Cabin Business

What were the goals of your project?

We needed to increase the size of our building from business growth. We wanted to build the right amount of space and an environment for our employees and customers that is unmatched in Conway or Arkansas, while keeping things within a budget that we felt would allow us to remain competitive in the marketplace.

From a “green” perspective, we wanted to respect the physical environment through choosing recycled and rapidly renewable materials at each turn, and we wanted to respect the environment inside the facility by choosing no/low-VOC materials, paints, adhesives, maximizing natural light and offering occupants the ability to adjust lighting and thermal controls for their spaces.

Why did you decide to invest in a “green” facility/equipment?

Initially we were introduced to the idea by Toyota. We thought it sounded great, but would be too expensive to pursue. We knew it was the “right thing to do,” but we could not spend 20-30 percent more. As it turned out, it was one of the smartest investments we could have made. We are on pace to realize a return on the initial investment in 77 months.
What are the main “green” features?

• 85-plus percent of the construction waste was recycled;
• We capture rainwater in an 8,600-gallon cistern that supplies 100 percent of our landscape irrigation;
• We have 17 SolaTubes that provide natural lighting in our showroom and service bays;
• We use 100 percent compact fluorescent lighting;
• We burn used motor oil from oil changes in heaters;
• We recycle 85 percent of the water from our automatic carwash, using two to three gallons per wash instead of 28-30 for a normal carwash;
• We use motion-based lighting controls that will turn off lights in a space with no occupancy;
• We purchased the most efficient heating and air system available that is controlled by a computer;
• Insulation — spray insulation in all exterior walls and six inched rigid on the roof for an air-tight and very well-insulated building; and
• Materials — extensive use of recycled or rapidly renewable materials.

I could go on and on. I would really encourage anyone to come by for a tour anytime.

Where did you find vendors?

We used subcontractors from Conway or the surrounding area every chance we could.

How did you select which products to install/build?

In most cases, the more “green” products were not more expensive. Our water-free urinals were marginally more, but once you delete the additional plumbing required to bring water to the units to rinse the bowls, it was a wash — and we are saving 40,000 gallons of water per urinal, per year.
What were the main considerations you used when deciding what investments to make? Price? Availability? Service?

Make no mistake about it, price and budget drove a lot of our decisions. We purposefully addressed each area from a “green” prospective. If we missed something, it was from ignorance on our part, not a choice. Again, pricing for the most part was very similar to standard materials. Our total budget was 5-7 percent higher than a standard project of this type. We were unable to make some of the emerging technologies work for our return on investment goals — wind or solar for example.

What other “green” projects would you suggest others consider?

There are none in the area at the moment. We would be happy to arrange a tour if anyone has a group that would like to view the building.