Toyota of El Cajon Achieves LEED Certification for Its Two New Eco-Friendly Facilities

El Cajon, CA, October 25, 2010 --(PR.com)-- Toyota of El Cajon today announced that its Toyota of El Cajon and Toyota Certified Center of Santee facilities have both achieved Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. Construction at the two facilities was completed at the end of last year. The LEED Green Building Rating System, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, provides a suite of standards to measure the utilization of environmentally friendly building practices during construction. This system provides independent, third-party verification that a building project meets the highest measures of green building and performance.

Toyota of El Cajon, which received a Silver rating, is the first eco-friendly auto dealership in San Diego. Located at Arnele and Marshall, it also has the honor of being the first building in El Cajon to obtain LEED certification according to the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI) database (http://www.gbci.org/main-nav/building-certification/leed-project-directory.aspx). Toyota Certified Center of Santee achieved a Gold rating for its Fanita Drive facility which added pre-owned vehicles sales as part of its expansion. And according to the GBCI database, it is the first building in Santee to hold the LEED distinction.

“This certification is evidence that we aren’t just saying we’re green, we are truly committed to being environmentally conscious,” said Gary Kaminsky, general manager of Toyota of El Cajon and Toyota Certified Center of Santee. "We think it’s an important part of being a good neighbor and global citizen. An added bonus is that going green at our facilities means saving green for our customers. We’ve lowered our on-going operational costs with our energy and water efficient fixtures, and those savings are reflected in the competitive pricing we can offer our customers.”

Ecological Environments acted as the sustainability consultants on this project. “We could not have reached to Silver and Gold ratings through our vision alone,” said Brooke Bogart, Principal, Ecological Environments. “The on-going commitment of the architect, Studio IV, and the contractor, Starrett Construction was instrumental to our successful certification. And of course, the Kaminskys vision, dedication, and financing permitted the exciting project to become a reality!”

About Toyota Certified Center of Santee
Originally opened as a satellite facility to provide more convenient access to services for Toyota of El Cajon guests who reside or work in Santee and surrounding areas, Toyota Certified Center of Santee has built a reputation all its own. The center can service any make and model vehicle, and employs a skilled service and repair team. The center’s recent expansion includes the addition of pre-owned vehicle sales.

About Toyota of El Cajon
Founded in 1990, Toyota of El Cajon is a family-owned, full-service auto dealership. Operating with a strong commitment to family values and delivering the best guest experience has garnered the dealership numerous awards including Toyota’s acknowledgement of the dealership’s achievements in Sales, Service and Guest Satisfaction and the Better Business Bureau’s Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics. Toyota of El Cajon actively supports community organizations and charities. As one of the last truly family-owned dealerships in San Diego, the Kaminskys sincerely believe that its foundation in family values will drive its continued success.

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