Lexus Florida Training Center Becomes First LEED Certified Technical Training Facility In Florida And For Lexus

Gold LEED Certification Awarded to Sustainable and Environmentally-Advanced Facility

TORRANCE, Calif., Aug. 14 -- Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. (TMS) announced that the Lexus Florida Training Center in Miramar, Fla. has been awarded Gold Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Commercial Interiors (CI) Certification, becoming the first LEED CI Certified service training facility for Lexus and the first in Florida. LEED CI certification is awarded by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) to commercial interiors projects across the country meeting stringent standards for eco-sensitive building.

Through Toyota's Process Green initiative, the Lexus Florida Training Center incorporated sustainable building design features and employed innovative environmental practices to achieve the Gold LEED Certification. The sustainability-designed facility contains elements which capture energy and water efficiency; the recycling of materials and reduction of waste; and the enhancement of indoor environmental quality. Construction to achieve LEED Certification began in April 2008 and was completed in August 2008. Once the facility was complete, the extensive review process by USGB was finalized and the Lexus Florida Training Center was notified of their Gold LEED Certification in April 2009.

"Achieving Gold LEED Certification is an outstanding example of strong teamwork and our commitment to creating a healthy and environmentally-advanced environment for our employees," said Al Smith, vice president, customer services at Lexus. "We are proud to be the first such Lexus facility and hope to set an example for other training facilities in building environmental awareness and the benefits of incorporating sustainable practices."

The USGBC is a non-profit organization committed to expanding sustainable building practices. It provides various levels of LEED certification based on evaluations in areas encompassing sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.

To meet Gold Certification standards, the Lexus Florida Training Center features the following environmental elements:

  --  Stormwater management system to collect runoff water, incorporating
      retention ponds adjacent to the parking lot
  --  Water efficiency through waterless urinals, dual flush valve toilets
      and sensor controlled faucets, all of which significantly reduces the
      amount of wasted water within the facility
  --  Efficient light fixtures with occupancy controls to help reduce energy
      consumption and utility costs, as well as the use of effective HVAC
      units with automated controls and EnergyStar rated equipment
  --  Installed materials and products - furniture included--containing more
      than 20% recycled content, with materials such as gypsum (drywall)
      extracted regionally to reduce the energy required to transport them
      to the site

  --  Low emitting adhesives, sealants, paints, carpet, ceiling tiles and
      furniture fabrics were used to create a healthy atmosphere

Beyond these sustainable design elements, the facility has implemented policies and programs to further create a healthy environment. The center utilizes Green Housekeeping practices by using Green Seal Certified products that do not contain harmful chemicals, and are bought in bulk to reduce wasteful packaging. Other new practices include the purchase of 100 percent of the electricity for the first two years of operation from renewable sources; a comprehensive, site specific waste reduction/recycling program; and a "Green Pest Control" system to care for the facility.

In addition to the Lexus Florida Training Center, Toyota has three additional LEED certified buildings -- TMS Headquarters South Campus and Toyota Logistic Services Portland, Ore. are LEED New Construction (NC) Gold certified; and Toyota Motor America, Washington, D.C. is LEED CI Silver certified. Toyota has three of the first LEED certified dealers in the U.S. Pat Lobb Toyota in McKinney, Texas was the first LEED certified dealership in the country, earning Silver certification in August 2006. Toyota of Rockwall, Texas was the first Gold LEED certified dealership, opening in April 2008, and most recently, Mark Miller Toyota in Salt Lake City, Utah earned gold LEED certification in March 2009.

About Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc. is the marketing, sales, distribution and customer service arm of Toyota, Lexus and Scion. Established in 1957, TMS markets products and services through a network of more than 1,400 Toyota, Lexus and Scion dealers. Toyota directly employs more than 34,000 people in the U.S. and sold more than 2.2 million vehicles in 2008.

For more information about Toyota, visit www.toyota.com, www.lexus.com, www.scion.com or www.toyotanewsroom.com.

  CONTACTS:  Toyota Environmental Communications

                  Jana Hartline   (310) 468-7977
                  Amy K. Taylor   (310) 468-6237