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Seven Honda and Acura Dealerships Achieve EPA ENERGY STAR Certification, Setting the Standard for Superior Energy Performance in the Auto Industry

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Honda and Acura brands have more ENERGY STAR certified vehicle dealerships than any other automakerAccording to the EPA, ENERGY STAR certified buildings use 35% less energy and contribute 35% fewer greenhouse gas emissions than non-certified buildingsOver the last 14 years, the Honda and Acura Environmental Leadership Programs have supported U.S. dealers in collectively reducing over 275,000 metric tons in CO2 emissions and saving more than $50 million in energy costs

TORRANCE, Calif., March 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded ENERGY STAR certification to seven additional Honda and Acura dealerships, recognizing them as among the most energy-efficient vehicle dealerships in the country. Supported by the Honda and Acura Environmental Leadership Programs, the auto industry’s first structured programs that help dealers measurably reduce their environmental impact, Honda and Acura dealers are setting the standard for superior energy performance. Since the EPA established the ENERGY STAR certification for vehicle dealerships in 2024, 14 Honda and Acura dealerships have earned the certification – the most of any automaker.

Honda and Acura brands have more ENERGY STAR certified vehicle dealerships than any other automaker in the U.S.

According to the EPA, on average, ENERGY STAR certified buildings use 35% less energy and contribute 35% fewer greenhouse gas emissions than non-certified buildings. Through the Honda and Acura Environmental Leadership Programs, participating dealers have measurably reduced their energy and water use by installing high-efficiency water fixtures, LED lighting, HVAC (heating, ventilation and air condition) upgrades, and solar panels.

Adding to the first group of certified dealerships are the following 2025 and late 2024 ENERGY STAR certified Honda and Acura dealerships: 

First Texas Honda, Austin, TexasHardin Honda, Anaheim, Calif.Honda of Serramonte, Colma, Calif.Klein Honda, Everett, Wash.Rallye Acura, Roslyn, N.Y.Space Coast Honda, Cocoa, Fla.Tony Honda, Waipahu, Hawaii

“With support from the Honda and Acura Environmental Leadership Programs, our dealer partners continue to lead the industry in environmentally responsible dealership operations,” said Jessika Laudermilk, assistant vice president of Honda National Auto Sales at American Honda Motor Co., Inc. “At Honda, we’re working to realize our goal of zero environmental impact by 2050, and we celebrate all of our dealer partners who are embracing eco-conscious solutions, big and small, to reduce their own environmental impact.”

To earn the prestigious ENERGY STAR certification, the seven Honda and Acura dealerships met strict energy performance standards. Using EPA’s online ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager® tool, they assessed their energy performance based on 12 months of utility bills. The dealerships were then evaluated with the EPA’s 1–100 ENERGY STAR score, which compares similar-sized dealerships and their operations. The seven Honda and Acura dealerships became eligible for the ENERGY STAR certification by earning scores of 75 and higher, which indicated that they are more energy efficient than 75% of similar dealerships nationwide.

Quotes from Honda and Acura ENERGY STAR Dealers

Klein Honda Vice President Rory Klein: “We are truly honored to earn ENERGY STAR certification. Achieving this certification is not only a milestone for our dealership but also a reflection of our commitment to environmental stewardship. Our journey toward embracing green energy has been both challenging and rewarding, and it underscores our dedication to sustainability and innovation. We believe that every step we take toward a cleaner future is a step toward a better community, and this recognition inspires us to continue leading by example.”

Rallye Motor Company General Manager & CFO Stefanie Horn: “Rallye Acura is proud to have achieved ENERGY STAR certification. This award is dedicated to the entire Rallye Acura team who worked hard to make it possible. We will continue to pursue our green initiatives in our community in 2025, and to strive for our dealership’s positive impact on the environment.” 

Space Coast Honda Service Director John DeMasso: “It is a great honor to receive ENERGY STAR certification at Space Coast Honda. We consistently strive to enhance our facility with energy-efficient upgrades such as LED lighting, motion activated lighting controls, and smart thermostat controls to continue to minimize our carbon footprint and to help preserve a better future.” 

Honda and Acura Environmental Leadership Programs Set Industry Standard
Honda established the voluntary Honda and Acura Environmental Leadership Programs in 2011, often referred to as the “Green Dealer” Program, to support Honda and Acura automobile, powersports and power equipment dealers in measurably reducing their environmental impact year over year. To date, more than 600 Honda and Acura automobile, powersports and power equipment dealers across the U.S. have collectively reduced CO2 emissions by more than 275,000 metric tons. This reduction is equal to eliminating the annual CO2 emissions associated with electricity use by over 53,000 homes.

