ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP
AUTOMOTIVE ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP
Addison Auto Repair & Body Shop is one of only three auto shops recently to receive the Denver P2 Partners certification from the Denver Department of Environmental Health. The primary goals of the program are; to increase participation and adoption of sustainable practices to minimize the use of hazardous materials, improve energy efficiency and water conservation and decrease the use of resources and generation of waste.
Vehicle repair involves handling a wide variety of waste materials, some toxic, if not properly managed. A modern auto shop can be a model of recycling and environmental awareness.
Recycling is a large segment of the auto industry. Increased costs in metals and petroleum products make it easier and more cost effective to recycle. We recycle both on and off site.
Addison Auto has incorporated a large variety of environmental and safety standards into its design and operation.
2010 Environmental Changes Made To Facilities
2010 changes in the paint department include: cutting generation of volatile organic compounds by one-third by using waterborne paint instead of solvent based. Lighting fixtures were upgraded to T8 bulbs with electronic ballasts. Two high energy consuming piston-driven compressors were replaced with one energy-efficient variable frequency drive compressor. Installation of an energy efficient paint booth. Rain sensors were installed on the lawn sprinkler systems.
Auto Air Conditioning
Few are aware of the environmental effects that refrigerants have. The original refrigerant, R-12 was found to be harmful to the earth’s ozone layer. We recovered the recycled R-12 until it was phased out in the mid 90’s. After R-12 was discontinued, the industry standard became R134a. This refrigerant is ozone safe but is a greenhouse gas that can contribute to global warming. It too is recovered and recycled. Because R135a has a greenhouse gas rating of 1200, and the European Union standard is 150, the EU is mandating the phase out of R134a for a yet to be determined refrigerant for new models beginning in about three years.
Solvents
Tires
Addison Auto Repair & Body Shop complies with Colorado 6CCR 1007-2 as it pertains to waste tires. Not one used tire from our shop goes into a landfill.
Recycling Auto Parts
Many of our electrical parts are sent back to the manufacturer to be rebuilt, and old batteries are returned to the supplier.
Recycling Body Parts
Damaged bumpers and headlights are remanufactured.
Recycling Cardboard
Cardboard is kept in a separate dumpster and picked up for recycling.
Scrap Metal
Steel, aluminum and other metals are collected, and recycled.
Paint Shop
To improve paint shop processes a major addition to the paint shop was completed in 2010. A new energy efficient paint booth was installed. We cut generation by one-third, volatile organic compounds by using waterborne paint. We're proud to have made this important transition from solvent based to waterborne for the health and well being of our staff and the environment.
Waste Oil
Our waste oil is held in double walled approved waste tanks for use during the cooler months to heat the shops. What we don’t burn, is picked up by an approved recycling company. We crush oil filters, and recover that oil. Re-refining oil uses about 1/3 of the energy of refining oil from crude.
Facility Wastewater
Floor wastewater goes into a sand trap where the solids are separated, and hauled off by an approved waste disposal company.
Federal Law Prohibits Improper Disposal
The companies who remove our hazardous materials properly dispose of the waste.
Our office manager, Betty Hunt, has been working with an EPA automotive focus group, helping to create an environmental compliance assistance program for auto shops.
In addition to protecting the environment, recycling is often a good economic alternative.