Cleanliness is a virtue among most auto repair shops—but for Go Green Auto Care of Newport News, Virginia, they ensure that every aspect of their practice doesn’t just look clean, but is actively making the environment around them cleaner.
The business’ eco-friendly foundation comes from Leslie Jarvis, co-owner alongside her husband, Tyrone Jarvis. They do things a little differently from most shops, but it’s earned them a loyal customer base, more affordable operations, and even allowing them to change statewide legislation paving the way for other small businesses to adopt sustainable practices.
Seeing Solutions in Unlikely Places
Sustainability has always been at the heart of Go Green Auto Care since it was first founded in 2010, but Leslie’s passion for the topic goes back much further. When she first became a vegetarian in the 90s, it was not nearly as mainstream as it is now. She found support through a community of others like her, which led to learning about environmental conservation and sustainability.
Only a year after opening, the shop was already making an impact, winning the Virginia Clean Business Award for early sustainability efforts, including thorough recycling and the use of non-toxic cleaners and lubricants. It wasn’t until 2015 that the shop met pushback, when it began harvesting rainwater.
The installation of Go Green’s rainwater harvesting system was prompted by a plumbing leak under the foundation of their building, which they were told had to be solved by fixing a pipe under the foundation. Having ownership of the building, Leslie and Tyrone have always had the freedom to do what they want with it, and started thinking of sustainable solutions to their new problem.
That’s when they found a manual on rainwater harvesting, published around 20 years ago by an environmentalist in Roanoke, Virginia. Leslie knew they had found their answer.
“We purchased 500 to 250 gallon tanks, set up the first flush and all the purifying and the filters and everything we needed to get it done, and we put out a press release letting everybody know that this was our new initiative,” tells Leslie.
It was a brilliant move to use resources naturally provided to them—not only helping the environment but relieving strain on the city’s supply, while also saving them money.
Fighting for Statewide Change
There were no problems until local officials pushed back, due to a law that mandated connection to the municipal water supply. Otherwise, a building would be considered unfit for habitation. “Even though we had beautiful, clean, potable standards—water fit for human consumption on site—they came in to shut us down,” tells Leslie.
That didn’t stop Leslie, though. She and Tyrone made contact with who their state delegate was at the time, David Yancey, and worked with him to draft legislation that would make it legal for businesses like Go Green Auto Care to harvest rainwater.
As of 2024, that legislation has been signed into law, and Leslie has continued to advocate for businesses pursuing sustainable practices.
Originally a high school dropout with a GED, last year she graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University with a Bachelor’s in Interdisciplinary Studies, focusing on Environmental Law. She’s now working on another piece of legislation, SB851, which would protect individuals and businesses who invest in rainwater harvesting from local municipalities attempting to restrict or penalize them.
Go Green Auto Care has not only set a precedent for shops to adopt sustainable standards, but has shown how important it is for small businesses to stand up for their values, and how real change can happen with a little planning.
Implementing Sustainable Practices in Your Shop
Though not all shops may be able to invest in something like rainwater harvesting or solar power right away, there are small, easy ways to incorporate sustainable practices into a repair shop’s practices.
Leslie suggests for shops to hone in on a few select things that can be optimized, and slowly expand from there. As one example: instead of throwing kitty litter on oil spills and throwing it out, Go Green uses a squeegee and a dust pan to dispose of the oil, and cleans the floors with non-toxic soap.
Product selection is a simple, yet important change, too—particularly using lubricants and degreasers that are biodegradable and eco-friendly. Another huge aspect of Go Green’s operations is its waste oil heater, which recycles used motor oil to heat the entire shop. Not only does this cut down on waste, but can drastically cut a facility’s energy bill.
Not only do these practices help the local environment and have potential cost benefits, but have a tremendous impact on the customer experience. Go Green’s clients are always wowed by how spic-and-span the facility is, and that is largely because of the great care the entire team has for maintaining it.
“I feel a great sense of pride when people come into the shop, and they're like, ‘Oh my god, this is like my living room!’ It’s not a dirty, oily, greasy dungeon like a lot of shops are,” says Leslie.
Sustainability is a concern for a growing number of people, but it isn’t something many repair shops are openly addressing. Adopting sustainable practices is not just something that will benefit your wallet, but is a way of showing that you are doing your part to keep your community clean, healthy, and safe.
That’s why Leslie hopes that the change Go Green has brought about—making it easier for small businesses to seek alternative, sustainable solutions without being penalized—will make it easier for more shops to feel confident in making such a change themselves.
“There's cost savings that come with being green, and there's also customer loyalty that comes with being green and implementing sustainable practices,” says Leslie. “There are people out there that want ethical repair—they want you to be sustainable.”
