Toyota Announces 'Green' Caldwell Toyota Dealership

CONWAY, Ark., Sept. 25, 2008 - Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc. announces that Caldwell Toyota-Scion completed an eco dealership in Conway, Arkansas. Caldwell Toyota joins the expanding list of Toyota eco dealerships throughout the USA. The new dealership is the first retail building in Arkansas to seek LEED(R) certification. It was constructed using Leadership of Energy and Environmental Design certification guidelines.

Jay Caldwell, dealership general manager, said the new facility, located at 1355 Exchange Ave., was designed from the ground up to maximize all environmentally sensitive possibilities.

Caldwell is also hosting several events for environmental organizations and Conway business and community leaders this month. Also, the dealership will conduct consumer tours of the environmental features of the dealership. The dealer worked with the University of Central Arkansas to develop a special eco dealership educational plan for the dealership. This program educates the public about the recycled materials used to construct the dealership and educates the public on how they can be "green" in their everyday life.

The "green" features of the new dealership include:

-- Waterless urinals that each save approximately 40,000 gallons of water per year.

-- A runoff collection system that collects roof runoff and air conditioner condensation in an 8,600-gallon cistern for landscape irrigation.

-- A carwash recycle system that reclaims water from the automatic carwash that recycles 80 to 90 percent of the water used to wash a car.

-- Carwash reverse osmosis that rinses each vehicle with "spot free" water, which reduces the amount of water that is left on each vehicle to evaporate or drip off. This saves two to three gallons of water per wash and also removes the necessity of using 45 hp blowers to dry each vehicle, saving an amazing amount of energy (and noise).

-- Light controls that have occupancy sensors (turning off lights in areas with no activity after a specified period of time).

"The construction included extensive use of recycled and rapidly renewable materials, such as carpet made from corn with backing derived from auto glass," Caldwell said. "Seventy-five percent of construction waste was diverted from disposal and was separated into recycled waste containers."

He said low-emitting materials including sealants, adhesives, paints, and composite wood were also used. The architect for the dealership was Black Corley Owens & Hughes PA. The construction company was Kinco, Inc. Constructors.

Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc., Retail Development Manager, George Irving stated, "Caldwell Toyota is the first non metropolitan dealership to build a 'Green' dealership. We expect many Toyota dealers throughout the USA to follow Caldwell's lead."

Two Toyota dealerships have become the first in the country to receive certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) under its Leadership in Energy and Environment Design (LEED) program. Pat Lobb Toyota in McKinney, Texas was the first LEED certified dealership, earning Silver LEED certification in August 2006. Toyota of Rockwall, Texas was the first Gold LEED certified dealership, opening in April 2008. In addition to Caldwell Toyota, Mark Miller Toyota in Salt Lake City, UT; Kendall Toyota in Eugene, OR; and Jerry Durant Toyota in Granbury, Texas have completed construction and are under going the LEED certification process.

The Leadership in Energy and Environment Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System(TM) is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high performance green buildings. To receive LEED certification, green buildings are evaluated in six categories: sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality, and innovation and design process. Caldwell Toyota-Scion is registered with the United States Green Building Council.