Clean Air Cab is First in AZ to have Full Fleet of Carbon Neutral Taxis

Phoenix Metro Area is Second in Nation to Have Full Fleet of Carbon Neutral Taxis, Clean Air Cab is First in Arizona 

Mesa, Ariz., – Clean Air Cab, Arizona’s most environmentally friendly taxicab service, today announced the launch of the very first carbon neutral taxicab service in the state of Arizona. While a Washington D.C. taxicab service was the first in the Nation to have an all green taxi fleet last year, Arizona’s Clean Air Cab is the first all green fleet in Arizona and the Southwest, and will be serving the entire Phoenix Metropolitan area.

While many consumers expect to pay more for green alternatives that benefit the planet, Clean Air Cab’s rates are slightly less than their competitors.

According to Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon, “Phoenix is committed to becoming the first carbon neutral city in the nation. We have been leaders on sustainability issues for decades and value responsible investments like this one to help us be the best stewards we can be.”

The fleet is composed of 100 percent hybrid vehicles. The Ford Crown Victoria’s traditionally used by cab companies releases approximately 160% more emissions than the hybrid vehicles used by Clean Air Cab. Clean Air Cab purchases carbon credits to offset their emissions, then goes the extra mile in pursuit of a negative carbon footprint by subsidizing the planting of trees in Brazil rain forests. There is no other cab service in the state that is fully carbon neutral or negative. The company intends to plant 10 trees each month for every cab in service, and has already planted 260 for the month of October.

“We believe that going green isn’t something you do – it is something you are,” said Steve Lopez, Founder of Clean Air Cab. “Our intention is to take the trendy out of ‘going green’ and deliver a product that allows consumers to be green just by participating.”

Clean Air Cab celebrated opening their hybrid doors to the public with a ribbon cutting ceremony on October 20th, 2009 with 26 cabs and plans to grow their fleet to 200+ cabs. It is estimated that a fleet of 26 traditional taxis would produce approximately 1800 tons of greenhouse gases per year. Clean Air Cab’s fleet of 26 taxis will not produce any [tons of greenhouse gas].

Consumers can book a Clean Air Cab taxi online at www.CleanAirCab.com or by calling 480.777.9777. Service is offered Valley-wide.

What does it mean to be “carbon neutral” and “carbon negative?”

According to Wikipedia, being carbon neutral refers to achieving net zero carbon emissions by balancing a measured amount of carbon released with an equivalent amount sequestered or offset. Many companies and individuals purchase carbon offsets to diminish their own greenhouse gas emissions from transportation, electricity use, and other sources. With the current trend for companies to become carbon neutral, there is now an emerging trend for some organizations to go beyond this in their sustainability efforts and become carbon negative by offsetting more than 100% of their carbon emissions.

Published on behalf of Clean Air Cab
Based out of Mesa, Ariz., Clean Air Cab is Arizona’s first carbon negative taxicab service. Its mission is to make it affordable and convenient for everyone to go green by offering green cabs at less expensive rates than traditional cab alternatives. The eco-friendly transportation company is launching in October 2009 with a fleet of 26 Toyota Prius, currently the most fuel-efficient hybrid auto on the market. The Ford Crown Victoria’s traditionally used by cab companies releases approximately 160% more emissions than the Toyota Prius. The Toyota Prius also offers an extra 33 miles per gallon of gas – a gas savings of almost 1,000 miles per gallon across the fleet. In addition to the substantial reduction of carbon emissions and improved mileage offered by its fleet, Clean Air Cab purchases carbon offsets and supports global reforestation by subsidizing the planting of 10 rain forest trees monthly for each cab in service. For more information on Clean Air Cab, please visit www.cleanaircab.com or call (480) 777-9777.

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