Clean Ops Blog

General Motors’ LEED-Gold Certified plant in Lansing, Michigan

For all the flack GM has taken in the marketplace for its gas guzzling vehicles, I have to hand it to them for stepping up to the plate with some solid green initiatives, from focusing on more fuel efficient and less polluting vehicles to their green building programs. As a manufacturer, GM gets double points for being green in both product and practice:

1. Making their products more environmentally friendly, and
2. Making the actual production process of their products more environmentally friendly. 

According to Kimberly Hosken of the U.S. Green Building Council, buildings in the United States consume 40% of our energy. This is why green building initiatives are a cornerstone of today’s clean technology movement.

GM actually built the first LEED-Gold Certified auto manufacturing facility, in Lansing, Michigan, which was the first its kind, not to mention the largest and most complex manufacturing site, to ever receive this level of LEED certification.

Worth viewing, for both information and inspiration, are GM’s promotional videos on their green initiatives:

http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid824493250

The press release – “GM Opens First-Ever LEED-Gold Certified Automobile Manufacturing Facility” - can be found here:

http://www.gm.com/corporate/responsibility/environment/news/2006/leed-cert_080406.jsp

Despite of the economic doom and gloom littering the media these days, this puts wind in my sails.

Ford, what they hay???

Technorati Tags: clean tech cars, energy savings, environmentally-friendly, Green Building, green dealerships, green manufacturing, green tax savings

• LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environment Design. 

• They are the highly welcomed third party company that sets the standard for the design, construction, and operations of green buildings. 

• They also provide resources to building owners and operators for them to be able to equip their buildings to immediately impact performance.

• LEED certification is based on how environmentally friendly and profitable a building is and whether it is a healthy place to live and work. 

Technorati Tags: Green Building, green dealerships, Leed Certification, LEED certified dealership

Technorati Tags: dealership tips, water recycling, water rights

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

How many times do employees in your store stumble in through the front doors and head straight to the coffee machine first thing in the morning?  That’s not specific to just the car business.  Ever thought about the cup that you’re pouring the coffee into?  Probably not, since there most likely isn’t much thought at that time of the morning to begin with.  The most common and stereotypical coffee cup is polystyrene, or Styrofoam. 

As you’re sipping your coffee, let me explain:  A single Styrofoam cup contains one billion billion molecules of CFC’s—that 1,000,000,000,000,000,000.  Not sure what CFCs are, but know they are bad?  You’re not alone.  CFC is short for chlorofluorocarbon (thank goodness for abbreviations!).  Basically, they are nontoxic materials that become detrimental when released into the atmosphere, where they break down the ozone layer.  The particular part of the ozone layer that these CFCs deplete is what generally protects the Earth from the harmful effects of the sun’s ultraviolet radiation.  It doesn’t take much of a depletion to increase the risk of skin cancer in humans and other genetic damage for many organisms. 

Scary, right?  Well, there’s more.  One CFC molecule takes over 100 years before in becomes harmless.  100 years!  And as long as Americans average tossing 25 billion Styrofoam coffee cups every year, it won’t get any better. 

So once you’ve had your cup of coffee and can see clearly your surroundings, make an effort to put recycled paper cups on your inventory, so the next time you’re too tired too think and you reach for that coffee, you don’t have to feel guilty about the ozone layer.  That’s the last think I need to worry about when I wake up in the morning.

And if you don’t care enough to make a change, do yourself a favor and buy some sunscreen.

Technorati Tags: CFCs, dealership green tips, Stryofoam

Technorati Tags: balloons, car dealership, sea animals

With Green Living serving as the hottest trend right now, every industry is jumping on the wagon to make the trip down Eco-Friendly Avenue.  The automotive industry encounters more of a challenge in doing so, but is equally more pressed to be a part of the adventure, as we’re the ones who seemingly contribute much to the issue in the first place.  But if everyone is riding down Eco-Friendly Avenue, we at least want them riding in something they drove off our lot, right? 

Among all the ubiquitous marketing tools and promotions for green living, how does an industry like ours stand out?  Even more so, how does an individual store grab hold of the green living phase and make a statement about its contributions?  Here are a few tips for presenting (or marketing) our green side:

Stay clear of greenwashing.  In other words, don’t proclaim green initiative in your store if you can’t, or won’t, live up to them.  Ford, for instance, has been accused of greenwashing by a number of environmental groups for its marketing of alternative fuels and energy independence while maintain a relatively low overall mpg.  It’s hard enough for customers to sift through all of the green information for them to have to question if you’re genuine or not. 

Do the little things.  There’s no way that every store can compete in the same ways that Mr. Lobb’s infamous new green dealership does.  And they shouldn’t.  But there are plenty of little things each store can do to add to its environmentally friendly ego.  Change the light bulbs, recycle, and offer refreshing water in a glass, not in a bottle.  These are the little things that can go a long way and make your customers feel like they are in a comfortable atmosphere that’s doing it’s best to make a difference—a nice advantage over the all new, high-priced green buildings.  Your customers want to feel comfortable with their local dealers. 

Make sure all of your employees know what makes your store green, from the light bulbs, to the inventory and back to how you recycle the water from your car washes.  Do they need to know what specific brand of light bulb you use? No, but they should know that you use them.  There isn’t a car shopper out there right now who isn’t at least concerned about low gas mileage, a conversation that can easily turn in to other green efforts.  Employee knowledge is invaluable. 

Keep taking chances and making changes. 

Technorati Tags: automotive green marketing, employee knowledge, greenwashing