Sofla Environment

Biodiesel Facts with Tri-Rail

2009-10-28T10:37:00.000-07:00

Tri-Rail is in the midst of their "Go Green and Save!" campaign. This campaign gives visitors the opportunity to register on www.tri-rail.com to win a FREE ONE YEAR TRANSIT PASS.
Tri-Rail places emphasis on the money that riders can save per year (Up to $8,000 a year!) as well as the environmental benefits. In 2008, Tri-Rail switched to biodiesel fuel.

Benefits of Biodiesel:

Environmental Benefits
Energy Security Benefits
Economic Benefits
Quality Benefits
EPAct Benefits

In 2000, biodiesel became the only alternative fuel in the country to have successfully completed the EPA-required Tier I and Tier II health effects testing under the Clean Air Act. These independent tests conclusively demonstrated biodiesel’s significant reduction of virtually all regulated emissions, and showed biodiesel does not pose a threat to human health.

Tri-Rail

Go Green and Save with Tri-Rail

2009-10-05T09:08:00.000-07:00

Going Green is easy in South Florida with the Tri-Rail's "Go Green and Save!" campaign. Tri-Rail's latest campaign South Floridians to save money while saving the environment by utilizing public transportation. Not only will you be helping the environment, you will enjoy a relaxing commute to work or school.

Biodiesel is an eco-friendly fuel that is created by either palm or soy oil. This option is considerably more pricey than regular fuel, however Tri-Rail acknowledges the GREEN benefits. Biodiesel fuel is non-toxic, biodegradable and has a flashpoint of 300 degrees Fahrenheit compared to diesel fuel’s flashpoint of 125 degrees Fahrenheit.

Encourage GREEN habits by visiting www.tri-rail.com and registering to enter to win a FREE one-year transit pass. Tri-Rail announced that commuters can save up to $8,000 a year on gas and vehicle maintenance.

Go Green and Save

Pine Shavings in Atlanta - 100% Natural!

2009-05-27T11:52:00.000-07:00

Delivering to anywhere in the world, South Florida Shavings is known for their 100% recycled, natural pine shaving products. Healthy for horses of all kinds, Pine Shavings Florida takes pride in their excellent customer service and speedy delivery time.

About Pine Shavings Florida

South Florida Shavings has been serving the equestrian community since 1988. Our commitment to a safe, ever improving product is what has kept and remains to keep us at the forefront of the South Florida, and more recently the international equestrian industry. We understand the love that people have for their horses, and translate this into a love for our shavings. The same care and respect one gives their horse, we give each of our products. All of our products are made of 100% recycled material. We DO NOT promote deforestation or the destruction of any natural habitats. Our facility is located in Lake Worth, Florida, and has only expanded since we sold our first load of shavings. The logs we use are all pine that we have either picked up with our own log trailers or have been brought to us by any of a number of independent resources. Upon arrival to our facility, the logs are grinded down into one of a number of products using the appropriate machinery. Once converted into the desired product, the shavings are then delivered directly to you.

A staple of our company has long been that a customer can call our office for a delivery at 7 A.M and our driver will be at their barn with their shavings at 8. Again, our customers are our number one concern. If a customer has a suggestion as to how to improve any single part of our transaction, from the time they pick up the phone and order to when our driver is pulling out of their facility, we are all ears. Whether they be a local barn owner that takes a load once a month, an international polo team that takes a trailer of bags once a week, or a client taking a container overseas, in our eyes, each is of equal importance. No customer goes left unsatisfied. The quality of our shavings is what the equestrian community judges us by, and this keeps us very excited, as we know that our products are second to none. At South Florida Shavings we never stop improving because we know that your horse wouldn't have it any other way.

Pine Shavings in Atlanta

MechanixTrix - Disposing of Waste Oil and Oil Filters

2009-05-22T08:49:00.000-07:00

State regulators may call it "waste oil" and it has a regulatory definition. However, it may not have to be devalued to simply a waste category. It may be more accurately referred to as "used" oil and if it meets "specification," can be reused for fuel and heat production in a used oil burner. "Waste oil" may include vehicle crankcase oils, hydraulic or transmission fluids, industrial lube oils, and diesel fuel not used for parts cleaning. If it can’t be reused and is truly a waste, then it will cost your business for proper handling and disposal. To minimize your costs, avoid cross-contamination, especially with gasoline, brake cleaner and other hazardous solvents. Waste oil contaminated with these hazardous materials becomes a larger quantity of hazardous waste. More hazardous waste is more costly to handle and includes more regulatory burden.
Challenge yourself to manage the oil that your business generates in the most environmentally sound and cost-effective manner.

Visit MechanixTrix to learn more about Auto Repair and other auto-related articles!

MechanixTrix

Tri-Rail Answers - How is Biodiesel GREEN?

2009-05-14T08:42:00.000-07:00

Biodiesel fuel helps preserve the environment in many different ways. One, unlike the ordinary diesel, biodiesel utilizes waste products received from farming products such as leaves and stems. These types of products are usually seen as by-products of the most critical areas of the vegetation. This way, biodiesel assists increase the overall efficiency since less natural resources are being utilized to grow the materials. The next benefit of biodiesel, mostly to the environment, is that it is creates lower emissions and is much more energy efficient next to other forms of energy. Biodiesel is made using the newest technology including the particulate trap and filters. This, in the end, aids to reduce the climate effects that are caused by the emissions that are in the atmosphere right now.

