The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is recognizing eight vehicle dealerships for being the first to earn its ENERGY STAR certification for superior energy performance. Vehicle dealerships that earn the ENERGY STAR use significantly less energy—and contribute fewer greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions—than their peers.
“Reducing energy use in commercial buildings is an essential part of the transition to a clean energy economy,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “I congratulate these businesses for demonstrating the power of energy efficiency to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in a cost-effective way at auto dealerships across the country.”
The first vehicle dealerships to earn EPA’s ENERGY STAR certification are:
- Acura of Sherman Oaks, Sherman Oaks, California
- Brandfon Honda, Branford, Connecticut
- Coggin Honda Orlando, Orlando, Florida
- DCH Tustin Acura, Tustin, California
- Island Honda, Kahului, Hawaii
- Marin Acura, Corte Madera, California
- Thayer Honda, Bowling Green, Ohio
- Ventura Toyota, Ventura, California
To earn the ENERGY STAR, these vehicle dealerships demonstrated that they are more energy efficient than at least 75% of other dealerships across the country. Using EPA’s online ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager tool, they benchmarked their energy efficiency based on 12 months of utility bills. The resulting 1-100 ENERGY STAR score, adjusted for weather and business activity, gives insight into a dealership’s energy performance. A score of 50 indicates median energy performance. A score of 75 indicates performance better than 75% of similar dealerships nationwide, making that dealership eligible for ENERGY STAR certification. To develop the 1-100 ENERGY STAR score for vehicle dealerships, EPA relied on 2019 data from an industry survey conducted by the National Automobile Dealers Association.
Energy use in commercial and residential buildings accounts for one-third of U.S. GHG emissions. A recent EPA report estimates these same buildings have the potential to cut their emissions by up to 63% by 2030 through a combination of energy efficiency, electrification, and clean energy, enabled by the Inflation Reduction Act.
ENERGY STAR-certified buildings use an average of 35% less energy and are responsible for 35% fewer GHG emissions than typical buildings. To date, nearly 43,000 buildings and plants have earned the ENERGY STAR.
ALSO READ: Back to Basics: How Businesses Can Participate in the ENERGY STAR Program