The Honda and Acura Environmental Leadership Programs are structured as yearly assessments to optimize existing and new facilities in the areas of energy performance, water efficiency and site practices. The programs provide dealers with guidance on data collection, expert advice, implementation and results verification. Since 2011, the average dealership has reduced energy use by 20%, saving an average of $20,000 per year.

To learn more about the Honda and Acura Environmental Leadership Programs, visit https://greendealer.honda.com/.

About the Honda Commitment to the Environment
Honda is transforming its operations to realize its global goal of zero environmental impact by 2050. Through its “Triple Action to Zero” approach, Honda aims to achieve carbon neutrality for all products and corporate activities; utilize 100% carbon-free energy; and pursue resource circulation, the use of 100% sustainable materials by reprocessing products back to raw materials and reusing those materials in the creation of new products.

Toward this goal, Honda will strive to make battery-electric and fuel cell-electric vehicles represent 100% of auto sales globally by 2040, while also beginning electrification of Honda powersports and power equipment product lineups.

To reduce the environmental impact of its business operations, Honda is offsetting CO2 emissions from its North American manufacturing operations through long-term virtual power purchase agreements (VPPAs) for carbon-free wind and solar power that cover more than 80% of the electricity Honda uses in North America. Honda also supports its suppliers and independent dealerships across North America in their decarbonization efforts through the Honda Green Excellence Academy and Honda Environmental Leadership Program, respectively.

Learn more at https://www.honda.com/environment.

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SOURCE American Honda Motor Co., Inc.

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SoftBank Corp. and TOPPAN Holdings Develop Lightweight, Durable Skin for Solar HAPS Aircraft Wings

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Skin’s compatibility with stratospheric conditions such as extreme UV rays and ultra-low temperatures makes longer HAPS operations possible

TOKYO, April 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — SoftBank Corp. (TYO: 9434) (President & CEO: Junichi Miyakawa, “SoftBank”) and TOPPAN Holdings Inc. (TYO: 7911) (President & COO: Satoshi Oya, “TOPPAN Holdings”) jointly developed a lightweight, durable skin for use on solar High-Altitude Platform Station (HAPS) aircraft wings and devised a testing method that replicates the stratosphere’s environment. Test production will go forward, and the aircraft wing skin is planned for use with HTA-type[1] HAPS, which SoftBank plans to deploy for commercial services from 2029 onwards.     

This jointly developed HAPS aircraft wing skin and test method that reproduces stratospheric conditions were made possible by combining SoftBank’s HAPS expertise and TOPPAN Holdings’ know-how accrued over years of creating advanced multi-layered film technology designed for packaging and construction materials. TOPPAN Holdings also leveraged its proprietary technology that evaluates weather resistance. This joint development mitigates film damage (degradation) caused by strong ultraviolet (UV) rays and ultra-low temperatures of almost -100°C. As a result, the aircraft can stay in the stratosphere for longer periods. 

Development Background
HAPS, also referred to as “base stations in the sky,” provide communication services from uncrewed aircraft that remain airborne in the stratosphere. Being able to keep an aircraft with a communications payload airborne for extended periods of time would make it possible to provide an alternative means of communications in the aftermath of large-scale natural disasters, as well as provide communication services to under-connected areas, such as mountainous regions and remote islands. As these platforms operate from the stratosphere at an altitude of approximately 20 km above, they offer wider-area coverage than base stations on the ground, while also providing high-quality, high-volume, low-latency communications superior to satellite-based communications. However, at this altitude in the stratosphere, UV ray and ozone exposure is far greater than at ground level, and with exposure to extremely cold temperatures that sometimes drop to almost -100℃, impaired efficacy due to these environmental factors had been a serious issue with conventional all-purpose skins. Responding to this challenge, SoftBank and TOPPAN Holdings jointly developed a new ultra-lightweight, high-durability skin for aircraft wings capable of withstanding the harsh conditions of the stratosphere, along with a specialized methodology for its evaluation.     

Wing Skin & Evaluation Method Characteristics
1. Use of impact-resistant advanced resin and proprietary structure to achieve both lightweighting and safety
Leveraging converting technology[2] developed for packaging by TOPPAN Holdings, an optimized skin structure was achieved by precisely layering original materials and impact-resistant advanced resin suitable for use at extremely low temperature conditions. The resulting skin weighs the same as or less than average conventional all-purpose skin, and even if damage to the skin were to occur, the break-resistant design keeps damage from spreading, allowing for both a safe and lighter HAPS airframe.    

