AAA Magazine As A Green Resource

I've been a member of the AAA Organization for as long as I can remember driving a car. They provide a valuable service, many in fact, and I've made use of their emergency roadside assistance in multiple capacities over the years. Recently while reading my Highroads magazine I came across a small article regarding Green Shops.

A car can be a huge strain on the environment if not properly maintained. Emissions are forefront in many consumer's minds these days but there are other factors that car maintenance can impact which may not even make our radar as we get our cars serviced and cleaned.

Solvents, fluid disposal, spills and energy efficiency are commonly overlooked pieces of the car care puzzle.

I get my oil changed, clean the interior and exterior of my vehicle and make sure my tire pressure is optimal for better gas mileage but where we take our cars to have these services performed can be just as vital as making sure the tasks are completed. AAA has compiled a list of over thirty shops that are on their Green Shops list in and around Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona.

Per the Highroads magazine:

Performing beyond the standard environmental regulations, these shops have adopted additional environmentally friendly practices including:

- Using low-hazard, low-pollution solvents or water-based cleaning
- Recycling and reusing fluids whenever possible
- Practicing spill prevention, sealing shop floors, and recycling oil
- Saving energy with efficient lighting, "green" office equipment, and energy-efficient air conditioning
- Properly maintaining plumbing, installing low-water use fixtures, and using desert landscaping and dry-floor clean-up procedures

If you're in the Phoenix or Tucson area you can learn more about the shops on their list by visiting the AAA Green Shops. To find the list of Green shops in your area contact your local AAA office for more information.

It's just one way we can all ensure we do our environmental part.

Reduce Mold with Aspen Environmental

Mold is a creepy little substance, it can be the root cause of serious health issues and create complications for the respiratory systems of all humans but most especially children. It breeds in moist environments and is a living bacteria. Bleh.

So recently when I was visiting my Step Mother at her place of employment, a Real Estate office, I happened to notice a pamphlet for Aspen Environmental on their shelf and being the Greenie I am, I was intrigued. It turns out this company will not just clean mold spores but guarantees the complete removal of mold.

Aspen adheres to the stringent standards of the National Organization of Remediators and Mold Inspectors (NORMI) as well as the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC). What this means is the professionals are adhering to a stricter code of ethical customer treatment and that they are trained in remediation.

What I found very cool about Aspen in particular is their indication of being a Green Aware Company. This means they use only natural biowashes and environmentally safe fungicides to protect the area from future mold outbreaks. In addition to these fantastic efforts their pamphlet also indicates that they donate a portion of their proceeds to various charities.

The company is located in Methuen, MA and from what I can surmise only operates in the general local northeast region of the United States. However if there is a company here in Massachusetts that will eliminate mold in an environmentally responsible manner I can only imagine others exist as well.

If this is an issue in your life please consider looking into an environmentally conscious company like Aspen before hiring a company who might use chemicals to treat this bacterial issue; that might rid the mold but can potentially release toxic chemicals into the home further reducing overall air quality!