Lander Group is First Twin Cities Company
to offer HOURCAR to Employees
Saint Paul, MN – October 18,
2005 – Local real estate developer Lander Group this
week became the first business to join HOURCAR, the Twin Cities’
growing car-sharing organization.
Lander Group has an HOURCAR parked near its
office for use by employees for driving to business meetings and
running errands during the workday. Employees make self-service
reservations online, then get in the car, drive to appointments,
return the car to the same reserved parking space, lock it up, and
walk away. Cars have on-board computers to record trip information,
and business members are billed with detailed invoices listing department
or project travel. HOURCAR pays for gas, insurance, and maintenance.
Car-sharing can significantly cut business transportation costs
when substituted for a leased company car or fleet management.
In addition to saving dollars on the company
transportation budget, HOURCAR is also a unique way for area businesses
to support employees who commute to work by transit. Employees can
use HOURCARs by the hour to attend meetings or run work errands,
eliminating the need to drive their own cars to work. An HOURCAR
business membership shrinks the number of cars on the road, the
amount of gas used, and also eases the need to provide employee
parking at the workplace.
Mary Morse, Executive Director of the Neighborhood Energy Consortium
says “Lander is making a smart business decision and their
employees are going to love HOURCAR! Lander Group is leading the
way for other businesses to provide car-sharing as a sensible solution.”
Lander Group’s participation in the
HOURCAR program is the latest initiative in the company’s
on-going commitment to environmentally friendly business practices.
The developer has been in discussions with HOURCAR about providing
cars at future residential and commercial developments. “We
apply green principles in a way that makes sense for our buyers
and we’re pleased to support other businesses that are doing
this,” said Lander Group President Michael Lander. “We
think HOURCAR is a fantastic service for the Twin Cities, especially
as the discussion around transit-oriented development continues,
and as people are transitioning their lifestyles toward more pedestrian-friendly
living. HOURCAR addresses the need for a car without the need for
car ownership. Our employees are thrilled to use the service.”
Lander Group Development Management Associate
Ben Kerl says, “I am looking forward to using the HOURCAR
during the business day to get to meetings and other events. Many
of my coworkers are planning to use the HOURCAR for their business
errands. It’ll make it easier for us to take the bus to work,
or even bike.”
HOURCAR has business partnerships with other organizations, including
Lanier Parking Systems, Park Midway Bank, Penn Cycle, Calhoun Square,
and Enterprise Rent-A-Car.
All of the cars in the HOURCAR fleet are
Toyota Priuses, gas-electric hybrids which regularly garner over
50 miles to the gallon and produce relatively few emissions. Car-sharing
is convenient for members, good for the environment, and saves money.
HOURCAR members must meet basic requirements,
including holding a valid driver’s license for five years.
Individual, household, and business memberships are available. For
information on hub locations, rates, or to join online, please visit
www.HOURCAR.org. More information on the Lander Group can be found
at www.landergroup.com.
HOURCAR is a program of the nonprofit Neighborhood
Energy Consortium, whose mission is to reduce pollution, conserve
resources, and improve quality of life by offering tools for energy-efficient
living.
For more information:
Mary Morse
Executive Director, Neighborhood Energy Consortium
Phone: (w) (651) 221-4462 x139 or (m) (651) 308-2685
OR
Wren Aigaki-Lander
Marketing Director, Lander Group
Phone: (612) 827-4494
|