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National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA)

McLean, VA

National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA)The National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA), like most trade associations, is concerned with helping its members be profitable. Because auto dealerships use, on average, more energy per square foot than a typical office building, NADA has long recognized that energy efficiency is an effective way for dealers to cut costs and generate savings that increase the bottom line.

In June, 2005, in order to help its members cut energy costs, NADA asked ENERGY STAR to customize a version of its Small Business Energy Guidebook tailored specifically for auto dealerships. The ENERGY STAR Guide for Dealers was subsequently published in February 2006 and mailed to about 20,000 NADA members.

NADA continued its relationship with ENERGY STAR Small Business by launching the NADA Energy Stewardship Initiative in November, 2006. This Initiative encourages dealerships around the country to meet the ENERGY STAR Challenge of reducing energy consumption by 10 percent or more.

It is estimated that if all auto dealerships in the U.S. were to reduce their energy consumption by just 10 percent, they would save approximately $193 million in energy costs and eliminate more than 1 million tons of greenhouse gases every year. The best ways for most auto dealers to improve energy efficiency are by installing efficient lighting and HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) systems.

NADA has taken the lead in promoting to its members the many resources available to small businesses from ENERGY STAR. Promotions have included special “Green Issues” of their flagship publication, AutoExec, and the launch of reciprocal web sites to facilitate dealers’ access to information. In addition, ENERGY STAR personnel have participated in NADA conventions at the organization’s invitation. By mid-2007, more than 500 dealerships had joined the ENERGY STAR Small Business Network as a result of these promotions.

ENERGY STAR considers its relationship with NADA an excellent model for working with other trade associations to encourage increased energy efficiency.