Honda Green Dealer Program Promotes Energy Savings

It makes sense that an automaker known for producing fuel efficient, eco-friendly vehicles would have a program to help its dealers operate with similar energy efficiency. That’s exactly the idea of the Honda-Acura Green Dealer Program.

Since it launched in 2012, the program has saved dealerships more than $7.5 million in energy costs, not to mention the CO2 reduction, and other green practices, including water saving and waste reduction.

Hundreds of dealers nationwide participate, including AutoNation group, and three dealers have been recognized with “electric grid neutral” distinction. These dealers produce as much or more energy from renewable energy sources than they consume from their local electric utilities over a one-year measurement period. That trio is Brandfon Honda in Branford, Conn., Eastern Equipment in Derry, N.H. and Rossi Honda in Vineland, N.J.,

“On an annual basis, the Honda Green Dealer Program is helping to reduce dealership CO2 emissions by approximately 19,000 metric tons. That’s equivalent to 2,800 homes worth of electricity use each year,” said Steve Center, Honda’s VP of Connected and Environmental Business Development. “As our dealers have demonstrated, reducing energy and water use are achievable goals that can save money, address climate change and inspire others to make a difference for the future of our planet.”

The program awards participating dealers at three levels of achievement based on an independent evaluation of dealership performance in the areas of energy and water efficiency, waste reduction, site attributes, and other sustainable best practices.

More than 150 Honda dealers across all product lines, including automobile and power equipment, have received the Honda Environmental Leadership Award, earning Silver, Gold or top-level Platinum designations. These dealers have collectively reduced CO2 emissions by more than 34,000 metric tons.

Honda’s Green Dealer Guide provides a step-by-step blueprint to implement environmental systems and technologies to reduce carbon and water use, including

• Track waste and recycling
• Innovative approaches to reduce environmental impact
• Greenhouse gas emission and energy reduction calculation methods
• Higher energy efficiency standards for lighting and heating and cooling systems
• Emphasis on water use reductions through efficient water fixtures, use of recycled water, and other conservation measures
• Construction waste diversion for new builds

Honda is targeting a 50 percent reduction in its total company CO2 emissions on a global basis by 2050, compared to 2000 levels.

Part of that plan is to increase production and sales of electric and alternative fuel vehicles, including with the hydrogen-powered Clarity Fuel Cell vehicle launched in 2016, followed by a new Clarity Electric (shown above) and Clarity Plug-In Hybrid in 2017.

Honda also is endeavoring to reduce the environmental impact of its products throughout their life cycles, including the reduction of energy use and emissions from its production, distribution and sales, also reducing the amount of waste that gores to landfills..