TUCSON, Ariz. — "When most people think of an auto repair facility, they envision oily rags and stained floors," said Don Nunnari, vice president of membership products and services for AAA Arizona. But some facilities are trying to clean up the industry’s image by becoming certified Green Shops.

On April 18, BRAKEmax Car Care Center's newest location at 7525 S. Houghton Road, near Valencia Road, became the 10th store in the Tucson area to receive the Green Shop distinction from AAA Arizona and the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality.

Tucson's Green Shops AAstro Trasmission 8150 E. 22nd St. 298-1103 AAstro Trasmission 4443 W. Ina Road 744-0655 AAstro Trasmission 5302 E. Speedway Blvd. 325-5500 Arizona Care Care Centers 4195 W. Ina Road 744-4900 Arizona Car Care Centers 7970 E. Golf Links Road 546-1120 Borst Automotive 1255 S. Swan Road 748-8861 BRAKEmax 6560 N. Thornydale Road 878-0111 BRAKEmax 7525 S. Houghton Road 663-0005 Milex Auto Service Center 6911 E. Broadway Blvd. 298-9404

A Green Shop designation means that the facility has taken steps beyond governmental regulations to be environmentally friendly, said AAA public affairs specialist Michelle Donati. The shops must use things like low hazard solvents.

More than a dozen certificates have been handed out since the ADEQ started the program three years ago. While 10 are in Tucson, six are located in the Phoenix area.

"There is another 10 more in the process right now," said ADEQ communications director Mark Shaffer. “We feel that this is just the tip of the iceberg because green is hot right now. We’re finding that there is more and more interest all the time.”

BRAKEmax's commitment to waste reduction as well as its energy conservation — the shop has windows lining two walls for natural light instead of relying on electricity — and water conservation helped it receive its Green Shop designation.

"I also gave them points for having people certified to work on hybrids," said Phillip Farenga, AAA Arizona’s AAR technical specialist and ERS field representative based in Tucson.

Shops also receive points in these areas:

• Using low hazard solvents for cleaning and degreasing



• Recycling and reusing fluids when possible



• Practicing spill prevention with sealed shop floors

"ADEQ just recognized years ago that resources are tight so we have to do as much as we can do as far as protecting the environment and our limited resources," said Dale A. Anderson, manager of the ADEQ Pollution Prevention Unit. "Auto shops represent a lot of waste or potential waste."

BRAKEmax’s Houghton location estimates that it recycles 150 gallons of waste oil per week. And the center also recycles an average of 40 gallons of antifreeze, 100 pounds of scrap metal and 180 oil filters every month.

"We waited a little while to see the benefits, but now it seems like we’re on a roll," Anderson said. "We can see that the program is working."

The new BRAKEmax location was built to meet the standards of the Green Shops program.

"They spent more than a million dollars on this shop," Shaffer said. "A lot of it went to the high-tech things involved with the proper disposal of dangerous chemicals and recycling of parts. We would love to see this go on in other places."

BRAKEmax plans to open more Green Shops in the future.

"It ends up that even though there is an initial expense in the hardware to do better recycling, it's labor safe so they wind up saving money in the long run," Anderson said.

The three BRAKEmax Green Shops charge the same prices as facilities that do not meet the environmental standards.

"These auto repair facilities deserve a lot of recognition for taking such a proactive approach toward environmental stewardship," said ADEQ Director Steve Owens. "These auto shops are sending a clear message that protecting the environment makes good business sense too."

A Tour of Tucson’s Newest Green Shop