The newest Marc Heitz Chevrolet franchise at the southwest corner of Interstate 35 and Lindsey Street is painted blue on the outside, but the dealership was built using "green" ideas.
"We did lots of green features to save money, save resources and pass those on to customers," Heitz said at the dealership's opening day Friday.
He said a wind turbine, solar glass and light harvesting system are all changes that will better the environment.
The construction was done to "lower the dependence on the current form of energy," he said.
As part of that initiative, workers from Bergey Windpower Company installed a wind turbine system Friday to reduce the building's dependence on electrical power.
Mike Bergey, president of Bergey Windpower Co., said the turbine is a Bergey 10 kW on a 100 ft. lattice free-standing tower. This is the first new wind turbine installation in Norman in two decades.
"It is specifically designed to reduce home or business electric bills," Bergey said. "The whole facility has been designed to be energy efficient and 'green.' The wind turbine is just one aspect of many things that they have done."
He said that puts Marc Heitz Chevrolet ahead of most of the dealers in the industry in terms of making environmental footprints.
"I think that's what people are looking for these days and I think it was smart move on their part," he said.
Bergey said the wind turbine power is supported by a very large concrete block in the ground. That is necessary during storm conditions.
"The forces on the wind turbine and on the power are quite large. It has to have a strong foundation. That's the biggest part of the project," he said.
Bergey said the power equipment arrived earlier in the week. The turbine weighs about 1,000 pounds and has a 22-foot rotor diameter.
"It will start providing power at about 8 mph and will continue to generate even in the strongest winds. This is a best selling product around the country and around the world. But it is unusual for us to sell one in Oklahoma. It's kinda neat to have something for environmental technology built in Norman," he said.
Heitz said he researched wind turbines before he contacted Bergey.
"Initially, we were concerned with height requirements," he said.
The dealership is only a few miles from the airport, and Heitz didn't want the equipment to interfere with aircraft.
"We think we got a great site for people to see," he said.
Heitz isn't finished transforming his business into an environmentally friendly atmosphere.
He said he wants to be able to add an E-85 or ethanol fueling station to the business. There are 12,000 vehicles registered to owners within a 5-mile radius of the dealership that run on ethanol.
It would be the first in the Norman area to offer the fuel, he said.
"Each part we have done is going to generate thought and help people," he said.
Bergey said the turbine was installed Friday but won't be fully operational for about three weeks.
Meghan McCormick 366-3539 mmccormick@normantranscript.com
Local news
Car dealer goes green
New facility has wind turbine, solar glass and light harvesting system
- Local news
-
-
Theater’s the scene for Norman marketing director
Nancy Coggins landed a job with a prestigious Oklahoma City advertising agency before the ink dried on her OU journalism diploma. The job was a first rung on her career ladder and she admits that it didn’t call for her creative talents. ...
-
New jail to install curtains
The F. DeWayne Beggs Detention Center, though still in its infancy, is getting a facelift: new curtains....
-
Businesses go the extra mile for Valentine’s Day
Among the various images the phrase “Valentine’s Day” might conjure in one’s mind, probably the most immediate is the iconic dozen roses and heart-shaped box of chocolates....
-
New rehabilitation, skilled care center will be next to HealthPlex
StoneGate Senior Living President and CEO John F. Taylor announced Friday that his company has completed the purchase of approximately 6.7 acres of land in the Norman Regional Health System’s Medical Park West project at NW 36th Avenueand ...
-
Mystery performance provides theatrical fatal attraction
James Briggs has a pretty steady day job with the city parks department, doesn’t live anywhere near Little River and probably never owned or slept in a hatchback. He doesn’t usually wear sport coats that are two sizes too small, either ...
-
'Get the Lead Out' annual children's art festival enters 10th year
Longfellow Middle School had a special “GLO” about it Saturday morning....
-
County prisoners moved to new jail
Cleveland County sheriff’s deputies began moving prisoners from the detention center adjacent to the courthouse to the new F. DeWayne Beggs Detention Center at Franklin Road and U.S. 77 early Saturday morning....
-
School board elections Tuesday
Voters go to the polls Tuesday in four Cleveland County school districts. Cleveland County Election Board Secretary Jim Williams said this will be the first election using the new voting system. Polls will open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on ...
-
Identity theft crackdown sweeps nation
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service and the Justice Department recently announced a national sweep cracking down on suspected identity theft perpetrators as part of a stepped-up effort against refund fraud and identity theft....
-
Darry Stacy seeking county commission seat
Darry Stacy, a fifth generation Oklahoman and lifelong resident of Cleveland County, announced Friday that he will be a Republican candidate for the District 2 Cleveland County commissioner seat....
- More Local news Headlines
-
Theater’s the scene for Norman marketing director
