How to recycle a car (Yes, a WHOLE car!)

As a cab company, we have a lot of cars around. 45 Toyota Priuses to be exact. These cars work extra hard as they drive around almost constantly day in and day out serving our wonderful customers! All that driving puts a lot of wear on a car and, occasionally, our cars get in accidents too, meaning we have a busy garage keeping as many cars on the road as possible! Sometimes, though, a car dies... As was the case with our cab #15. But even after we can't drive them anymore, we want to make good use of our cabs and make sure they aren't wasting away in a landfill! So we recycled it! You may be wondering, how do you recycle a car? Well I'm glad you asked!

After it was totaled, we kept the car for quite a while and used as many parts as possible for repairs on other cabs. In fact, just the other day, we used the computer module from it for another cab!
After we used as much of the car as we could, we had it hauled away to be recycled.

This is what cab 15 looked like as we had it hauled away:

 

 

 

Can you believe it use to look like this?!

 

In case you are super curious about car-recycling, let me give you a few facts about it to soothe your burning questions!
About 65% of a car is made from steel (which was about all that was left of cab 15 when it was taken). Steel is valuable and can easily be used to make other things when recycled. Recycling steel takes 74% less energy than making new metal. It's then cheaper to buy because new steel doesn't have to be mined! All steel produced today has about 25% recycled steel in it and some products are made entirely of recycled steel! "So in addition to the economic and environmental benefits, recycling cars is a vital link in the world's industrial infrastructure."

Cool facts about the world's largest auto shredder:
"Once cars are crushed, they're shipped off to a recycling center where they are shredded and separated into small pieces, which are then sorted into various metals. The largest shredder in the world is used by Sturgis Iron & Metal of Elkhart, Indiana. The machine is so big, it isn't measured in tons, but acres. It uses an 8,000-horsepower electric motor to drive a massive rotor that spins hammers at 175 mph, reducing six pre-crushed cars per minute into fist-sized metal chunks [Source: Buffalo News]. The shredder is so powerful, the hammers must be turned or replaced almost daily because of the wear and tear they receive, and it sits on special dampeners to prevent seismic vibrations in the surrounding area."

My facts about steel recycling were taken from this article at Howstuffworks.com
Grabianowski, Ed. "How Car Crushers Work" 30 June 2011. HowStuffWorks.com. <http://auto.howstuffworks.com/car-crusher.htm> 31 August 2012.

Phoenix Magazine's Best of the Valley-Vote for us!!

Why Do You Love Clean Air Cab?



Alright people. The time has come for our customers to show their love. The Phoenix Magazine is putting together their annual "Best of the Valley" list, and it's up to all of you to vote us into the top spot!

So you're probably wondering why you should vote for us over Discount, Yellow Cab, VIP, AAA and the countless other taxi services in the valley. The truth is, with so much competition, it's completely understandable to be undecided. Although we may be a smaller fleet than the previously mentioned companies, we have low and competitive fares, non-negotiable core values and we are ever growing and evolving.

Clean Air Cab is locally owned and operated out of Mesa. We only employ drivers whose backgrounds have been checked, who've passed a drug test and have a clean driving record. Everything this company stands for begins with professionalism, integrity and high standards of customer service. These are the elements that set us apart from other companies.

In addition to holding strong values, Clean Air Cab is dedicated to "going green" as well as charitable causes. Our fleet of cabs is the only fleet in the valley that is all "green". We maintain forty-five low-emission 2011 Toyota Prius Hybrid sedans that get an average of 45-50 miles per gallon. How's that for decreasing our carbon footprint?

As for charity, we make sizeable contributions to the ASU Scholarship Fund, Susan G. Komen Foundation, Phoenix Children's Hospital and Mesa United way. In addition to donating to these organizations, we have also planted over 5,000 trees with Trees for the Future, and we partner with Carbon Fund to purchase carbon credits, making us the only carbon neutral taxi fleet in Arizona. As you can see, we clearly stand behind our motto:

“At Clean Air Cab, we provide safe transportation that betters the quality of the environment, making it affordable and convenient for our community to support the growth of alternative energy.”

