The ‘GreenHouse’ at Rochdale is a single storey, brick-built, timber-clad building housing a renewable products display and training centre. In the latter Howarth will team up with EcoSkies, a renewable energy training specialist, to offer a range of courses, from woody biomass boiler and solar thermal installation, to rainwater harvesting. They will also cover latest regulations, codes and grant opportunities affecting renewables and sustainable construction.
"We are responding to demand and interest," said Howarth sustainability manager Jay Pickup. "A large proportion of our customers are white van man, jobbing builders and small building companies, and they were increasingly asking us about renewables, and developments like the Code for Sustainable Homes and the Green Deal. We decided this represented a new opportunity for us and by adding this service we could also strengthen customer loyalty."
The GreenHouse will be complemented by appointment of ‘green champions’ at each branch to explain and promote renewables. All reps have also received specialist training.
The renewables technology on offer at branches will inlude solar panels, biomass boilers, ground and air source heat pumps, MVHR systems, voltage optimisers and internal and external wall insulation.
"Initially we’re not planning to carry extensive stock, but act as a sales outlet for suppliers," said Mr Pickup. "We have a lot of contacts in the market, and they are increasingly seeing that selling via a merchant, rather than direct, gives them added exposure and footfall."
The official launch of GreenHouse this week attracted a lot of interest from customers and suppliers, he added.
"If it proves successful, we may look at rolling out the concept," he said. "Eventually I’d like to see one in every branch."
