First Green Toyota Dealership in Western U.S. Opens

Mark Miller Toyota will celebrate its grand opening today in Salt Lake City, Utah, as the first green dealership in the western U.S. The dealership expects to earn a Gold LEED Certification soon.

“Building [the new dealership] 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,” said Mark Miller, dealer principal. “In fact, we expect the facility’s design to pay for itself within a decade.”

Built to maximize local and recycled materials, the facility is made up of much of the original building on the site, as well as elements which conserve energy and water. Some of the highlights of the new dealership are:

• Recycled materials used in tile, carpeting, wood paneling and cubicles (such as recycled windshield glass used as carpet backing)
• Self-sustaining landscaping that requires minimal additional watering
• A cistern system to collect and store rainwater and air conditioning condensation for irrigation and washing cars
• Sun-tracking skylights to optimize natural daylight use and lower interior light use

Five additional Toyota dealerships in the country have received, or are in the process of attaining, LEED certification. Three other dealerships are under construction that will also seek LEED certification upon completion.