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OCT
2020
Carter Subaru Plants Forest One Test Drive at a Time
Carter Subaru is offsetting its customers’ carbon footprints with each test drive and planting a forest in the Mountains to Sound Greenway — an iconic 1.5 million acres of connected natural lands in and around the Seattle area. 

For every test drive at Carter Subaru, Carter Subaru Ballard, and two additional Carter Motors dealerships, one native tree is planted. For every car sold by Carter, three more trees are planted, for a total of four.

Why four trees? Because four trees that live a lifespan of about 75 years will absorb the approximate amount of carbon dioxide produced by the average car each year.
New Solar Installation at Green Dealer Support Headquarters

As the name suggests, Green Dealer Support (GDS) exists to help auto dealerships go green. As we encourage dealers to implement eco-friendly business practices, we also strive to embrace them.

Like many of the dealers we work with, we have considered the installation of solar panels and have been motivated by what the car dealers we serve have done. “We see retailers all over the country who have invested in solar to reduce or eliminate their energy bills,” said GDS CEO Chuck Golden. “It is a solid plan for the future as energy costs are predicted to rise each year.”

“I’ve been thinking of adding solar for about 10 years,” Golden continued. “Efficiency has really improved. Panels get better every year. I finally decided it was time.”

A solar installation was installed at GDS headquarters this summer. The 23-kW ground-mount system consists of 72 panels. It’s expected to produce more than 30,000 kWh of electricity annually, which Golden says is 99% of the expected usage.

"At our headquarters we also use geothermal for heating and AC needs," adds Golden. "So with geothermal and the new solar panels, essentially all energy needs at our headquarters are provided by the sun."

Golden says he should recoup the system’s upfront cost in about seven years. He was able to take advantage of federal tax credits.
Solar Highlights
Did you know 100% of Subaru signage is produced with renewable energy, thanks to Philadelphia Sign’s solar panels?
Solar panels on top of Tom Wood Subaru's solar powered-EV carport power the charging station and run fans in the service drive and shop area.
Reynolds' Subaru received its Eco-Friendly trophy on Earth Day 2019. In that month alone, its 256 rooftop solar panels saved them 7,757 pounds of Co2 emissions, the equivalent of planting 195 trees.
Solar Resources
Congratulations to retailers who have solar installations. Many additional stores tell us they are thinking about solar as a solution to controlling costs. If you’re thinking of adding solar, get started with the resource list below.
Solar Lingo
Inverter. Kilowatt-hour (kWh). Stand-off mounting. Peak demand. Whew! Navigate the world of terms related to electricity, power generation, and solar energy with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Energy Glossary.
Net Metering
Curious what happens if you produce more electricity than you need at the time? Learn about credits you can earn through net metering.
State Incentives
Curious about solar incentives available in your state? Check out DSIRE (Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency).
Federal Tax Credit
This guide, published by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, gives an overview of the federal investment tax credit for commercial solar photovoltaics. Use it as a starting point to understand the program, but please seek professional tax advice before purchasing a new solar installation.
National Parks Initiative Eliminates 16 Million Pounds of Waste from Landfills
In the five years since the Don't Feel the Landfills Initiative launched, 16 million pounds of waste have been diverted from landfills at three iconic national parks — Denali, Grand Teton, and Yosemite.

The initiative is a partnership between Subaru of America, the National Parks Conservation Association, and the National Park Foundation. Read more about its progress here. Learn to apply these waste reduction strategies at your store in our spotlight on Denise Coogan, SOA's lead on the national parks project.
Who's Certified?
There are 207 Eco-Friendly Retailers. Click below to see the full list.
Chuck Golden
Green Dealer Support
517.719.0355