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Acoma Optical - a
Green Pioneer in Santa Fe |
"We've always
been concerned about water and always recycled all our water, and made
sure that our manufacturing practices were sustainable." The standard
method of cutting lenses was with diamonds, which traditionally use a
constant flow of water on the cutting surface.
In lieu of using
water, Boddy's dad experimented with using bean curd oil. "We used that
for many years and it was really something to clean up!" In the mid '90s
we switched over to a dry-cut method of cutting lenses, which used air
on the cutting wheels and tungsten carbide bits to cut the lenses.
For over 15 years, this dry-cut saved a countless number of gallons
of water. Just recently, to increase precision, Acoma Optical has
converted back to a water-cut, but we now use a special coolant in order
to re-circulate the water. One of Acoma's employees suggested the
cutting wheel milling's could be used as packing material for shipped
items, so the discard material has been reduced to just a small amount
of powder.
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Reducing
Acoma's environmental impact, through recycling and trash reduction,
energy conservation and reducing toxic chemical waste is a high
priority. Acoma was able to get rid of a trash dumpster at the Fifth
Street store by considerably increasing our recycling. At the Zafarano
location, Acoma moved into a more compact space to reduce heating and
cooling costs and went to a three phase intelligent electrical air
compressor, which kicks in on an as needed basis.
We're using a
newly available, biodegradable chemical to clean lenses, reducing (other
chemical waste) use to almost zero' says owner Brian Boddy. "The waste
we produce now is 94% water, with just a little isopropyl alcohol, safe
enough to pour down the drain".
Closing the cycle, Acoma collects
old eyeglasses, which we either deliver ourselves to people in need, or
pass along to the Lions Club. Lions takes glasses and cleans them,
determines the correction of the lenses and re-distributes the glasses.
The Brian and Cyndi Boddy have been to Mexico several times giving out
glasses. Of course, even in our own backyard, there's a need. "We donate
so many pairs of glasses. Its important for us to give back to the
community----- it's our city," says Boddy.
Excerpt from the Green Fire Times October 2010 written by Beverly Miriam
Post
Acoma Optical and Santa Fe Lens also use a large
portion of
lenses manufactured with 100 percent renewable energy setting the
standard in industry leadership and corporate responsibility. |
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