Nissan devotes a lot of time and effort to producing new Nissan models that will please their customers. The automaker also puts a lot of energy into community service. For example, since Hurricane Katrina hit back in 2005, Nissan has partnered with Habitat for Humanity to help rebuild houses and restore lives. Now, the company has announced a $2.5-million donation to the nonprofit with the goal of taking its involvement with Habitat even further.

Attaining this goal involves a three-prong effort. First, Nissan is asking all employees, stakeholders and their families to bump up participation, be it through donations or volunteer labor. Second, dealerships such as Cole Nissan are asked to communicate information regarding Habitat efforts to consumers. Lastly, the Nissanusa.com website provides links to the Habitat site and encourages viewers to click through.

Part of the motivation behind the automaker's contribution is to increase the amount of sustainable practices used in building houses. Some of these practices include: low-flowing plumbing fixtures, programmable thermostats, high-performance windows, energy-efficient fluorescent lighting and ENERGY STAR appliances. In order to encourage Habitat sectors to switch to sustainability, Nissan will provide funding grants and vehicles as incentives. And, the nonprofit wholeheartedly agrees with green efforts. In fact, Habitat officials have decided to use a portion of the generous Nissan donation to conduct "sustainability summits" within local communities.

"Both Nissan and Habitat are committed to sustainability, so it's fitting that our dollars will also support sustainable construction practices in Habitat affiliates nationwide,"¹ says Nissan Vice Chairman Bill Krueger.

While Nissan places high value on contributing to the community, it's also dedicated to helping consumers with all their Nissan needs. Cole Nissan at 3003 Stadium Drive Kalamazoo, MI is no exception. We are devoted to making connections with our local Kalamazoo community and are more than happy to answer any questions you might have. In fact, we encourage you to contact us online or simply stop by our location. We'd love to talk with you in person.

Source: ¹http://www.nissannews.com/newsrelease.do;jsessionid=51ED7E145DCFE68E4BB304FA97BDCC8E?&id=2950&allImage=1&teaser=nissan-expands-partnership-habitat-humanity-international&mid=1