TEXAS DEALERSHIP FIRST TO BE ‘LEED’ CERTIFIED GREEN

Toyota dealer Lobb at his all-green dealership

February 4, 2007—NADA’s award-winning Energy Star program yesterday hosted a program here recognizing Pat Lobb as the first Leadership of Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) dealer.

The Toyota dealer recently opened 14-acre store, Pat Lobb Toyota in McKinney, Tex., which had been designed from the ground up with environmental standards in mind.

From exterior panels made of recycled aluminum, energy-saving glass, a water cistern to capture rain water and condensation, to a recycling car wash, a special membrane white roof system, and a living green wall, the majority of the 56,123 square-foot dealership’s construction elements were designed to conserve energy and water and incorporate recycled materials. (The architect was Rick Ferrara of Gensler Architecture.)

Kimberly Hosken of the U.S. Green Building Council presented the award to Lobb after an exacting and extensive process that measured success in six environmental categories.

“Opening this new dealership in McKinney is exciting in itself,” Lobb said. “We are also pleased to lead the way with a super-efficient and environmental facility. Our team is already working with our neighbors in McKinney to provide tops in service in this great building. We are thrilled to be part of the community.”

Lobb noted that first he is a businessman and going green was a good business decision. Costs on the project ran about 5 to 7 percent over a traditional building, but payback will be in three- to five-year period, says Lobb.

Another return on investment for the Toyota dealership was in the service department. Lobb said he was able to air-condition the facility to provide better working conditions, thereby attracting better help and in the end a more productive staff, delivering quality work.

All in all, Lobb said, going green puts his dealership in a leadership role with great marketing value and a competitive advantage, and in the end a greater total return on investment.

Toyota officials say that they have another handful of dealers that are showing interest in following Lobb down the environmental path as part of its facility upgrade program.