First automotive dealership in Canada to earn LEED Gold Certification opens in Stratford, Ontario

Registered with the Canada Green Building Council, the Stratford Toyota facility is the first automotive dealership in the country to achieve Gold Certification in the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System. In recognition of their LEED Certification achievement, Stratford Toyota will be presented with a commemorative plaque from Toyota Canada’s Chief Environmental Officer and Managing Director, Stephen Beatty, during their grand opening celebration in recognition of their achievement – setting a new benchmark for automotive dealerships across Canada.

The brand new, $4 million dollar state-of-the-art Toyota dealership at 925 Erie Street in Stratford, Ontario, goes above and beyond to exceed customer expectations, while at the same time reducing its environmental footprint. In addition to being the first Toyota dealership in Canada to achieve LEED Certification, it is also the first building in the community of Stratford to receive this distinction.

Among many other efforts, Stratford Toyota took the following steps to meet the strict LEED Gold Certification criteria:

    –  Over 28 per cent of the materials used in the construction of the facility

       were of a recycled nature;

    –  Diverted over 97 per cent of all construction waste (over 100 metric tonnes)

       from landfill;

    –  Energy conservation technologies were incorporated into the facility

       design resulting in a reduction of energy consumption by 37 per cent compared

       to a typical building of the same size. These technologies include

       energy efficient lighting in combination with natural lighting, in-

       floor heating and highly insulated wall panels to retain heat.

    –  Integrated an 8,000 litre storm water cistern recapturing system,

       which reduces potable city water use by more than 99 per cent;

    –  Total water use has been reduced by over 84 per cent through the latest in

       water efficiency approaches such as the use of low flow toilets and

       drought resistant landscaping

    –  Installation of a Thermoplastic Polyolefin (TPO) roof (white vinyl

       type material) repels the suns rays in the summer months and serves to

       insulate the building during winter months.

Stratford Toyota, a 26,100 square foot facility which opened to the public in early 2010, is expected to employ 18 staff members. They are committed to providing excellent customer service in new and used vehicle sales, as well as parts and service operations. The new dealership offers its customers a convenient and comfortable experience featuring four vehicle service drive-thru bays, which are also a part of the open concept showroom and service reception area.

As Toyota strives to lead a transition to sustainable mobility, vehicles such as the Prius Plug-in Hybrid – on display as part of Stratford Toyota’s grand opening celebration – will play an important role. But beyond sustainable mobility alone, Toyota also recognizes the need to achieve harmony between industry and the environment – Canadian Toyota dealerships like Stratford Toyota are part of these efforts. Toyota Canada has also achieved ISO 14001 certification across facilities operating in Canada, diverting 91 per cent of waste from landfill at their head office facility. Toyota Canada has also partnered with like-minded organizations such as Earth Day Canada and Evergreen to advance corporate green initiatives. In addition, Toyota customers will find environmentally responsible Toyota Touch detailing products and services at participating dealerships and a hybrid battery disposal program.

“We’re proud to join the community of Stratford, and to do so while meeting LEED Gold Certification requirements is a great accomplishment for us,” says John Strickland, Dealer Principal of Stratford Toyota. “Environmental leadership is a key pillar of Toyota’s philosophy, and Stratford Toyota is committed to contributing to a better future for our customers.”

“At Toyota, commitment to the environment is an integral part of our DNA, and the driving force behind our sustainable mobility initiatives and corporate and dealership operations nationwide,” said Stephen Beatty, Managing Director and Chief Environmental Officer at Toyota Canada. “As the first Canadian automotive dealership ever awarded LEED Gold Certification, and the first LEED Certified Toyota dealership in Canada, we congratulate Stratford Toyota on their achievements and wish them every success within the community.”