In other countries, sources of bio diesel utilize marginal parcels of land. For example, oil nuts are usually found by rail lines and roads. In other tropical areas such as Indonesia and Malaysia, oil palm is grown quickly in order to meet the high demand of biodiesel in countries like Europe and other world markets. This helps reduce our need for diesel thus helping save the environment, putting in mind that the source of the biodiesel is solar energy that is created by growing plants during processes like photosynthesis.

Bio diesel also aids in the reduction of greenhouse emissions, biodegradation and pollution. Biodiesel helps lower the need for first generation biofuels that is very likely to cause over dependance on other forms of energy thus causing an increase in emissions. This is because research has established that when fewer farmers produce food, the cost of food production will be on the rise.

Tri-Rail

Office Remix - Used Office Furniture Saves Money and the Environment

2009-05-13T11:01:00.000-07:00

Office Remix takes pride in the GREEN environmental benefits that they offer. Susan, from Office Remix, posted the below article on how office furniture saves money and the environment.

Reducing Strain on Our Landfills- Source

The Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association (BIFMA) states, "A survey indicates that approximately half of the scrap currently generated may be ending up in landfills." Much of this waste is still structurally sound.

Oftentimes, companies discard old furniture because it looks outdated, not because something is broken. Used office furniture that might go to a landfill can easily be refurbished or remanufactured. Replace a wobbly roller on an office chair, add some new upholstery and it is as good as new! Reupholster your panels, add new laminate surfaces, and they look like they belong on the front cover of this year's new office furniture catalog. Undeniably, used office furniture saves our natural resources and helps reduce the strain on our landfills.

"The EPA estimates that businesses discarded approximately three million tons of furniture and furnishings in 1995." (Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste in the United States: 1996 Update) "Given a 1995 national average tipping fee of about $32 per ton (Solid Waste Digest), the potential avoided disposal costs are upwards of $100 million." - EPA Waste Wi$e Update, pg.6

The Office Furniture Recyclers Forum (OFRF) in Alexandria, Virginia reports, "Remanufacturing just 40 workstations diverts one tractor-trailer load of furniture from a landfill. Industry experts estimate that for each pound of natural resources used in remanufacturing, five to nine pounds of virgin materials are conserved." Further, for every workstation that is recycled, an average of 850 pounds is diverted from a landfill.

Types of Used Office Furniture

When many people think of "used office furniture," they envision scratch and dent items. While those would certainly fall into this category, refurbished office furniture is another variety. Refurbishing involves repairing structural damage (for instance, the broken arm of a chair) and refreshing appearance. Remanufactured furniture is completely reworked both structurally and aesthetically.

Used Office Furniture Saves Money

Purchasing used office furniture can save up to 90% off retail prices of new products because the manufacturing costs were absorbed when the furniture was first produced.

If you've been struggling with the cost of new furniture, consider the benefits of buying used. Used office furniture keeps both our environment and your bank account green!

Used Office Furniture

Tri-Rail's GREEN Efforts Featured on Topix

2009-05-12T08:35:00.000-07:00

Tri-Rail has announced their latest campaign: "The Green Way to GO!". This campaign encourages South Floridians to utilize public transportation to save the environment. Tri-Rail, who recently switched solely to BioDiesel fuel, is offering the community a chance to win a getaway to Yosemite!
One Topix reader writes:
For a limited time, those recognizing the environmental benefits of the rail commuting service have the opportunity to be rewarded for their support. In commemoration of Earth Day and Clean Air Month, SFRTA (in partnership with Comcast) is giving away a 4-day, 3-night getaway to the beautiful Yosemite National Park.

Visit Tri-Rail's Web-Site and learn more about the Green Way to GO Campaign and how you can win a getaway to Yosemite!

Tri-Rail

Tri-Rail Is GREEN With Bio-Diesel Fuel - Check BioTech

2009-05-11T09:58:00.000-07:00

On the day it surpassed the 50 million rider mark, Tri-Rail announced plans to run most of its trains on a cleaner biodiesel.

Tri-Rail will start operating on a much more environmentally friendly blend of biodiesel, the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority announced Wednesday.

The aim, Tri-Rail managers say, is to run eight of 10 Tri-Rail locomotives on a 99 percent blend of either palm or soy oil depending on the availability.

Thanks to South Florida`s comparatively temperate climate, Tri-Rail is one of the few commuter rail systems in the country that can operate on such a pure blend of biofuel.

The nation`s top transit regulator praised the authority for taking an important step toward energy independence at a news conference Wednesday morning in West Palm Beach.

``The Federal Transit Administration is committed to encouraging the use of alternative fuels in the nation`s rail and bus systems,`` said FTA Administrator James S. Simpson.

Biodiesel will be used in Tri-Rail`s eight conventional train sets. The two Diesel Multiple Units will continue to operate on standard diesel fuel, due to warranty restrictions.

