WeBuyCars (WBC) is strengthening its commitment to eco-friendly business practices and rolling out an expansive sustainability project across its countrywide network of 15 showrooms.
The company is one of the most prominent used-car dealers in South Africa, buying and selling between 12,000-13,000 vehicles per month and employing over 2,500 workers.
LEDs, rainwater harvesting, and more
WBC is systematically executing various initiatives across all its showrooms to cut down on its carbon footprint.
These actions include:
- Adoption of LED lighting
- Installation of solar panels
- Installation of flow meters to facilitate the use of rainwater harvesting
The retrofitting of LED lighting is happening consecutively at all existing branches and all new branches from opening.
“An initial analysis conducted by an expert in the field at our Johannesburg South branch revealed that while the previous lighting system consumed 99 kilowatts per hour, the new LED lighting solution uses only 39 kilowatts per hour,” said John Mills, WBC COO.
“This staggering difference – when replicated across the entire group – showcases the significant energy savings being ramped up.”
Despite the large upfront investment required for this transition, WBC expects to recoup the costs within a mere two years.
WBC Dome
The implementation of flow meters additionally promotes water conservation by accurately measuring consumption, “allowing the company to identify and address any inefficiencies promptly, thereby reducing unnecessary wastage,” said Mills.
“It not only allows us to eliminate waste but demonstrates savings to clients and investors – something everyone is keen to see as consciousness of water scarcity increases.”
The company has also taken measures to ensure continuous water supply during the periodic shortages plaguing the country by installing backup systems, ensuring that crucial facilities such as restrooms and restaurants remain functional at all times.
“These backup systems provide an alternative water supply, reducing dependence on municipal water sources and minimising disruptions to daily operations,” said Mills.
On top of this, WBC has begun the rollout of solar panels to all its branches, to date equipping nine out of the fifteen with sun-powered systems.
The largest location alone, The Dome in Northriding, Randburg, is fitted with 431 solar panels.
“These efforts have not only reduced the company’s ecological footprint but also demonstrated its commitment to a more sustainable future. Looking ahead, we plan to quantify the impact of our sustainability efforts, providing concrete figures and measurable results to illustrate the success of these initiatives,” said Mills.
“It is through the availability of data that we can demonstrate the positive impact of our sustainability efforts, and we will appoint independent experts to quantify the impact of our sustainability efforts, providing tangible figures and measurable results to illustrate the success of initiatives – and thereafter to track progress over time, sharing success stories, and inspiring others to adopt similar sustainable practices.”
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