The program is part of the GreenSweep energy and pollution performance program, which SCRS makes available to its membership through an agreement with GRC-Pirk Management Company, an EPA-recognized, registered professional engineering firm. In addition to providing this tremendous performance program to its membership, the Society has been selected by GRC- Pirk to be a primary provider of the free school to the collision industry.
"SCRS has the largest, most comprehensive collection of collision shop owners and affiliate organizations that campaign the benefits of green education," noted GRC-Pirk Management President Steven Schillinger. "We are so pleased that SCRS saw the benefit of opening this educational opportunity to the entire industry through our partnership, and we look forward to delivering the online green schooling in a manner that has broad sweeping positive impact on the industry."
Produced by KPA Online, Green Sustainability School is an easy-to-navigate series of Web-based, self-guided safety and health-focused training sessions that allow students to learn general OSHA work-safety requirements and how to save energy while protecting the environment. Access to many environmental, health and safety training topics concerning the automotive service and repair industry are provided. Each time a student searches a topic, he or she is given the choice to take a specific course and save a certificate of completion to her or his virtual "record book."
In addition to training, those that register for Green Sustainability School are allowed to use Track Green Garage, an interactive program that allows a shop to monitor its green performance from a desktop computer or smartphone browser. This type of immediate access to the facility's energy and emissions profile is delivered via a secure cloud computer over the Internet. It can also be viewed by the public, who can see how much a shop is saving through real-time, online measurements.
Consumers are coming to understand the advantages of doing business with green companies, so they like the ability to make informed choices regarding those with whom they do business. "Successfully completing this curriculum advances the shop's green profile in the eyes of consumers and regulatory agencies," added Schillinger. "Adopting sound environmental practices isn't just the right thing to do; it provides the repairer competitive advantages."
Because the educational material is developed and administered by GRC-Pirk, a service EPA-recognized third-party that is both expert and objective, the program has a built-in credibility that resonates with the general public. Participation in the school can create market differentiation by providing verifiable evidence the shop is taking an active role in making its community a more livable place.
"We are grateful to have the opportunity to provide this invaluable environmental education to our industry at no cost," said SCRS Executive Director Aaron Schulenburg. "Focusing on energy efficiency generates real savings for our members, while helping them to reduce their current environmental impact. Being recognized as a primary provider of green education to the collision industry underscores our commitment to help our members achieve their green goals. We greatly value our partnership with GRC-Pirk and look forward to working with them to facilitate environmentally sound practices throughout the industry, poising it to succeed in the future."
For additional information about SCRS including other news releases visit www.scrs.com.
