Environmental Impact
Clean, Environmentally Friendly Auto Repair
When most customers take in their vehicle for servicing, they don’t think of auto repair shops as environmentally friendly. Yes, they expect auto shops to recycle batteries, tires, and oil. But beyond these few (but still critical) items, car dealers and auto repair companies are not known as the poster children for protecting our planet.
However, for over 40 years, BA Auto Care has worked tirelessly to reduce its carbon footprint and environmental impact, proving that auto repair companies can also be stewards of the environment. Every day, we work at turning the dirty side of our business into a case study for keeping a clean, environmentally friendly workplace.
At BA Auto Care, environmentally friendly auto repair is not a marketing phrase — it is part of how we operate every day. We believe that a modern automotive repair facility has a responsibility to care for more than just the vehicles in our bays. We also have a responsibility to reduce waste, conserve energy, protect natural resources, and make practical decisions that support a cleaner future for Columbia, Howard County, and Central Maryland.
Our commitment to sustainability starts with the way our facility is powered and maintained. By investing in renewable energy, energy-efficient lighting, reduced chemical usage, recycling, and cleaner operating practices, we have worked to lower the environmental impact of traditional auto repair. These efforts also reflect our broader philosophy of preventive maintenance: taking action early, making responsible choices, and extending the life of valuable resources.
We also recognize that the automotive industry is changing quickly. Hybrid and electric vehicles are becoming more common, and drivers are increasingly looking for repair shops that understand both advanced vehicle technology and environmental responsibility. As a qualified hybrid and electric vehicle service center, BA Auto Care continues to invest in training, equipment, and forward-thinking practices that support the future of transportation.
For our customers, this means you can feel good knowing that your vehicle is being serviced by a team that values safety, reliability, honesty, and sustainability. Whether we are performing routine maintenance, diagnosing a Check Engine Light, servicing a hybrid vehicle, or helping extend the life of an older car, our goal is always to provide high-quality auto care in a cleaner, more responsible way.
We are proud to be part of the Howard County business community and to show that independent auto repair shops can lead by example. Clean, environmentally conscious auto repair is possible. At BA Auto Care, it has been part of our mission for decades.
How We are Reducing Our Environmental Impact:
Energy Usage
- Every watt of energy used in our facility comes from the 185 solar panels on the roof of our building.
- Over 60% of the lighting in our workshop is provided through solar light tubes. In addition to environmental savings, this “natural” light is beneficial to the health of our employees.
- Light levels in our building are controlled to ensure a constant light level from the LED lighting. This saves energy by turning off light tubes as the sun rises.
- To cut down on energy use and to improve the quality of life, we have operated a 4-day work week for employees with long commutes.
Waste Reduction
- We have reduced our used oil pick up by installing a clean burn waste oil heater. Since installing the heater, we reduced the amount of natural gas used to heat our building by 50%.
- We switched 95% of our chemicals used to environmentally friendly products such as Simple Green.
- We reduced the number of single use items such as disposable paper floor mats & plastic covers.
Working with the Community
- Our courtesy shuttle used by our customers is an electric vehicle, and it’s used power from the solar panel to transport our customers to and from work and home for over 2 years (45,000 miles).
- We support community organizations with environmentally friendly projects, “Girls on the Run” showing them how to reuse coffee cups as seed planters. The Community Ecology Institute In Renovating a greenhouse nursery tunnel.
