How We Help the Environment

Going Green for Earth’s and Our Bottom Line

Hearing a car dealership talk about helping the environment may raise a few eyebrows, but at Irwin Hyundai, we take environmental stewardship seriously. Here are some of the ways we’ve found to make a more positive impact on our environment in Laconia, NH.

Energy Efficient, Inside and Out

Low-emissivity windows help us maintain a constant, comfortable climate inside our showroom and offices. Low-e-coated glass works by reflecting energy back into the environment it’s in, which helps keep the heating infrared and damaging ultraviolet light out during the hot summer months and keeping the inside comfortable. In winter months, Low-E glass prevents the warm inside air from escaping through the glass, reducing our reliance on the HVAC system.

From sales to service, with all of the functions that an auto dealership serves, heavy energy consumption—especially from lighting—is unavoidable. To ease the power burden, we have updated the lighting throughout our dealership. We all know that older halogen and incandescent lighting consume a lot of energy. They can also be dangerous because these lights get hot and can cause burns, particularly for service technicians who use “drag” lights in close quarters to illuminate vehicles they are servicing. Energy efficient LED and fluorescent lighting use up to 80% less energy, is less prone to causing burns and is more durable than incandescent and halogen lighting.

We’ve found the LED lighting we’re using in our outdoor lot is valuable beyond its efficiency. By better directing light, rather than scattering light as old high-pressure sodium lights do, cars are easier to see (fewer “dead” spots and less glare). They also avoid creating “light pollution” in the neighborhood.

Breathing Easier with Low-VOC Paints

Several states, including New Hampshire, require the use of low-VOC paints. Unless you work in construction or auto body painting, you are probably wondering what “low-VOC” means and why it’s important. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) help keep paint pigment fluid until it’s applied to a surface, such as an auto body. As the paint dries, VOCs evaporate into the atmosphere. With chemical-based VOCs, this means there are a lot of chemicals emitted into the air. This isn’t good for any of us, but for those with breathing problems (asthma, allergies, or lung diseases), it is especially harmful. Low-VOC reduces the number of chemical solvents in primer, paint, and clear-coating, without compromising on the characteristics of traditional paint products.

Beyond the Blue Bins

Like most public places, we have conveniently-placed bins for recycling cans and bottles. But did you know our recycling efforts extend beyond the bins, to automotive metal and motor oil? The elements in ferrous metals used for automobiles are non-renewable: recycling scrap metal is a cost-effective way to provide the parts that keep your car on the road year after year.

One of our most impactful recycling efforts involves keeping used motor oil out of the environment. Studies show that used oil from a single car can contaminate as much as one million gallons of water if it reaches a storm drain. And motor oil can be re-refined to remove the impurities that get into it through engine use. In a time when water AND oil are precious commodities, it’s essential to do all that we can to conserve them.

Green Is Good Business

At Irwin Hyundai, “Going Green” is not just a catchy slogan. Using energy-efficient lighting, energy-saving glass, and doing our part to keep the environment clean is just good business. We invite you to visit us and see how being environmentally-conscious improves your buying experience by keeping our showroom comfortable and our overhead costs lower so we can give you the best deal possible on your car.