NADA Launches New Energy Ally Program to Help Dealerships Reduce Energy Use

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New-car dealers move toward 'greener' dealerships
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Automobile Dealers
Association (NADA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have partnered
to help new-car dealers reduce their energy consumption through the Energy Star
program.

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As part of this effort, NADA and EPA are encouraging dealerships to complete a
brief survey that will give the agency a benchmark to better compare the energy
usage of dealerships across the country and allow certification of those
dealerships that perform well. The survey (www.nada.org/energystar) asks dealers
to share their yearly utility bills, square footage-inside and out-and different
types of equipment used at the dealership.

"NADA's ultimate goal is to help dealers learn ways to save energy and reduce
their costs," said Don Chalmers, chairman of NADA's Government Relations
Committee, and a Ford and Lincoln dealer in New Mexico. "Before we can begin
the Energy Star certification process, we need to benchmark the energy usage of
at least 500 dealerships."

Main Street new-car dealers that participate in the survey and reduce their
power usage will be recognized by Energy Star for their efforts to reduce the
dealership's impact on the environment.

To encourage participation, NADA has launched a new program called Energy Ally.
Businesses, such as accounting, consulting and energy management firms, that
assist at least five dealerships to complete the survey will be awarded an NADA
Energy Ally designation. These contractors can use the recognition to market
their services to other dealerships. (Information on how to apply to become an
Energy Ally is available at www.nada.org/energystar).

NADA has produced a video demonstrating the cost-saving benefits of implementing
an energy efficiency plan highlighting efforts at a dealership in
Christiansburg, Va. The video also highlights the importance of dealers taking
the survey and the ease of the data input.

The NADA Convention and Expo, which will be held Feb. 8-11 in Orlando, will
showcase hundreds of exhibitors whose products help meet the energy-saving goals
of dealerships.

Motion sensors for lights, timers for thermostats, heaters that run on used
motor oil, solar arrays for heating water and gathering electricity and roof
cooling devices are just some of the products that will be on display at the
convention, Chalmers added.

The NADA Story

The NADA story began in 1917 when 30 auto dealers traveled to the nation's
capital to convince Congress not to impose a luxury tax on the automobile. They
successfully argued that the automobile is a necessity of American life, not a
luxury. From that experience was born the National Automobile Dealers
Association. Today, NADA represents nearly 16,000 new-car and -truck dealers,
with 32,500 franchises, both domestic and international. For more information,
visit www.nada.org.

SOURCE National Automobile Dealers Association

Bailey Wood, NADA Legislative Affairs, +1-202-547-5500, +1-202-557-1674 (m),
bwood@nada.org; Charles Cyrill, Director of Public Relations, NADA Public
Affairs, +1-703-821-7121, +1-216-870-8837 (m), ccyrill@nada.org