Long Subaru Loves the Earth

Across the globe people just like us recognize that implementing renewable and sustainable energy sources is a topic that is important to the general welfare. At Long Subaru, we see the value in protecting the environment and reducing carbon emissions.

Long Subaru is committed to a Reduce, Reuse, Recycle policy. Currently we have several programs and processes in place to live up to our Eco-Friendly Retailer designation. Read about them below...

In 2015, we established our internal Green Team and made the decision to go solar. With the installation of our 246 kilowatt (kW) solar energy system on the roofs of the main showroom and collision center we've virtually eliminated our need for fossil fuel based energy consumption. As of 2020, any additional energy produced but not used onsite is shared with our sister store Long Cadillac.

"We are always looking for ways to reduce our environmental footprint," said Scott Barry, Dealer Partner. "This is one major step forward. In focusing on renewable solar energy, we know that we are significantly reducing our impact on the earth, and that is definitely the right thing to do."

TerraCycle Zero Waste Programs

TerraCycle recycles hard-to-recycle products and packaging and turns those materials into new items like park benches, bike racks, picnic tables, and flower pots. TerraCycle's goal is to eliminate the idea of waste by educating, engaging, and inspiring students, families, and the general public to be more aware and active about environmental issues.

With the Zero Waste Box™ program - part of the larger Subaru Loves the Earth initiative - TerraCycle and Subaru have partnered to create a more sustainable retail experience and a cleaner world by collecting disposable cups and lids, snack wrappers, and coffee, tea, and creamer capsules at participating retail stores. So far, the Zero Waste Box™ program has diverted more than 500,000 pounds of waste from landfills and turned it into useful items for our communities. That's about 150 Subaru Outback vehicles.

You may have noticed those green boxes in our customer lounge. Everything collected through the Zero Waste Box system is sorted and processed into raw materials that can be reused instead of being sent to landfill. Read below to learn how different types of materials are recycled.

In our case, we collect two streams. Creamer capsules in one box and snack wrappers in another. Plastics are separated by number, melted down, and turned into pellets that can be molded and extruded to produce new products.

New for 2021, we have added two collection points (non-consumer facing) in our Service Department. Two collection bins will collect used cabin air filters and transport car film.

The collected waste is mechanically and/or manually separated into metals, and plastics. Metals are melted so they may be recycled. The plastics undergo extrusion and pelletization to be molded into new recycled plastic products.

Did you ever wonder what happens to all the old engine oil removed from your vehicle during an oil change?

Here at Long Subaru, in the cooler months we Clean Burn approximately 660 gallons of waste oil per month to heat our facilities. Waste oil possesses nearly twice the energy value of coal and more energy than #2 fuel oil. One gallon of waste oil has the same amount of energy as 18 kilowatt hours of electricity. In the hot summer months when we rely on our solar power to cool the dealership, the oil is collected and recycled by an outside vendor.

Adding another notch to our green initiative belt, is our sponsorship of miles 10-8 on our very own I-395S.

Contributing to a cleaner environment and safer highways is important to us. Regular litter removal from roadways and surrounding areas will help keep debris and pollutants out of our waterways. Plus it's an environmentally-friendly program that saves taxpayer dollars. Better for us, better for our community, and better for our environment!

The Subaru Eco-Friendly Retailer Program is a voluntary environmental program designed for retailers who want to make a positive impact on their community and local environment.

Long Subaru focuses on five key areas in our facility: