OREANDA-NEWS. April 1, 2016. When Lee Davis became the fourth-generation owner of Davis Chevrolet in Lexington, North Carolina, he used his expertise as an environmental scientist to upgrade the dealership. From heating the service department and body shop with used vehicle oil to buying lunch for employees with money from recycling soft drink cans, he is integrating sustainable practices into daily operations.

Davis is among 420 Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac dealers in the U.S. – 10 percent of GM’s dealer network – who are participating in environmental stewardship activities through the General Motors Green Dealer program.

GM has awarded 38 Green Dealer certifications since its launch in 2015. These dealerships implemented energy reduction, renewable energy, water conservation, waste-to-landfill reduction and community outreach practices – efforts that not only deliver cost savings, but differentiate dealers from their competition and improve employee work environments.

“I didn’t upgrade our dealership just to be green, I did it because it makes business sense,” Davis said. “Although there are clear environmental benefits, there’s an equal boost to our bottom line and our workplace culture.”

Michael Payne, owner of Mountain Chevrolet in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, powers his dealership with 40 kilowatts of solar energy from a rooftop array and solar canopy over an EV charging station. Another planned 50-kilowatt array will allow his store to achieve net-zero energy use during some months of the year.

GM provides resources to help dealers earn Green Dealer certification:

  • GM Green Dealer website that enables dealerships to share how they achieved environmental and operational gains;
  • GM Dealer Equipment digital catalog highlighting products that save energy, conserve resources and reduce waste, such as high-efficiency paint booths and high-speed garage doors that also help drive operational efficiencies;
  • Opportunities to connect with schools on environmental education activities.

“GM has long been committed to being a leader in environmental stewardship, and we’re proud that our dealers share this commitment to serve and improve the communities where we live and work,” said Kurt McNeil, GM vice president of U.S. Sales Operations.

For more information on GM’s environmental commitment, visit its sustainability report and environmental blog.

General Motors Co. (NYSE:GM, TSX: GMM) and its partners produce vehicles in 30 countries, and the company has leadership positions in the world's largest and fastest-growing automotive markets. GM, its subsidiaries and joint venture entities sell vehicles under the Chevrolet, Cadillac, Baojun, Buick, GMC, Holden, Jiefang, Opel, Vauxhall and Wuling brands. More information on the company and its subsidiaries, including OnStar, a global leader in vehicle safety, security and information services, can be found at http://www.gm.com.