When voting for the valley’s best cab company, please keep Clean Air Cab in mind. As a company who has customer's best interests at heart, we would love to hear your feedback. It would be an honor to be named as Phoenix Magazine's Best Taxi Company. The only way we can make this happen is if you, our customer, gets the word out! If you have any questions you would like answered or comments you would like addressed before voting, don't hesitate to contact us.

Thank you for your time and happy voting!

To Vote: http://www.phoenixmag.com/best-of-the-valley/

Questions or Comments: makinzy.small@cleanaircab.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/cleanaircab

Twitter: www.twitter.com/cleanaircab

Website: www.cleanaircab.com

Happy (Late) Earth Day!

So, it is almost a week after Earth day, but Clean Air Cab did not forget! We've been busy having employee appreciation parties (where we raised money for our favorite charities AND got to dunk our favorite managers!) and going to Earth day events! (stay tuned for details about those!)

In honor of Earth day (because it's never too late to honor Earth day!), we're going to share 10 easy ways to live green!
1. Reduce!
Turn off the water, turn off the lights, print and copy on both sides of your paper, stop junk mail, take short showers, etc. The little things add up! For example, turning off the tap while brushing your teeth can save 200 gallons of water a month!

2. Unplug Unused Electronics!
Did you know your appliances still use electricity when they are turned off if they are left plugged in? In the average home, 25% of the electricity used to power home electronics is consumed while the products are turned off!

3. Recycle!
Simple enough right? We see those blue containers everywhere! But do you know how much of a difference it can make? " Recycling one ton of paper saves 17 mature trees, 7,000 gallons of water, three cubic yards of landfill space, two barrels of oil, and 4,100 kilowatt-hours of electricity – enough energy to power the average US home for five months"

4. Look for the ENERGY STAR label on products!
If a product has this label, it means it meets certain energy efficiency standards.

5. Use Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFL's)!
"ENERGY STAR labeled CFLs use up to 75 percent less energy and last up to 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs, saving an average of $30 over the lifetime of each bulb."

6. Fix Leaks!
Fixing leaks in your house can DRASTICALLY reduce water waste! "A faucet that leaks one drip per second can waste more than 3,000 gallons of water each year. A leaky toilet can waste up to 200 gallons of water every day."

7. Buy Recycled!
When shopping, look for the words "recycled" and "postconsumer" on products. Just about anything you can think of can be made of recyled materials. Buying recycled keeps trash out of landfills and prevents the use of more precious natural resources.

8. Computer Power-Management!
"Enable low-power sleep modes and turn off computers and monitors at night. General Electric implemented power management features on 75,000 of its computers, annually saving the company $2.5 million dollars and preventing 20,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions." For instructions on how to optimize settings on your computer and other advise, visit the ENERGY STAR website!

9. Properly Dispose of Hazerdous Waste!
Some electronics, batteries, and light bulbs contain toxic materials that, if disposed of in a landfill, can pollute the surroundings and water supply. There are often free collection events and, in some cases, you can even get paid for recycling old electronics! Check out the Collection Events page at OurEarth.org for more info on collection events!

10. Fresh, Local, Organic Food!
Now doesn't that sound delicious? Your food generally travels about 1,200 miles to reach you. Buy local food to prevent emissions and save energy! Also, try to chose fresh foods over frozen since frozen foods take 10 times more energy to produce.

Hopefully you can incorporate these little tips into your everyday life and live a little greener! Check out this website to calculate your carbon footprint and see where you need the most "green improvemetn!"

(Source: OurEarth.org)

April Driver of the Month: Ken Crocker

Here at Clean Air Cab, we pride ourselves not only on being a green company and saving you money, but on having great drivers too!

This month marks the start of a new monthly blog-feature for us: Driver of the Month!

This month's exceptional driver is Ken Crocker!

This is Ken with the Wells Fargo gift-card he won as a reward for his exceptional service!

Here are a few of many good things Ken's co-workers and customers have to say about him:

Dennis, the road supervisor, said, “Ken makes my job so much easier by exceeding my expectations!”

The dispatch crew said, “Ken is always helpful and a professional!”

A few of his frequent customers, ASU students, said, "“He takes care of us and gets us home safely! Also, he always smells good!”




So keep an eye out for Ken on the road and congratulate him if you are lucky enough to catch a ride in his cab!




