DEC
2023
Eco-Friendly Tips of the Month
Chuck Golden
Each month, as part of this newsletter, I am going to share with you my ideas that may work for you as you strive to be more Environmentally Sustainable.
The Importance of a Green Team
What Are the Roles of a Green Team at a Subaru Retailer?

A Green Team at a Subaru retailer plays a crucial role in promoting environmental sustainability and responsible business practices. Their primary focus is to reduce the facility's environmental impact and enhance its commitment to sustainability. Here are the key roles and responsibilities of a Green Team at a Subaru retail facility:

1. Environmental Auditing: Conduct regular environmental audits to assess the facility's impact on the environment. This includes reviewing energy and water usage, waste management practices, and emissions.
2. Sustainability Initiatives: Develop and recommend sustainability initiatives, such as energy-efficient lighting, HVAC systems, and water-saving technologies to reduce the facility's carbon footprint.
3. Waste Management: Establish and enforce waste reduction and recycling programs to minimize landfill waste. Encourage staff and customers to participate in recycling efforts.
4. Green Procurement: Identify and source environmentally-friendly products and materials, from office supplies to vehicle maintenance equipment. Prioritize products with reduced environmental impact.
5. Energy Efficiency: Promote energy-efficient practices, such as turning off lights and equipment when not in use, and recommending upgrading to energy-efficient appliances and vehicles in the retailer's fleet.
6. Vehicle Selection: Encourage the sale of fuel-efficient and low-emission vehicles. This includes promoting electric and hybrid vehicles to customers.
7. Education and Training: Educate employees about sustainable practices and provide training on how to minimize their environmental impact. This can include energy and water usage and waste management.
8. Customer Engagement: Engage with customers to promote eco-friendly vehicle choices and provide information on the retailer's sustainability efforts.
9. Community Outreach: Collaborate with local organizations, schools, and environmental groups to participate in community sustainability events and projects. This enhances the retailer's reputation and reinforces community involvement.
10. Monitoring and Reporting: Regularly monitor and report on the facility's environmental performance. This includes tracking energy and resource consumption, waste diversion rates, and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.
11. Compliance: Ensure that the retail facility complies with all relevant environmental regulations and standards, and work to exceed minimum requirements.
12. Green Marketing: Develop marketing and promotional materials that highlight the retailer's commitment to sustainability. This can help attract environmentally-conscious customers.
13. Cost Savings: Identify opportunities for cost savings through sustainable practices, such as reducing energy consumption or waste disposal costs.
14. Continuous Improvement: Continuously assess and improve the retailer's sustainability initiatives by setting goals and measuring progress.
15. Employee Engagement: Foster a culture of environmental responsibility among employees and encourage them to contribute to sustainable practices in their daily work.
16. Green Team Membership: Include a broad spectrum of retail facility employees, from various departments, in your Green Team. This diversity can provide a broader range of opinions and ideas to be considered/implemented.
The Green Team at a Subaru retailer plays a pivotal role in aligning the business with environmental best practices, meeting customer demands for eco-friendly options, and reducing long-term operational costs through sustainable measures.

We hope that you have found these thought-starters useful. We want to learn what your retail facility is doing to become more environmentally sustainable when it comes to maximizing the effectiveness of a Green Team. Be sure to include pictures whenever possible. Please reply to this e-mail with your information.
Van Bortel Subaru and
Employee Eco-Friendly Workshop
Members of the Van Bortel Subaru Green Team,
left to right:
Alex Miltsch, John Moon, Ruth Perrin, Kitty Van Bortel, Caleb Stratton, Dylan Palermo
Van Bortel Subaru, of both Rochester, NY, and Victor, NY, knows the value of earning the status of Certified Eco-Friendly Retailer. And they have ensured that their employees are aware of the importance of such a certification! Van Bortel recently held an eco-friendly workshop to promote awareness among the employees at both retailer locations. Ruth Perrin, Green Team Leader, stresses five main points (see below) in a video you can watch here on Facebook or here on Instagram.

  1. Energy Efficiency
  2. Water Conservation
  3. Recycling
  4. Waste Management
  5. Community Involvement

Van Bortel Subaru also reinforces "What It Means to be a Certified Eco-Friendly Retailer" with this video on their Facebook page.

Van Bortel Subaru obviously is forward-thinking in making a positive impact on the environment and creating a greener, cleaner world for now and into the future. Think about following their lead in promoting a sustainable lifestyle and making your mark to help rid our planet of waste and pollution. Thanks, Van Bortel Subaru, for being such a positive and informative force -- not only in your own place of business, but also in your community!
Holmgren Subaru of North Franklin, CT, recently participated in the Connecticut Cleanup. This was the seventh annual event, under the auspices of Save the Sound. 2023 results are not yet available, and the graphic above indicates results (which are quite impressive) through 2022. Holmgren employee volunteers traveled to Esker Point Beach in Groton, CT, 30 minutes away, to lend a hand to help protect the environment and to preserve natural resources for future generations. Thanks, Holmgren Subaru, for your participation (and for sending pictures) and to all Connecticut Subaru Eco-Friendly Retailers who participated in this worthwhile event!
“Subaru of New England and our CT Retailers are honored to continue our annual support of Save the Sound’s Connecticut Cleanup,” says Jeffrey Ruble, Chief Operating Officer of Subaru of New England. “We pride ourselves on being more than a car company, and more than car dealers. Protecting and preserving the environment is at the core of the Subaru Love Promise, and witnessing the impact of this event makes us proud to aid in the efforts. We look forward to celebrating Save the Sound’s incredible successes.”  
How green will you be in 2023? Many of you let us know last year what you did to promote and celebrate Earth Day in your retailer location. Let us know what actions you took for Earth Day 2023 by replying to this e-mail. We look forward to hearing about your endeavors.
Green Dealer Support neither endorses nor promotes any particular product or company. We are merely offering an example of what is available, should you decide to move forward with any information you read about in this newsletter.
Who's Certified?
Click below to see the full list of 245 certified retailers.
Chuck Golden
Green Dealer Support
517.719.0355