New age Honda dealership flings its doors open

A new energy-efficient Honda dealership will ensure that the Japanese car manufacturer remains environmentally-assured in the public’s eye – signed, sealed and delivered by the Honda Civic Hybrid - by doing just about everything it can to sustain life.

The new Inchcape Honda showroom - found in Romford, Essex – is sourcing and utilizing every conceivable ounce of naturally-prepared energy as it becomes the UK’s most eco-savvy car dealership.

By recycling rainwater and making use of ground-dwelling heating pumps and roof-dwelling solar power panels to entice the sun’s rays to boil the dealer’s water, Inchcape Honda operates on approximately 30% less man-made power than a conventional, run-of-the-mill showroom does.

Opening to both a blaze of publicity – and hopefully some sun for demonstration purposes – Inchcape Honda Romford officially opened its doors for business this week.

From its new Honda corporate ID – that signifies the European network – this Essex-based branch has really bought into new interior and exterior design principles that it believes won’t go unnoticed by its customers, unto whom it offers a unique experience.

"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).

Summing it up in but two sentences adding, "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."

Now, in distinct contrast, dealerships of these large, glazed dimensions would ordinarily be comprehensively air conditioned; a system in itself that contributes to global warming by drawing on non reusable energies.

However, low lying ventilation louvers around the showroom’s perimeters, combine automatically with high level chimney-style ventilation terminals on the Inchcape building’s roof to trap and harness this raw, natural power source.

According to wind pressures, air is siphoned up through the showroom, creating a comfortable working ambience, and eradicating excess carbon emissions. The vent system opens and closes dependent on both the internal and external temperature and air quality.

Conversely, with regards the underground heating source, nine 75-metre deep bore holes are situated directly beneath the dealer car park. The heat energy is converted to 40 degrees, the ideal conditions for the under-floor heating to function to its optimum output during the colder months, and covers the entire building’s infrastructure, permeating upwards within all departments.

Externally, the site also reaps the collective benefits of rainwater, as it’s deposited in a tank to the rear of the showroom. Having channeled and pumped water from the dealership’s roof for grey water supplies, the UV filtering treatment process allows this naturally occurring element to be used for car washing purposes, and completing the cycle of eco-savvy events that make this Honda dealer stand out.

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.