2. Advanced durability to address harsh stratospheric conditions
SoftBank has contributed real-world data from its stratospheric HAPS flights, including actual temperature measurements and deep ultraviolet (UV-C) ray exposure conditions, and has also defined requirements such as weight reduction and other performance criteria. This has enabled TOPPAN Holdings to design a skin that addresses exposure to the harsh environmental conditions of the stratosphere by applying technology developed for construction materials. These conditions particular to the stratosphere include everything from extremely low temperatures (approximately -50℃ to -95℃) to extreme heat (approximately 100℃) from direct sunlight. The skin is also resistant to short wave UV-C and high-concentration ozone (10-20 ppm, parts per million) exposure that are far stronger than at ground level. This durability will allow for extended HAPS operation periods.      

3. Establishing a testing method that simulates stratospheric conditions to ensure reliability
TOPPAN Holdings leveraged its knowledge of packaging film testing and accelerated durability testing of construction materials, to construct a new test environment that assesses the skin under a simulation of the ultralow temperatures of the stratosphere, while also facilitating the testing of simultaneous exposure from short wave UV rays and the ozone. By using this test environment, it is possible to understand the detailed mechanisms of deterioration particular to the stratosphere and to use that knowledge for improved product design. This understanding and design adjustment makes it possible to carry out a more precise and more reliable evaluation compared to former testing methods.     

Roles of Both Companies
SoftBank
Provide expertise required to evaluate the suitability of the skin as well as expertise on HAPS operations
Supervision of advancing use with HAPS aircraft and transferring advances to practical application

TOPPAN Holdings
Develop and provide skin material suitable for HAPS aircraft
Proposal for evaluation method in stratospheric environment

Future Developments
SoftBank and TOPPAN Holdings will proceed with research to make the skin material developed within the scope of this project even lighter and stronger by fiscal 2027 (the year ending March 31, 2028). Additionally, while evaluating durability in the stratosphere, both companies will also attempt to establish mass production technology capable of ensuring sufficient supply and reliable quality by fiscal 2028. Also, based on testing outcomes, additional functions will be added, and the skin is expected to be used by SoftBank on HTA-type HAPS aircraft that provide commercial services, planned for launch from 2029 onwards. Both companies also plan to apply this skin to other fields that require a high level of durability.

[1] HTA (Heavier-Than-Air) refers to HAPS that remain airborne by generating aerodynamic lift, similar to conventional aircraft.

[2] Converting technology is the process of transforming materials like film into high-function final products through specialized processing such as printing and lamination. 

For more information:
https://www.holdings.toppan.com/en/news/04/newsrelease260427_1.html 

About SoftBank Corp.
Guided by the SoftBank Group’s corporate philosophy, “Information Revolution – Happiness for everyone,” SoftBank Corp. (TOKYO: 9434) operates telecommunications and IT businesses in Japan and globally. Building on its strong business foundation, SoftBank Corp. is expanding into non-telecom fields in line with its “Beyond Carrier” growth strategy while further growing its telecom business by harnessing the power of 5G/6G, IoT, Digital Twin and Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) solutions, including High Altitude Platform Station (HAPS)-based stratospheric telecommunications. While constructing AI data centers and developing homegrown LLMs specialized for the Japanese language, SoftBank is integrating AI with radio access networks (AI-RAN), with the aim of becoming a provider of next-generation social infrastructure.
https://www.softbank.jp/en/corp/

About the TOPPAN Group
Established in Tokyo in 1900, the TOPPAN Group is a leading and diversified global provider committed to delivering sustainable, integrated solutions in fields including printing, communications, security, packaging, décor materials, electronics, and digital transformation. The TOPPAN Group’s global team of more than 50,000 employees offers optimal solutions enabled by industry-leading expertise and technologies to address the diverse challenges of every business sector and society and contribute to the achievement of shared sustainability goals.
https://www.holdings.toppan.com/en/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/toppan/

 

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/softbank-corp-and-toppan-holdings-develop-lightweight-durable-skin-for-solar-haps-aircraft-wings-302753970.html

SOURCE TOPPAN Holdings

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TravelingWiki Foundation Launches SportsFanWiki.com, Providing Disabled Fans with Sports Venue Specific Information in Wiki Format

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The setup of SportsFanWiki.com mirrors the extremely successful format of TravelingWiki.com, which documents disability resources for all FAA Large Sized and FAA Medium Sized hub airports and leverages the launch of a GenAI platform to ensure access across society to expanded disability resources information.

