In 2017, Toyota Motor North America announced that it would build the world’s first megawatt-scale carbonate fuel cell power generation plant, featuring a hydrogen fueling station, to support vehicle processing and distribution center operations for Toyota Logistics Services (TLS) at the Port of Long Beach. Today, the effort is coming to life.
The new TLS Distribution Center is scheduled for completion this year. This innovative 166,500-square-foot facility is dedicated to processing over 200,000 auto imports annually at the Port of Long Beach. Targeting a high level of LEED certification, it incorporates Carbon Neutral, Tri-Generation, Fuel Cell, and Hydrogen strategies.
To support Toyota’s efforts to have the project LEED certified, Groove Jones helped to create an interactive educational experience.
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is the most widely used green building system in the world, and certification means healthier, more productive places for people to live, learn, work, and play, as well as reduced stress on the environment by encouraging energy- and resource-efficient buildings.
Using Interactive WebGL to Educate and Demonstrate
WebGL enables the creation of dynamic experiences that allow virtual visitors to both read information about the subject matter and interact with it, thereby becoming active and engaged participants in the content. To prepare the WebGL experience, the team first recreated the Toyota Logistics Services Distribution Center in Long Beach using 3D software, along with various animated vehicles and other exciting artifacts for users to interact with and explore.
Website URL – https://trigen.groove-tech.com/
Visitors to the site can learn about six specific features that highlight areas needed for LEED Certification:
- Sustainable Sites
- Water Efficiency
- Energy and Atmosphere
- Materials and Resources
- Indoor Environmental Quality
- Innovation and Design
Site users can tap on the individual Point of Interest (POI) hot spots available throughout the location.
When tapped, the camera zooms in on the selected POI, providing more information on that specific topic.
The site is compatible with both mobile and desktop browser devices. This compatibility allows for a scaled experience for a global audience to be able to virtually tour the facility without the need of special plugins or applications.
Toyota is actively engaged in its Toyota Environmental Challenge 2050, a goal of achieving zero tailpipe emissions, a zero-carbon lifecycle for its vehicles, and zero carbon emissions for its facilities by 2050.
In addition to its carbon goals, the company has outlined steps to take in three other key areas as part of its 7th Environmental Action Plan for North America: optimizing and minimizing water use, supporting recycling and a circular economy, and enhancing biodiversity. These areas were used as a guide in the design, construction, and planned operation of the TLSDC Long Beach site.
About LEED Certification
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is the world’s most widely used green building rating system. Available for virtually all building types, LEED provides a framework for healthy, highly efficient, and cost-saving green buildings. LEED certification is a globally recognized symbol of sustainability achievement and leadership.