Ed’s Premier Auto Body is the recipient of the 2013 Spokane Clean Air Award
Props to Ed's Premier Auto Body for winning the 2013 Clean Air Award, presented by Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency.
"Ed's Premier Auto Body is being recognized for their comprehensive approach to auto body repair, resulting in increased efficiency and reduced air emissions," states Bill Dameworth, Spokane Clean Air Director. Emission reductions include toxic air pollutants and volatile organic compounds.
Fifteen years ago, in an effort to reduce hazardous waste generated by the collision repair process, Ed's Premier Auto Body started to distill dirty solvents and recapture solvents from waste paints so that they can be reused. They currently distill about 10 gallons of dirty solvent per day, reducing their hazardous wastes to less than 120 gallons per year. Without recycling the solvents, they would generate 2,600 gallons of hazardous waste per year. Over the past 15 years, that would equate to 36,000 gallons of solvents that have been recycled and reused instead of becoming hazardous waste. Ed's Premier Auto Body also recycles all of the waste oil and waste antifreeze generated from repair jobs.
At the end of 2012, Ed's Premier Auto Body participated in an energy audit with their utility provider. As a result, they upgraded their lighting to new, efficient light fixtures and retrofitted their natural gas heating system with a wireless, programmable control. Their facility upgrades have improved the building's efficiency, resulting in reduced electricity and natural gas use, which also reduces air pollution emissions.
They were honored at last week's Way To Go Awards and deservedly so! They've made great strides is reducing their environmental footprint and hopefully more businesses follow their lead.
