Going green an investment

One local auto body repair and paint shop owner changed the way he did business to help the environment.

The move cost Steve Stallings some money. Yet, he sees the implementation of a new paint system at Stallings Collision Centers as improving the work process while getting a leg up on his competition.

Stallings switched from painting vehicles with a urethane-based paint to a water-based paint, which gives off fewer volatile organic compounds.

When his two shops perform work on almost 200 cars a month, emissions from the painting process with solvent-based paint can add up.

Stallings estimates that switching systems would take the equivalent of 1,250 cars off the road in terms of emissions.

“We’ve always been very environmentally conscious,” he said. “It’s a no-brainer for us to do that.”

Stallings also saw new ozone standards coming in 2012, which would have required such a move anyways. He implemented the system now to avoid doing it at the same time as everyone else.

“We’ve got the jump on it,” Stallings said. “We’ll have it perfected.”

Fewer toxic emissions mean a safer environment for his workers. Water-based paint also proves easier to handle, spray and mix. It doesn’t need additional mixtures of binders or additives.

What’s the waste byproduct with the new system? Water, he said.

To keep a low footprint, the centers recycle as much metal and plastic from the vehicles as they can. They also recycle cardboard from shipped parts.

Stallings has been in business since 1991 and opened the Stallings Collision Center on Riverside Drive in 2003. In April, he opened Stallings Collision Center North on U.S Business 29.

The North facility started using the new waterborne basecoat system on Oct. 12. The Riverside center is finishing its installation.

“We’re just conscious of our future as far as an industry goes,” Stalling said. “Being environmentally friendly is the only way you’re going to maintain repairing these cars in the future.”