including fillers. The compact size of the unit, when closed, is easier to handle and unpack. This EcoPDQ display was created for Visine by Henschel-Steinau, Inc., 300 Grand Avenue, Englewood, NJ 07631.
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