Maintenance Firm Goes Green and Saves Green With Switch to Hybrid Cars

BAY SHORE, N.Y., Sept. 5 -- Laro Service Systems, Inc., a multi-services conglomerate located here, is switching its fleet of executive vehicles from gas-guzzling luxury cars and SUVs to Toyota Prius gas- electric hybrids. The move will eventually save them as much as $12,000 a month in fuel costs while reducing CO2 and other emissions.

"The fuel-efficient Prius Hybrids will not only save us money at the gas pump," says Laro vice president Robert Bertuglia III, "But they also reduce smog-forming emissions by 70 percent compared to conventional cars. And using less gas automatically cuts CO2 production, which has been linked to global warming."

Laro has already purchased a dozen Prius Hybrids from Atlantic Toyota- Scion in nearby Amityville, Long Island, and has 12 more on order. Bertuglia calculates that each of the hybrid sedans will save the company $400 to $500 a month in fuel costs, compared to the Mercedes-Benz and other luxury models employees formerly drove. That could add up to an annual savings of more than $144,000.

"We will continue to look for other 'green' opportunities that make economic sense," adds Bertuglia, "and stand to improve not only our profitability and image, but make us a good corporate citizen and neighbor."

About Laro:

Laro Service Systems, Inc. is a 30-year-old family-owned business consisting of three companies that perform janitorial, landscaping and mechanical services, including air-conditioning and energy systems. Its annual sales volume is $65 million.

About Toyota:

Toyota established operations in North America in 1957 and currently produces 11 vehicles in here, including the Avalon, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Corolla, Matrix, Sienna, Solara, Sequoia, Tacoma, Tundra and the Lexus RX 350. By 2010, Toyota will have the annual capacity to build approximately 2.2 million cars and trucks, 1.45 million engines and 600,000 automatic transmissions in its 15 North American manufacturing plants. For more information about Toyota, visit www.toyota.com.