Directions: Jumping on the Green Bandwagon

Directions: Jumping on the Green Bandwagon

As you look ahead to 2010, maybe you are considering introducing "greener" business practices for your shop. Here are some ideas to get you started.

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• Use non-chlorinated aerosols and an aqueous-based hot water washer for parts cleaning.

• Enlist petroleum-eating microbes for minor spills.

• Use recycled printer toner cartridges and, where possible, use two-sided printing on 100% recycled paper in your office operations. 


One of the best handbooks out there I’ve seen on greening your shop is from the Portland, OR, Pollution Prevention Outreach Team. For a downloadable copy of their 68-page handbook Keep Your Shop in Tune — A Best Management Practices Guide for Automotive Industries, e-mail me at [email protected] or visit their website at www.ecobiz.org.

But, make sure you “consider the environment” before printing out the whole document. 

Green Sites
If you would like more information on greening your shop in 2010, the following websites provide practical business tips:

• Green Business Practices — http://www.business.gov/expand/green-business/

• U.S. Department of Energy — http://www.eere.energy.gov/

• How To Go Green At Work — http://planetgreen.discovery.com/go-green/green-work/

• Coordinating Committee For Automotive Repair — http://www.ccar-greenlink.org/vshops/

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