Tactical Ideas for Running a Green Dealership
Monday, May 5th, 2008Hello. I work in the car business and Im an environmentalist. I hope you are too. Or, maybe you’re just a dealer who wants to save some money. If so, read on!
This blog is called the "Clean Ops Blog" because its about running "clean" operations in the dealership. You may have heard about "clean tech" the buzz term used to describe all the environmentally sustainable technologies that are being developed these days. Thus, the "Clean Ops Blog" is about utilizing clean tech and clean, green practices in the dealership.
Lets face it: The auto industry has been wearing a stain on the front of its shirt for a quite a while now that says: Big O’Polluter or worse - Passer of Greenhouse Gas. And as someone who works in the car business, I have to say I’m getting a little sick of my old environmental studies major friends from college giving me snide looks when they ask me what I’m doing these days. Frankly, I’m sick of the dirty looks. If you drive a car, you pass greenhouse gas too, so stop pointing fingers.
Yet, those of us who work in automotive are in the optimal position to lead this industry away from outdated business practices and processes and into sustainability. If automotive sets the example other industries will fall into line.
Solutions will need to take place in virtually every aspect of our business lives because environmental health is holistic,it’s about keeping a whole system healthy, not just parts of it.
Going Green in Both Product and Practice
As my friend Jeremy Walker, a clean tech consultant says, "We need to go green in both product and practice." For dealers, increasingly, this is going to mean selling vehicles that are more fuel-efficient and less polluting. Advancing the development of these vehicles is going to depend on a strong marriage of government policies, consumer initiative, and innovation on the part of technologists, entrepreneurs, and the OEMs. Dealers have always said: Produce a great product and we will sell it.
As automotive technologies improve (let’s hope more of it happens in the U.S. yes, I’m a patriot), dealers can focus on improving other parts of the automotive ecosystem. And that’s what this blog is about: how to operate a green, environmentally sustainable dealership, and doing it in a way that addresses all the compelling reasons why:
1. You can save money.
2. Its healthy for your staff, your community, and the planet.
3. Its great PR/bragging rights - because you’re doing something good.
In upcoming Clean Ops Blog entries, look for:
- Examples of dealerships that are defining what it means to run an environmentally sustainable dealership
- How to market the fact that you’re running a clean, green dealership
- Conversations with professionals from a variety of fields, including the OEMs, progressive dealers, and environmental consulting groups that are helping dealers "go green"
- Links to resources that make it easy for your dealership to save money and become more environmentally sustainable.
Here are some great resources to start:
NADA has a joint program with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy called ENERGY STAR for Auto Dealers - to help dealers save money and protect the environment through energy efficient products and practice
According to NADA, auto dealerships use, on average, more energy per square foot than a typical office building. However, cost effective opportunities exist for significant reductions in the energy used for lighting, HVAC, and other services, while still maintaining lighting quality, safety, and a great customer experience at the dealership.
Here’s more information on this program:
http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=small_business.sb_autodealer
Here are a few stories on dealerships that implemented green building programs and saved money:
AutoExec
Lean, Mean, and Green
Fourteen ways to help you cut energy costs.
http://www.autoexecmag.com/archives/articles/feature_jul06_01.html
NADA.org
Dealers Reap Cost Savings of Energy Efficiency
http://www.nada.org/energystar/Cover+feature+6-11-07.htm
Dallas Morning News
Toyota Turns Eco-Friendly
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/bus/stories/102206dnbusgreentoyota.3184a5d.html
MotorTrend
Chrysler Dealer Becomes First in the Nation to Achieve Esteemed Environmental Award
http://www.motortrend.com/features/newswire/91/29863/
Look for more on this hot topic soon. And we welcome your questions and ideas on this topic!