How to Find Eco-Friendly Car Repair Shops

One way to reduce your carbon footprint is to choose an eco-friendly car repair shop when your vehicles need tune-ups or repairs. Finding an eco-friendly shop may seem daunting as you begin scouring the local shops and get an idea of their business habits. Here are a few things that you can do in order to make your search a bit easier.

• Contact your local green business program. These programs are popping up in several areas of the United States and are a good place to start looking for an eco-friendly repair shop. Most repair shops will be registered with these organizations if they are green, due to the amount of hazardous waste generated by the facility. Certifications may be available from the organization to attest to the shops’ environmental practices as well. An example of a green business program is that of Oregon’s Eco-Logical Automotive Services program.
• Contact the local Chamber of Commerce and inquire about green businesses in your area. Many times businesses provide information regarding their practices to the Chamber and all you will need to do is ask about the local repair shops. Ask for recommendations on green, eco-friendly or environmentally responsible auto body and repair shops. If nothing else, the Chamber contact can at least give you a list of the repair shops in the area.
• Grab the phone book and start making calls. As a last ditch effort, calling and “interviewing” the area’s auto repair stations will normally turn up a few possible shops that you can further narrow down by visiting and comparing prices and actual green practices. You may run into some very non-eco-friendly answers, but it will be worth it if you can narrow your search down or find the exact shop you're looking for.

The auto industry is one of the largest producers of environmental waste and uses a great number of nonrenewable resources for manufacturing and repair. Auto body and repair shops are of particular concern because they use many hazardous and potentially dangerous chemicals. Many green or eco-friendly practices that some car repair shops undertake involve using many of the following:

• Biodegradable cleaners
• Pollution prevention techniques
• Petroleum recycling programs
• Environmentally friendly fuels
• Eco friendly tires

Choosing an eco-friendly car repair shop may seem like a bit of work to begin with, but in the end you can rest assured you made the most informed and environmentally sound decision possible.