Ventura Auto Repair
Eco-Friendly Green Auto Repair!
Well, we had no idea until Chip Bell at Patagonia posed this question. "What is AWS doing for the planet in its auto repair practice?" This caused us to take a good look at our Ventura auto repair business and as it turned out being an environmentally friendly auto repair shop is easy to do and makes good sense. We are paying attention to how our actions (or inactions) affect the environment. Great attention is paid to storm water being affected by cars leaking fluids, especially oil. We work to help our customers understand that letting their cars leak any fluids is just not ok. We help them understand efficiency and things they can do to improve mileage. We have made many changes at AWS and continue to improve anywhere we can. Listed below are some changes we have made and we welcome any suggestions you may have.
Parts Washing
Ventura Automotive is proud to now offer chemical-free bioremediation for parts cleaning at our Ventura California auto repair shop! Bioremediation is nature's way of cleaning up. Technically, it is the accelerated breakdown of organic compounds through the use of enzymes, bacteria, or fungi. It's a safe, environmentally-friendly way to handle many kinds of hazardous waste and is supported by the EPA as a viable solution for cleanup of oil spills and other contaminants. This almost completely eliminates the need for aerosol and chemical parts cleaners!
Coolant
All coolant used at our auto repair shop in Ventura is reprocessed by New Cool and is recycled into new coolant sold as brand name Trinity. The small percentage of coolant that is left over by this process is recycled as roofing tar. (More information)
Waste Oil & Oil Filters
Oil and oil filters are both recycled at Ventura Automotive- completely reprocessed in an environmentally responsible manner. Oil is recycled into fuel oil and metal filters are cleaned completely recycled.
Trash & Waste
Steel and auto parts from our Green auto repair shop in Ventura are 100% recycled with our core return program and scrap steel collection. All paper is recycled and repurposed to minimize landfill impact.
Office
The restroom in our Green Ventura auto repair shop is equipped with low-flow sinks and toilets, and we use only organic cleansers and soaps supplied by Amway Corporation. Our reception area is lit with low-power florescent lights (only when necessary) and kept cool with natural air conditioning.
Toner and printer inks are recycled or on refill programs, recycled paper products are purchased whenever available. Computers are kept in "power-saver" mode during office hours and are turned off completely whenever they are not in use. Local products and services are used whenever possible.
Shop Rags
Our auto repair shop uses only washable and reusable rags, and our laundry service was chosen for its low energy/ low water cleaning methods.
Shop Flashlights
The flashlights used in our auto repair shop in Ventura are rechargeable, cutting down dramatically on battery consumption.
Customer Education
We are working to provide standardized information to educate customers on storm water damage due to oil leaks and air quality damage due to incorrect engine operation and defective smog devices. In addition, Ventura Automotive is always happy to guide and advise customers on how to get the most fuel efficient performance out of their vehicle.
