Hand Motors

Manchester, Vermont

Hand Motors logoJim and John Hand pledged to make Hand Motors the first carbon neutral automobile dealership in Vermont and saved more than $36,000 in annual energy costs as they worked toward their goal.

The dealership, which also operates Manchester Auto Rentals with the same carbon neutral goal, heats its new 12,000 square-foot service shop with 100% waste motor and vegetable oil at no cost to the company. In fact, the dealership saves more than $15,000 a year by not having to buy standard heating oil. The original 18,000 square-foot dealership building constructed in 1972 is heated with a combination of waste oil and #2 heating fuel. The original building was resealed and 5 large overhead doors were eliminated to limit heat loss.

A state-subsidized electricity reduction and incentive initiative enabled the dealership to tackle lighting upgrades for substantial energy savings. New lighting fixtures were installed throughout the facility in mid-2007 resulting in a 31% reduction in electricity costs and an annual savings of more than $13,000.

Motion detectors were installed in the new service building and timers on outdoor lot lighting were reset to go on one hour before and turn off one hour after business hours. Compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) were installed and employees were encouraged to make the same conversion in their homes. Even vending machines have motion detectors so lighting comes on only when the machine is approached and cooling only operates as needed. Lights in the body and service shops are staggered to take advantage of electric rates based on peak usage periods and electric shutdown procedures were developed to turn off 36 computer workstations each evening. Programmable thermostats were installed to reduce propane use. ENERGY STAR qualified products were selected whenever possible and used throughout the buildings.

Exterior of Hand MotorsIn addition to recycling their own solid waste, Hand Motors serves as a community recycling point for plastics, batteries, mercury thermostats, metal, aluminum, cardboard, newsprint, office paper, cell phones and CFLs. Hand Motors earned the 2007 Dealer Innovation Award sponsored by USA Today and the National Automobile Dealers Association. The award recognizes dealers who have taken a leadership role by implementing effective initiatives at the dealership to save energy, reduce utility costs and help protect the environment.

Overall Hand Motors is saving more than 103,000 kWh of electricity and nearly 9,000 gallons of heating oil each year at a cost savings of more than $36,000. The savings represent a reduction in annual greenhouse gas emissions of nearly 150 tons of CO2, the equivalent of the CO2 emissions from the electricity use of nearly 18 homes. In addition, Hand Motors and Manchester Auto Rentals, purchase energy credits from a renewable energy company in Vermont that is financing the construction of wind energy projects to deliver clean, renewable energy to the grid.

Collaborators

Efficiency Vermont
Native Energy

Contact Information:

Jim Hand, Co-owner
4847 Main Street, Box 1204
Manchester Center, VT 05254
Phone: (802) 362-1754
www.handmotors.com Exit ENERGY STAR

*Questions Contact
Kimet Hand, Marketing
Phone: (802) 362-4971