Auto shops going green

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Jeff Beamish - View Bio

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Automotive shops don't seem to be environmentally friendly. Five more Tucson auto shops are changing that, by receiving a "green certification" from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality.

One of those stores is Econo Lube & Tune on Oracle & Magee. "They go through the process of checking your shop out and at the end they meet with each other and see what they come up with together," says Econo Lube & Tune's CEO Shannon Briscoe.

Among the many eco-friendly practices at this auto shop is an energy efficient water soluble jet machine that cleans parts using water and soap, instead of harmful chemicals. They've also changed their lighting from analog to digital, which makes bulbs burn brighter and last longer. "Three years I've used the same bulbs and I have yet to change any of them," says Briscoe.

Another auto shop to garner "green certification" is the Brake Max on Swan & Camp Lowell. Like Econo Lube & Tune, they're recycling motor oil, parts and even mop water.

"We recycle batteries here. We're actually an Interstate disposal station where we can recycle batteries. If people change themselves, they can bring them in here," says Brake Max manager Jared Goss.

Customers like Manny Zimmerman are all for programs like this. Zimmerman says, "If it's a good program and people are picking up on it, let's do it!"

It's a program whose work comes with a "Lifetime Guarantee" for Mother Nature.

There are 51 auto shops in Arizona that are a part of the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality's Green Business Automotive Program. For a list of "green" auto shops in Tucson, click on the following links:

http://www.aaaaz.com/news/articles/GreenShopList.htm?zip=85007

http://www.asaaz.info/cms/index.php?page=green-shop