Clean Ops Blog

For those of you who are not attending the J.D. Power Roundtable or Digital Dealer conference, considering checking out the Clean Tech Open’s (CTO) Transportation Symposium on the UCLA Campus on October 9th.

The CTO is an organization of leading entrepreneurs, academics, investors and companies, working together to accelerate the development of clean technology startups. It provides resources, education and support for clean tech entrepreneurs, of which its annual business plan competition is the foundation.

Transportation is one of the prize categories of the competition, and has attracted a mind boggling array of ideas and innovative technologies. Anyone working in automotive who wants a glimpse into the future of our industry should take note. Winners will be announced in November.

Visit www.cleantechopen.com and read below for more details.

Clean Tech Open Transportation Symposium

Traffic congestion, air pollution and rising fuel costs are strong drivers for our modes of transportation. What technologies are emerging to address these issues? How are savvy entrepreneurs and investors taking advantage of the massive market for transportation?

Come listen to the expert panel address applications of clean technologies and innovative business models for transportation issues. Hear from two local entrepreneurs working for mass transportation solutions. Get the perspective from local government on successful programs and incentives to implement clean technologies. Learn from investment and marketing experts on how to take these technologies to market and deploy them at scale.

Proterra’s brand new Hybrid-Electric Bus will also be on display. As with all Clean Tech Open events, join us for food and drinks, and plenty of networking opportunities.

When:
October 9, 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM

Location:
UCLA Campus, Tom Bradley International Hall
Los Angeles

Program:
Welcome and Keynote:

Introductory Remarks
Keynote Address: Paul M. Williamsen, National Manager, Lexus College, University of Toyota

Panel:

Jack Rosebro, Green Car Congress (Moderator)
Sean Arian, Director of Economic Development Strategy, Office of Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa
Josh Bigelow, CEO, Syncromatics (2007 CTO Transportation Winner)
Kimberly Gardiner, Toyota Motor Sales
Dale Hill, CEO, Proterra
Robb McLarty, Associate, NGEN

There will be a poster session from Clean Tech Open Transportation Alumni and current contestants, and time for networking.

Who Should Attend and Why:

    * Industry professionals seeking the newest ideas in transportation clean tech
    * Entrants of the Clean Tech Open’s 2008 California Competition to pitch their business ideas
    * Entrepreneurs and potential entrepreneurs interested in applying their skills at new ventures
    * Angel investors and VCs looking at startups at a formative stage
    * Researchers and engineers interested in discussing transportation technologies

The goal of these events is to accelerate the creation and growth of clean tech businesses by building a vibrant clean tech ecosystem through networking and the sharing of ideas.

Registration Fees           Online     At Door
General Admission             $20      $30
Students                            Free     Free
Members of Paid Teams    Free     Free

Click Here to RSVP Now

Sponsors:
This event is sponsored by Lexus.
Venue generously provided with the support of the UCLA Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research.
 

Technorati Tags: clean tech, clean tech cars, electric cars, green cars, green transportation, sustainable automotive

Be sure to check out the Automotive News Green Car Conference and Exhibition Center on Thursday, November 13, 2008 at the Diamond Center at Rock Financial Showplace in Novi, Michigan.

Get more detailed information here:
http://www.autonews.com/Assets/html/08_angc/

Phone: (313) 446-0485
Email: green@autonews.com

Technorati Tags: green car conference, November 2008

Hello. 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!

Technorati Tags: dealership clean operations, eco-friendly automotive industry, running green dealerships