We love to hear your feedback, so please go to the Clean Air Cab website and tell us how your experience with your driver and dispatcher were after your rides! You can also check us out on Facebook and leave reviews there! Be sure to "like" us while you're at it! Help your fantastic driver be recognized for his or her excellent service!

ASU wants REAL food.

Crossing the dusty deserts of the Southwest, comes an organization caravanning their way to Tempe. Stopping at the ASU campus this weekend, on February 11th to the 13th, the grassroots organization, Real Food Challenge, plans on hosting a summit for college students and faculty to advocate for a change in the university food system.

Through the voices of local food producers and student leaders, Real Food Challenge builds support for their cause as they trek across the nation seeking to educate vegetarians, omnivores, and especially the carnivores of this country about the processes and influences of corporate food. They demonstrate their belief in “real” food for students, by showing universities how to shift their budgets away from large corporations and junk food and instead implement locally farmed and wholesome goods to create a more sustainable and healthier food system for its students.

The upcoming Regional Southwest Sustainable Food Summit consists of speeches from the movement and youth leaders, interactive workshops, and an Opportunities Fair populated by Fair Trade and local food representatives. Three days will be spent talking over healthier choices for eating, smarter ways to purchase food, and developing a more cohesive understanding of the companies who control the food served in universities and across the country. Feel like securing a spot? Click here to join in on the fun:  http://realfoodchallenge.org/Southwest

Thank you to Clean Air Cabs for taking interest in the actions of ASU campus and helping to spread the word!

Story by: Sharyn Tom
Social Medial Intern
Beyond Green

Your Newest Green Team Intern--->

Greetings Cab Riders and Drivers!

I’m Sharyn, a local ASU Business Sustainability student and I’m here as a personal blogger to help maintain the online community here at Clean Air Cab. In addition to giving the website a youthful twist, I’ll also be reporting and photographing the ways in which Clean Air Cabs is helping to solve and address the environmental issues affecting Tempe.

Be on the lookout for my follow-up story about the Sustainability Summit that's happening at ASU this upcoming weekend!

Also, feel free to leave me comments regarding story ideas or other issues you want to see publicized here on the blog!

Wait, did I just see Clean Air Cab?

You probably did, we are the adorable little blue and green cabs (and sometimes other fun colors depending on the charity the cab was designed for) that are actually comfortable, clean, and environmentally friendly Prius state-of-the art vehicles.

Clean Air Cab will not only be seen on the road, but soon it will be featured on the tv show, Destination Arizona, which airs Saturdays at 2:30 pm.

if you have ever wondered what the on-set filming of an interview looks like...

Here it is, there is expensive film equipment and a hip setup.

 Just to make the shot cooler, you should take a cab driver and dress him up like he is a Sheriff in a John Wayne movie. Everybody, meet Baldo~ cab driver and mechanic extraordinaire.

 This is Lauren Burgoyne, the hostess of Destination Arizona, featured with Pablo, her talking pinata.

 Back to the serious nature of filming. You have to drive a white van and have a few more expensive camera, along with reverse umbrellas to capture the best lighting. Don't we look professional?

Olivia, holding the baby, like a baby sitter; Brandy, making phone calls, like a boss.

 We brought Lily because we thought this could be her first real break in the film industry, and she is our good luch charm, and the camera loves her.

 This is Lily loving nature, something we really admire here at Clean Air Cab.

 This is Clean Air Cab's multi-colored fleet;

 not only are the causes behind each of these cabs beautiful, but this is the first time all of our specialty cabs have ever been in the same place, at the same time.

We just wanted to tell you all thankyou, for making this dream a reality.

 You can't see it, but in this picture, all the cabs were in a single line and it was a beautiful sight.

This picture is symbolic in the fact that while our eyes our forward, we remember the past and the journey taken in order to get where we are today.

 Arizona State University, Susan G. Komen, Mesa United Way, Make a Wish, and Phoenix Children's Hospital... along with our everyday cab just trying to make a difference.

 We just wanted to remind you what a beautiful concept we have,

 and how that concept can make a difference,

 like sending someone to get a higher education, or fight a disease, or build a community.

Overall, we determined that the filming session was a success and we want you to be part of it, become part of the solution,

and that's a wrap.

photos by Kylie Johnson