Honda Canada Launches Green Dealer Recognition Program for Honda Dealerships
New leadership program recognizes dealers for sustainability contributions
TORONTO, ON (August 28, 2019) – Today, Honda Canada announced the launch of its new Green Dealer Recognition Program, designed to recognize dealers across the country who are taking a comprehensive approach to implementing environmentally-responsible business operations. This initiative is part of a continued effort to support our vision of the future, Blue Skies for Our Children, offering future generations the ability to enjoy life in a sustainable society. By 2025, Honda Canada’s goal for the program to achieve $2.18M in energy reduction savings and 16,500 metric tons of CO2e per year; equivalent to the annual energy use of 3,864 homes, the carbon captured by 19,419 acres of forest each year, or the offset of 68.6 million kilometres driven by Honda vehicles annually1.
The Green Dealer Recognition Program awards are presented to dealers who quantifiably reduce their environmental impact, beginning with a minimum 10 per cent reduction in total energy use at their dealerships. The program offers three achievement levels: Silver, Gold, and Platinum. Silver-level dealers must achieve a 10 per cent reduction in total energy use, Gold-level requires dealers to achieve a 30 per cent energy reduction while Platinum-level requires a 50 per cent energy use reduction. Additional program prerequisites for award eligibility require dealerships to track monthly energy & water use, use programmable thermostats in all dealership space types, and implement a comprehensive recycling program. Dealers who are Electric Grid Neutral2 can automatically earn a Platinum award with the program.
To date, eight dealers have been awarded at the Silver-level:
• Portland Street Honda – Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
• Fundy Honda – Saint John, New Brunswick
• Excel Honda – Mont-Royal, Quebec
• Chagnon Honda – Granby, Quebec
• Huntsville Honda - Huntsville, Ontario
• Halton Honda – Burlington, Ontario
• The Honda Way – Abbotsford, British Columbia
• Surrey Honda – Surrey, British Columbia
Honda Canada uses Altura Associates, a third-party evaluator, to conduct environmental audits for participating dealers across the country, recommend strategies for reducing their energy use, and ensure performance levels are maintained.
“Honda Canada’s commitment to Canada has always included a focus on environmental consciousness throughout its 50 years in the country. Our sustainability strategy has been ingrained in all facets of our business operations including headquarters, manufacturing and our business partners,” said Jean Marc Leclerc, Senior Vice-President, Sales and Marketing, Honda Canada Inc. “Naturally, our green strategy continues to innovate, and with our focus on a sustainable future, Honda Canada is pleased to provide dealers a supported opportunity to continue to make green strides in their dealerships. The Green Dealer Recognition Program is designed to support our brand, our dealers and their communities as we continue to push the boundaries of sustainability.”
Honda Canada’s reduction of environmental impacts of its products are reported annually in the company's North American Environmental Report. Expanding its environmental initiatives to its dealer body is the next logical step in the company's effort to reduce waste, energy use, and CO2e emissions across the full spectrum of its operations and throughout the lifecycle of Honda products, including at the point of sale.
For more information on the Green Dealer Recognition Program, please visit our website and learn more about one of our first green dealers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-OWBWZlhRg&feature=youtu.be
[1] Equivalencies estimates based off emission factors and values provided by Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) and U.S. EPA.
[2] Electric Grid Neutral” means that when averaged over one year, the dealership offsets its grid electric use with an equal amount of on-site renewable generation exported to the grid.
ABOUT HONDA CANADA INC.
Honda Canada Inc. (HCI) was founded in 1969 and is the parent company for both Honda and Acura vehicle brands in Canada. The company has produced more than eight million cars and light trucks since 1986 at its two manufacturing facilities and builds engines at a third manufacturing plant in Alliston, Ontario. Both manufacturing facilities are extremely flexible and currently build Honda Civic and CR-V models. Honda Canada has invested more than $4.7 billion in Canada and each year it sources nearly $2.1 billion in goods and services from Canadian suppliers. Honda Canada has sold more than four million Honda and Acura passenger cars and light trucks in Canada. For more information on Honda Canada, please visit www.hondacanada.ca.