Village Volkswagen has completed a new service and parts department with several "green" features.
The new facility increases service bays by 10. The new building also features a carwash.
One of the primary goals during construction was to make the new facility as energy efficient as possible, officials said. Several environmentally friendly features were installed in order to reduce the overall impact the structure has on the immediate environment, the community, and the customer’s experience, it was stated.
First, Village Volkswagen has a rain barrel, which holds approximately 5,000 gallons of water, installed. It provides water to power the carwash as well as the irrigation system throughout the property, "immensely decreasing water consumed through traditional methods."
Additionally, Village VW had high speed bay doors installed in order to promote heating and cooling efficiency. Due to the rapid speed at which the bay doors open and close the thermostats do not have to work as hard to maintain the internal temperature, officials said.
Also, in order to reduce the power required to light the interior of the building oversized clear windows were installed on all walls and on the bay doors, allowing more light to pass into the building and decreasing the need to use artificial lighting systems.
Finally, Village VW opted to have the building constructed using pre-cast concrete walls. Officials said, "Pre-cast concrete walls actually strengthen over time and do not deteriorate due to exposure to sunlight. Additionally, these walls are designed to tolerate extreme pressure, reducing the need for other building materials to be used, while maintaining the ability to withstand extreme weather conditions such as tornados. Furthermore, concrete is non-toxic and comprised of natural materials lessening the impact the building has on the immediate ecosystem.
"Village Volkswagen of Chattanooga is not only committed to the community we erve but also the environment. We recognize the need to make our acilities environmental friendly which is mutually beneficial for the dealership and the ecosystem that surrounds it, resulting in a cleaner environment and a new innovative and energy efficient service and parts department."