LAS VEGAS, April 27, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — TravelingWiki Foundation announces the launch of SportsFanWiki.com, providing a comprehensive database of sports venue information for fans with Non Visible Disabilities. The setup of SportsFanWiki.com mirrors the extremely successful format of TravelingWiki.com, which documents disability resources for all FAA Large Sized and FAA Medium Sized hub airports.

Leadership of TravelingWiki Foundation is honored to expand to sports venue disability information, offered free to the public and funded via the the sale of cards from the extraordinary careers of Michael Jordan, Lebron James, Shohei Ohtani and Mickey Mantle.

The launch of SportsFanWiki occurs at the same time as the launch of ShoheiAutographs.com; MantleRookies.com; KobeRookies.com; and LebronRookies.com, offering market leading sports card inventory of Shohei Ohtani, Mickey Mantle, Kobe Bryant and Lebron James, respectively. The launch highlights TravelingWiki’s services offered including new Generative AI functionality via a GenAI platform currently in beta testing. The launch also spotlights TravelingWiki’s CardForACause.com platform for free disability resources offered to 20 million Americans for no cost as funded with sports cards sales nationwide via the most two recent White House administrations.

TravelingWiki CEO Jonathan Sutter notes, “Leadership of TravelingWiki Foundation is honored to expand to sports venue disability information, offered free to the public and funded via the the sale of cards from the extraordinary careers of Michael Jordan, Lebron James, Shohei Ohtani and Mickey Mantle, to highlight the critical resources offered via TravelingWiki for the Non Visible Disability community.”

More information about the non-profit work of TravelingWiki foundation is available via visiting http://www.Travelingwiki.com.

Media Contact

Jonathan Sutter, TravelingWiki Foundation, 1 4044033333, jonathan.sutter@travelingwiki.com, http://www.TravelingWiki.com

Jonathan Sutter, TravelingWiki Foundation, 1 4044033333, jonathan.sutter@travelingwiki.com, http://www.TravelingWiki.com

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View original content:https://www.prweb.com/releases/travelingwiki-foundation-launches-sportsfanwikicom-providing-disabled-fans-with-sports-venue-specific-information-in-wiki-format-302753876.html

SOURCE TravelingWiki Foundation

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AiPPT.com Expands Its Approach to Turning Information into Ready-to-Use Presentations in India

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NEW DELHI, April 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — AiPPT.com has refined its platform as demand continues to grow in India for faster ways to turn everyday information into structured presentations.

Across universities, coaching centers, startups, and corporate teams, presentation work often begins with scattered material from notes, documents, and online sources. The platform focuses on converting this workflow into a single process that produces usable slides from raw input. The aim is to reduce preparation time while keeping presentations clear and ready for use.

A Workflow Built Around Content

AiPPT.com allows users to start in familiar ways. A topic can be entered directly, or files such as Word and PDF documents can be uploaded. Web content can also be converted into slides via the URL-to-PPT feature, which turns online information into structured presentations.

The system analyzes the input and builds a presentation with clear sections and logical flow. Slides are generated with formatting applied automatically, reducing manual effort.

For users looking for inspiration, AiPPT.com also provides resources such as easy presentation topics to help them get started more quickly.

From Scattered Information to Clear Communication

In academic and workplace settings, information is often spread across multiple formats. Turning this into a structured presentation can take time.

AiPPT.com simplifies this process. A report can become a meeting deck. A research paper can be turned into a seminar presentation. Startups can quickly build investor materials using the AI pitch deck generator. Educators can create structured lessons with support from tools designed for teaching, such as AI for teachers.

A Flexible System for Editing and Conversion

AiPPT.com supports full editing after generation. Users can adjust text, change slide order, or refine structure. Presentations can also be edited directly through its online PPT editor.

Users can also choose from a range of presentation templates to match different use cases. This flexibility helps users adapt presentations for classrooms, meetings, and digital sharing without rebuilding them.

About AiPPT.com

AiPPT.com is an AI-powered PPT generator focused on turning information into structured presentations. The company builds tools that connect content creation, organization, and presentation in one workflow. Its goal is to support clearer communication by helping users transform ideas and materials into ready to use slides efficiently.

Contact Information
Company Name: PIXELBLOOM PTE. LTD.
Email: support@aippt.com

Website: https://www.aippt.com/

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/in/news-releases/aipptcom-expands-its-approach-to-turning-information-into-ready-to-use-presentations-in-india-302753879.html

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