Lexus of Las Vegas, the First EB Gold Certified Building in Nevada

Lexus' dealership in Las Vegas, Nevada, became the first building in the state to receive the Gold certification for Existing Buildings (EB) from the US Green Building Council (USGBC). The distinction was awarded through the Leadership in Energy and Environment Design (LEED) program and took into account Lexus’ Process Green initiative.

“As we developed the plans to update our maintenance and operations for our dealership, incorporating sustainability was a priority,” Lee Butler, Lexus of Las Vegas general manager said in a release. “We knew we could do the right thing for the environment at the same time incorporating all the luxury elements that our customers deserve.”

As part of the initiative, the Japanese carmaker's dealership achieved the following feats:

• maintained a 97 percent reduction in volume of waste sent to landfill
• achieved a 44.35 percent reduction in energy usage
• CO2 sensors were installed in heavily occupied spaces
• its employees volunteered about 4,000 man hours to restore four acres of land at the Springs Preserve in Las Vegas
• the employee carpool was encouraged with Preferred Parking closest to the building
• 10 percent of the dealership's employees are active participants in an alternative transportation program called Club Ride

In addition to the recognition of the Nevada store, Lexus also announced that its Florida Training Center in Miramar is the first LEED CI (Commercial Interior) Gold certified technical training facility, while the Sewell Lexus store in Fort Worth is the first LEED Gold certified new building.