BeyondNow Podcast Series: Ryan LaFontaine, LaFontaine Automotive

Today we are unveiling the GM BeyondNow Podcast Series, an ongoing series where we interview people in the GM family with a green story to tell.

The first guest is Ryan LaFontaine, the owner and general manager of LaFontaine Automotive in Highland, Michigan.

LaFontaine Automotive is well-known throughout the state of Michigan. They’ve been a part of the community since 1984 when they became a dealer in downtown Milford, selling about 50 Pontiac, Cadillac and GMC vehicles a year.

Since then, they’ve expanded to include five more facilities throughout the state, including Michigan’s first green dealership in Highland.

Ryan was nice enough to participate in the podcast to talk about some of the new features the dealership is rolling out to help the environment.

Here are some of the highlights:

•    46 geothermal wells were installed; they are kept at a constant 50 degrees. Depending on the weather, the core temperature is raised and lowered to create an efficient heating and cooling system.

•    84 skylights provide natural lighting inside the dealership, creating a “non-use” of energy that saves money.

•    Recycled water from car washes and roof run-off is used to irrigate the site.

•    The facility is nearly three times bigger than its original footprint, but energy costs remain nearly the same, thanks to energy efficient practices.

Listen to the entire podcast to learn more about LaFontaine’s eco-conscious efforts.

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