It might seem like an oxymoron, but Toyota is at least trying to off-set some of its carbon footprint. The car manufacturer will be opening its first eco-conscious dealership to the public today in Salt Lake City, Utah. The new Mark Miller Toyota facility was built from the ground up with green initiatives in mind and expects to earn a Gold LEED Certification in the coming weeks.
While not using any major technological innovations such as hydrogen fuel cells or solar panels for power, the dealership was designed to conserve energy and water. It was also built with recycled materials, using much of the original building site in it's 're-construction.' Some of the environmentally friendly features include sun-tracking skylights to optimize natural daylight (to cut down on interior light use), low-flow faucets and toilets and waterless urinals, a cistern system to collect and store rainwater and air conditioning condensation for irrigation and for washing cars, and cool-roof system to lower the overall heat that comes off large buildings.
The facility can serve as an example of many of the small ways we can make an impact on global warming--something as simple as leaving light bulbs off for most of the hours of the day can go a long way in carbon savings.
Mark Miller, the dealer principal, said, "It wasn't a cheap proposition, but we think what we've done will have a payback both monetarily and in a reduced impact on the environment. In fact, we expect the facility's design to pay for itself within a decade. As buildings are the number one user of energy in the economy, our design will help reduce our energy use by about a third. We are pleased to help lead the way in Salt Lake City with an energy-efficient and environmental facility."
The dealership has applied and expects to win a Gold LEED certification in coming weeks. LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, a voluntary program designed to promote and validate environmental leadership in the building industry. It is awarded by the U.S. Green Building Council, and is coveted by business owners.
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