OpenRoad’s BMW Langley makes going green look easy with their state-of-the-art dealership that received LEED Gold certification late last year.

Walking into the massive glass-filled facility on Collection Drive that first opened in August 2011, sales manager Ahmed Abou-Shaaban says the abundance of sunlight makes staff and customers alike feel almost immediately happier.

“To be honest, when you’re working in a glass building on a nice sunny day, you’re getting more Vitamin D and it helps your mindset and mood,” says Abou-Shaaban.

To achieve LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) status, which ranges from Certified to Platinum, a certain number of points must be achieved in seven different environmentally friendly areas. Among the topics are energy efficiency — for example using natural light to minimize reliance on electricity — material selection and indoor environment quality.

Everything about the building looks high-tech and modern, from the sensor-equipped lights that remain off until people walk by, to the unique architecture and primarily white colour scheme that makes you feel like you’re in some kind of a BMW museum. The boardroom on the second floor is surrounded by giant floor to ceiling windows, and appears to be floating in the air when you look around you.

“Clients rave about the size and the design aspect of the building. All together, it’s definitely a wow factor the minute you walk in.”

Abou-Shaaban says achieving LEED Gold is not only good for reducing carbon footprint, but that it alignts with the German manufacturer’s current goals, as well.

“With our brand, we are working towards producing green-friendly vehicles. We just introduced the i3 and i8 and pride ourselves on moving forward and finding ways to minimize emissions. Clients do value that we’re thinking about the next generation, as well.”

On June 4 at their headquarters in Richmond Hill, ON, BMW Group Canada officially unveiled to media their first mainstream production electric car: the BMW i3.

With a range of 160 kilometres on a full charge (15 hours using standard Level 1 charging, three to four hours with Level 2), the i3 isn’t breaking any distance records. However, it is designed to be for urban use and there is research showing that a majority of city-dwelling Canadians drive less than 60 km a day. For those suffering from range anxiety, there is an optional model that features an add-odd gasoline engine that pushes the total range to 300 km. Rather than powering the drive wheels in the rear, the extra engine is only for powering up the battery.

Like a yoga studio or an ethical coffee shop, BMW says that there was a holistic approach to building their electric car. For example, if you peer inside you’ll notice the use of wood on the dash. That’s made from the eucalyptus plant sourced from Europe. In fact, 25 per cent of the entire interior is made from recycled materials.

Technology plays just as big a role as sustainability in the car’s production. Rather than a traditional instrument cluster and climate control layout, there is a pair of “pads” that display all the pertinent information. One is located in front of the steering wheel, and the other is a seven-inch screen — upgradeable to 10.2 inch — in the middle of the dash. Several of the vehicle’s controls can also be monitored and actuated using BMW’s propriety iRemote app available for Apple and Android devices.

I was fortunate enough to join a small group of other journalists given access to the i3s for a quick drive around the city to test the performance and handling. The 130-kilowatt electric motor produces 170 horsepower, more than ample for getting around town. One thing immediately noticeable upon first drive is the sensation of the car abruptly slowing down when you let off the gas — that’s the regenerative braking system turning friction back into usable energy. When you put your foot back down, the 184 lb-ft of torque brings power up quickly and, coupled with the near 50/50 weight balance, the car drives like you would expect something coming out of the Leipzig, Germany factory.

The i3 starts at $44,950. Visit the BMW website for more information.