How The Suburban Collection Turned Energy Infrastructure into a Business Advantage
For many dealerships, energy upgrades and EV charging feel like necessary expenses. The Suburban Collection took a different approach by treating them as strategic investments.
Working with Future Energy, six dealership rooftops across multiple OEM brands implemented a connected energy strategy that lowered operating costs, created new revenue opportunities, and simplified infrastructure management.
Six Dealerships, One Strategy
Each location started from a different place:
- Some needed LED lighting upgrades.
- Others wanted to monetize EV charging.
- Several already had charging equipment but lacked visibility into performance.
Rather than forcing a one-size-fits-all solution, Future Energy built a tailored approach for each rooftop while providing a unified view of the group's energy and charging infrastructure.
Immediate Savings Through LED Upgrades
Two locations began with lighting modernization projects that delivered immediate returns.
Suburban Buick GMC of Troy - Comprehensive LED Retrofit
- 65% reduction in annual lighting energy use
- More than $28,000 in projected annual savings
- Over $14,000 in utility rebates
Suburban Toyota of Troy - Fixture Upgrades
- 462 fixtures upgraded
- 59% reduction in energy use
- More than $33,000 in annual benefits from energy, HVAC, and maintenance savings
Combined, the projects are projected to deliver more than $337,000 in savings over 10 years while achieving payback in less than four years.
Turning EV Charging into Revenue
The group also discovered that EV charging can become a profitable business line.
At Suburban Buick GMC of Troy:
- More than $24,000 in public charging revenue generated by May 2026
- Over 1,000 paid charging sessions
- 240 unique EV drivers brought onto the property
Across five managed locations:
- More than $30,000 in public charging revenue
- 4,407 charging sessions completed
- Nearly 300 unique EV drivers served
For several stores, public charging created an entirely new revenue stream while increasing exposure to potential future customers.
Simplifying Infrastructure Management
Managing energy infrastructure shouldn't require dealership teams to become charging or energy experts.
Through Future Energy's CME Pro managed services, dealerships receive:
- Real-time monitoring and issue resolution
- Centralized reporting and dashboards
- Quarterly business reviews that turn data into actionable decisions
- Support for both Future Energy and third-party charging equipment
In one instance, Future Energy identified that a dealership's public chargers had been providing free charging due to missing pricing settings. After implementing a pricing structure, the dealership immediately began generating revenue from existing infrastructure.
A Blueprint for Dealer Groups
The Suburban Collection's experience shows that energy infrastructure can be more than an operational expense.
In less than a year, the group achieved:
- Lower energy costs
- New revenue from public charging
- Better visibility into infrastructure performance
- Simplified management across six rooftops
For dealer groups navigating EV charging, facility upgrades, and energy management, the lesson is clear: start where you are, build strategically, and turn infrastructure investments into long-term business advantages.
By the Numbers
- 6 dealership rooftops
- 4,407 charging sessions
- $30,000+ in public charging revenue
- $337,000+ projected 10-year savings
- 328 unique EV drivers served
Interested in learning how your dealership can unlock similar opportunities? Explore how Future Energy on The Shop helps dealers reduce costs, improve facility performance, and create new revenue streams.
