We know that Toyota Motor Co., interested in all things renewable and sustainable, has an agricultural operation in Japan where it grows plants for use in the manufacture of bioplastics. Now comes word that the giant automaker also has developed two new flowering species for the purpose of absorbing nitrogen oxides (NOx) from the atmosphere and lowering the temperature of the grounds surrounding its Prius factory, reducing the energy used to cool the building. The “Toyota flowers” are derivatives of two existing plans – the cherry sage (left) and the gardenia. Richard Blackburn, who tells the tale in Drive.com Australia , says the Toyota sage has leaves that absorb harmful gases such as NOx, while the Toyota gardenia has leaves that produce water vapor, which helps lower the ambient temperature. When planted in large beds surrounding the Prius factory in Toyota City, the gardenias can make enough of a difference that the company can use less energy to run air conditioning to cool the factory. Of course, Toyota already uses solar power for a lot of the plant's energy and has painted the exterior walls with
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Toyota’s Corporate ‘Green’ Effort Flowering at Prius Plant in Toyota City