The North and South Rivers Watershed Association (NSRWA) helped Planet Subaru in Hanover cut its water usage by 23%. NSRWA GreenScapes Program Manager Lori Wolfe said, “We chose Planet Subaru for our WaterSmart Business program because of their reputation for green practices which include powering their showroom by solar panels and mowing with goats.”
WaterSmart businesses receive a free water assessment that culminates in a report that analyzes their historic monthly water use, and outlines specific steps that can be taken to reduce water consumption and stormwater pollution for their business. Upon reviewing the recommendations within the report, the businesses decide which options they would like to complete.
Because of the WaterSmart Business report, Planet is now saving over 40,000 gallons of water per year. The NSRWA analyzed the dealership’s baseline water usage and prepared a list of recommendations for Planet to implement. Water-saving measures included the installation of high-efficiency toilets and low flow faucets. President Jeff Morrill said, “We were pleasantly surprised to cut our water consumption this much because we were already recycling our carwash water and using no water for landscaping. Our fifty team members are always looking for new ways to shrink the environmental footprint of our operations.”
Saving water reduces the strain on Hanover’s three wells, and reduces the amount of chemicals and energy required to treat the water. Jeff Morrill challenged other businesses to contact the NSRWA to begin their water conservation efforts, asking, “Well water you waiting for?!”
ABOUT PLANET SUBARU:
Brothers John and Jeff Morrill opened Planet Subaru in 1998. In 2002, they recycled a building in Hanover and created one of the world’s most environmentally friendly Subaru showrooms – the only one powered entirely by solar panels. Planet Subaru is “your undealership,” the alternative to the typical dealership experience. Planet attracts its salespeople from outside the car business. Planet Subaru retails approximately 180 new and used Subarus per month. For more information, visit planetsubaru.com.
ABOUT GREENSCAPES
The Greenscapes program is a regional outreach effort sponsored by the North and South River Watershed Association, Massachusetts Bays Program, and several municipalities on the South Shore of Boston. The Greenscapes program on the South Shore is administered by the NSRWA and is a regional education and outreach program that promotes water conservation. Currently 10 communities participate in the South Shore Greenscapes program including Scituate, Marshfield, Weymouth, Norwell, Kingston, Hanover, Duxbury, Pembroke, Hingham and Hull (Aquarion Water Co.). For more information, please visit www.greenscapes.org.
ABOUT NSRWA
The mission of the NSRWA is to preserve, restore, maintain and conserve in their natural state, the waters and related natural resources within the watershed.
Our goals are to:
- Protect the watershed and promote responsible growth by working in partnerships to preserve open space, scenic vistas and sensitive natural resources;
- Educate and encourage stewardship of the watershed through public education, outreach and recreation programs; and
- Restore the water quality of the rivers by identifying and correcting adverse impacts.
For more information visit www.nsrwa.org.