PLANO, TX—Not everything is bigger in Texas. The environmental footprint for the Toyota Motor North America's headquarters campus is the exception. In late 2015, Toyota Motor Corporation announced the 2050 Toyota Environmental Challenge, a set of ambitious environmental goals to reach beyond net zero, and create a net positive impact on the planet.

The campus officially achieved LEED Platinum certification from the US Green Building Council. Jonathan Kraatz, executive director, USGBC Texas chapter, recently presented the award to Jim Lentz, Toyota Motor North America president and chief executive officer, at the new campus.

“At Toyota, we have a longstanding commitment to sustainability and preserving our natural resources,” said Lentz. “With the installation of greenspaces, thousands of solar panels, a massive rain water capture system and natural light wells, we have designed our new headquarters to reflect the local habitat and enhance its biodiversity. Recognition as a LEED Platinum facility is a testament of our efforts to become a model for energy efficiency and sustainability, and speaks to our challenge to ourselves to create a net positive impact on the planet by 2050.“

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design/LEED is the most widely used green building rating system in the world.

“We are proud to award LEED Platinum to Toyota, for their thoughtfulness in their campus energy planning and space design as well as the overall net positive impact on the community and environment,” said Kraatz. “Our mission at USGBC has challenged organizations to move faster and reach further than ever before, and Toyota's new Texas campus is a great example of what can be accomplished with the right leadership.”

The 100-acre campus boasts a list of sustainability aspects, from renewable energy to drought-resistant landscaping, including renewable energy, the largest onsite corporate solar installation among non-utility companies in Texas and a 8.79-megawatt solar power system, designed and installed by SunPower Corp. The campus produces up to 33% of its daily electric needs and reduces annual carbon dioxide emissions by 7,198 metric tons. This is enough energy to power 1,200 average US homes for a year.

A flexible energy contract preserves and resells excess power generation back to the grid. This grid energy is offset by Texas wind farm renewable energy credits.

High-efficiency lighting and building envelopes reduce energy usage on campus and the specialized rooftop design is teeming with plant life to manage rainwater, reduce heat and further insulate the buildings.

A state-of-the-art rainwater capture system will provide up to three months of water supply for irrigation use and the cistern water storage has a capacity to hold 400,000 gallons of harvested rain water. This is estimated to save more than 11 million gallons of potable water annually. The excess drain water will be collected and repurposed for sanitary facility use.

More than 99% of construction waste was sorted offsite at North Texas' first construction and demolition waste processing facility and recycled.

The exterior landscaping features drought-tolerant North Texas indigenous plants such as savannah, oaklands and wildflower meadows. The campus landscape also will provide a natural habitat for endangered pollinators and monarch butterflies. Landscaping will be managed without expensive mowing, fertilizers, chemicals or artificial irrigation.

More than 80 mature trees were saved or relocated onsite, including a 100-year-old oak tree. Approximately 1,300 trees were planted on the Toyota site. In addition, the historic wetlands on the northeast corner of the campus were preserved to protect natural habitats.

Professionals who led this project include a host of Dallas-based firms. KDC Real Estate Development and Investments developed and built the campus, architect Corgan Associates designed the campus and Austin Commercial managed the construction.

“We partnered with Toyota to judiciously implement sustainable design and operations including energy conservation and generation, water reclamation and natural vegetation,” Walt Mountford, executive vice president, KDC, tells GlobeSt.com. “One of the results of these efforts was the rare and prestigious attainment of LEED Platinum status, of which we are extremely proud.”

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Bigger is Not Always Better

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