OREANDA-NEWS. May 13, 2015. Building on the success of the Honda Environmental Leadership Program through its automobile dealers' reduced environmental footprint, American Honda today announced the voluntary program's expansion to include its powersports dealers, as well as power-equipment dealers, marine dealers and engine distributors.

Honda provides strategic counseling in areas such as lighting, heating, cooling, water fixtures and recycling. The Honda "Green Dealer" Guide, a 93-page energy-efficiency roadmap available for download at greendealer.honda.com, provides additional guidance. Dealers and distributors who quantifiably reduce their environmental impact can also qualify to earn a Honda Environmental Leadership Award, introduced in 2011 as a part of the company's comprehensive approach to environmentally responsible operations. Once participating dealers have completed upgrades, results are verified by a third-party evaluator, and a participating dealer's score can qualify it for one of three achievement levels—Silver, Gold or Platinum. Sixty-five automobile dealers have reduced their energy consumption by 10 percent or more in the past three years, and one has achieved "Electric Grid Neutral" status. ("Electric Grid Neutral" means the dealership produces as much as or more energy from renewable energy sources than it consumes from its local electric utility over a one-year period.)

"We're pleased to announce the expansion of the Honda Environmental Leadership Program to our powersports dealers," said Michael Rizner, American Honda Manager of Motorcycle Dealer Development. "Environmental awareness is an important part of being a responsible corporate citizen, and the automobile dealerships who have participated in the program have demonstrated that not only is the program capable of reducing the dealer's environmental impact but it can also assist in reducing overhead. We're looking forward to helping more powersports dealerships reduce their environmental footprints by enrolling in this program."

"As part of our forward-thinking culture, American Honda brings this unique program opportunity to a wide variety of dealerships across the country," said Alan Battin, American Honda Manager of Dealer Development, Power Equipment Division. "During the initial Honda Environmental Leadership Program launch, I worked with several automobile dealerships where significant reductions in energy consumption and utility expenses were successfully achieved. Building on this powerful momentum, we're now exploring additional opportunities with our Marine and Power Equipment Dealerships, as well as Engine Distributors."

Two Honda Powersports dealers and three Honda Power Equipment dealers/distributors have qualified for awards.

Gold
SoCal Honda Powersports: Carson, CA

Silver
Honda Powersports of Troy: Troy, OH
J&I Power Equipment: Olympia, WA
Engine Power (distributor): Oconomowoc, WI
MTA Distributor: Whites Creek, TN