August 11, 2008

Honda have taken their environmental commitment one stage further and have opened the UK’s first green showroom.  Their new energy efficient dealership has opened in Romford, Essex and uses up to the minute technology to minimise it’s impact on the environment.  Through recycling rainwater, using ground source heating pumps and solar power to heat water, the dealership uses around 30 per cent less energy than a standard car showroom.

Opening this week the dealership will present  Honda’s new corporate identity for its European network. There’s a new approach to interior design and a distinctive exterior appearance, with the dealership looking to provide a unique experience for it’s customers.

"We aimed to create a clean, uncluttered showroom to ensure the car is always the star," says Phil Crossman, Head of Network Development at Honda (UK). "We want buying a car to be an enjoyable experience. There are only 12 cars on display in the showroom, and with the extra space, the atmosphere is more relaxed for customers."

Typically a showroom of the size of Inchcape Romford, with similar large glazed areas, would be air conditioned, using a high energy central unit to cool and circulate air. However, the Inchcape site uses low level ventilation louvers around the edge of the showroom and high level, chimney-style ventilation terminals mounted on the roof of the building.

Wind pressure then draws air through the showroom, up through the roof terminals using a ‘stack effect’, creating comfortable working conditions without the carbon emissions that would normally be associated with air conditioning. The system has been designed so that it is fully automated, with the vents opening slightly during the evenings of the warmer summer months to pre cool the building.

Heating is provided to the showroom from energy in the ground using nine, 75-metre-deep bore holes located beneath the car park. The heat energy is converted to 40 degrees, ideally suited to the under-floor heating system which is laid beneath the entire showroom, corridors and toilet areas of the ground floor. The system can also be used to cool the floor slightly in the warmer summer months, assisting the natural ventilation.

The Romford site also harvests rainwater in a tank buried to the rear of the showroom, which pumps water from the roof of the building for its ‘grey’ water supplies. After UV filtration treatment this water is also clean enough to be used for washing cars.

Elsewhere, solar power is used to heat water using evacuated tube panels on the main roof and circulating heat into a secondary coil of the main hot water cylinder.

Green hybrid vehicles will be on sale at the Inchcape showroom, side by side with conventionally powered vehicles.  Honda sold 2800 hybrid vehicles in 2007 (up 400% on 2006), and are confident of hitting their target of 3000 for this year.  Their new, more affordable family hybrid car is due to go on sale in the spring.

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