Leith Toyota is excited to announce that Toyota is on schedule to unveil the world’s first certified net-zero energy automotive dealership. The automaker is working with architects to collect data that will prove that the facility is producing more energy than it uses. The dealership is named Toyota of Corvallis, and it is located in Corvallis, Oregon.
The facility will generate around 300,000 kWh per year of renewable electricity through solar photovoltaics, and return unused energy to a local power grid. To further avoid using electricity and energy, the facility will also use water harvesting for landscape irrigation, radiant floor heating, and geothermal heating and cooling, all of which are hoped to earn the Toyota of Corvallis dealership the title of world’s first LEED Platinum-certified dealership.
It still has to be surveyed over the next 14 months to discover whether the building really adheres to the LEED Platinum standards recognized by the US Green Building Council.
“Toyota is focused on being a leader in environmental sustainment through our development of hybrid and fuel cell technologies, the creation of energy efficient facilities, and our commitment to support philanthropic organizations that address environmental issues,” said Toyota regional manager Steve Haag. “We applaud Toyota of Corvallis for setting a positive example and creating a first-of-its-kind template for the auto dealership of the future.”
Toyota already has earned an LEED Gold certification at Toyota of Rockwall, in Rockwall, Texas in 2008 and hopes to continue creating more green buildings and green vehicles. Toyota recognizes that this dealership is a huge step for the company.
"As a design firm committed to constantly raising the bar and leading the charge on the future of sustainable design projects, we are very proud of this project,” Gensler’s project manager Rick Ferrara said. “Not only is Toyota of Corvallis setting a new standard for Toyota, they are leading the industry in a completely new direction."
Toyota has made huge strides in creating green technology. The manufacturer used its fuel cell technology to create a static array to power its Honsha Plant in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. The cells output 3.5 kW, and Toyota claims that this was the first time that they have been operational in a commercial environment.
Toyota's reduction efforts aren’t just targeted at its facilities. Toyota pledged to cut average carbon emissions from all of its vehicles and products by more than 90% by 2050, and was ranked first in the inaugural Carbon Clean 200 rankings, a list of the world’s largest publicly listed companies by revenue generated from clean energy products.
If you’d like to test drive one of Toyota’s environmentally friendly cars, you can do so today at Leith Toyota. Feel free to contact us for more information.
Image Credit: Toyota