The FTA paid for the locomotives and for research tests at the Southwest Research Center in San Antonio.

While the Tri-Rail locomotives use 7 percent more fuel when operating on biodiesel, the fuel costs approximately 30 cents per gallon less than diesel.

The net effect, Tri-Rail leaders say, is that they will pay about the same gross amount for fuel but will pollute less.

Biodiesel produces less carbon dioxide and hydrocarbon emissions and there will be less likelihood of soil pollution in the event of a fuel spill.

Tri-Rail, which went into service on Jan. 8, 1989, also announced that it surpassed the 50 million rider mark on Wednesday morning.

``This truly is a landmark day,`` said Broward County Commissioner Josephus Eggelletion Jr., chair of the regional authority`s governing board. ``The fact that a system was built to operate temporarily -- for only five years, yet has become a permanent transportation solution for the people of South Florida, underscores the need for securing public transportation in the region.

Tri-Rail has launched it's latest campaign: The Green Way To GO! which encourages South Floridians to utilize public transportation and save the environment! Visit www.tri-rail.com and register to win a getaway to Yosemite!

Tri-Rail

Re-Manufactured Office Furniture - Eco-Friendly

2009-05-07T07:24:00.000-07:00

If you are looking for a way to preserve the environment, start with your office! Remanufactured office furniture is the best solution, for your wallet and the environment! Office Remix is proud to offer remanufactured office furniture such as:

Desks
Cubicles
Call Centers
Seating
Storage
And more!

Office Remix features fabrics that are 100% recycled which are made with non-toxic materials.

Office Remix

South Florida Shavings - Pine Shaving Products for Horses

2009-05-05T08:30:00.000-07:00

When selecting pine products for your animals, you want to make sure that they are 100% recycled and not part of any deforestation acts. South Florida Shavings is proud to bring 100% recycled, quality pine products to you and your stables.

Products Offered:

Mill
Nuggets
Fresh Pine
Grind
Dry Pine
Bagged Shavings
And more!

Call 561-433-9955 to have your pine products delivered straight to your door!

Pine Shavings

Tri-Rail Ridership Soars, Trains GoGreen with Biodiesel - Sofla BizJournals

2009-05-04T06:07:00.000-07:00

There are many options for saving the environment. Many of these steps are baby steps and every little bit counts - but with Tri-Rail you can now make a HUGE difference!

The high price of fuel is pushing record numbers of Floridians to take public transportation. The South Florida Regional Transportation Authority said Wednesday that more than 50 million people have taken Tri-Rail since it began operating in January 1989.

Despite the drop in gas prices, 23.6 percent more people were taking the trains in October compared to the same time last year. Average daily ridership this month was 15,822, up from 12,804 last October.

SFTA also announced that Tri-Rail is going green. Effective on Wednesday trains will operate on biodiesel fuel, which will consist of either palm or soy oil, depending upon what’s available.

Biodiesel is 10 to 30 cents cheaper than regular fuel and produces approximately 43 percent less carbon monoxide, 56 percent less hydrocarbons, 55 percent less particulates, 60 to 90 percent less air toxins and 78 percent less carbon dioxide than diesel fuel, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

Because of South Florida’s temperate climate, Tri-Rail is one of the few commuter rail systems in the country that can operate on such a pure blend of fuel.

“The switch to biodiesel fuel has been long in coming,” said Commissioner Josephus Eggelletion, Jr., chair of the SFRTA Governing Board. “It follows in the path of Governor Crist’s mission to ‘green’ the state of Florida and we are pleased that the economies and efficiencies have come together to allow us to make this change for the betterment of the environment.”

Visit Tri-Rail to enter to win a trip to Yosemite! This GREEN Getaway is not something to miss!

Tri-Rail

Office Remix - Remanufactured Office Furniture

2009-05-01T10:49:00.000-07:00

Office Remix is South Florida's leading office furniture liquidation. This particular business has it's environmental benefits as well! Purchase remanufactured office furniture and save money as well as the environment!

About Office Remix

At Office Remix, we understand that smart, successful companies are those that are bottom line driven. In these tough and uncertain times, cutting costs is critical. We also understand and appreciate the importance of an effective office environment and how it absolutely impacts performance and success. With escalating costs in all sectors, how do you stay within your budgetary restraints without compromising your wants and needs?

Turn to Office Remix. When it comes to your office environment, we don’t believe in settling. We are solution-driven and committed to deliver on our promise of providing office furniture that is stylish, highly functional and truly affordable. In fact, our products, service and pricing are unmatched in the marketplace.

You do have options. Buy new and pay the hefty price, buy cheap and hope it lasts, purchase used “as is” that is worn and aged, or go remanufactured and end up with custom-designed products that defines who you are at a price that fits your budget. With that cost-effective solution, why go elsewhere?

The Office Remix experience is multi-dimensional – it’s about the people, the product, the service and most of all, the customer. Here’s how we do it. We scour the country for high-end quality used furniture by leading manufacturers, such as Steelcase, Haworth, Herman Miller, Knoll, Gunlocke, Geiger, Davis, Kimball, Brandrud and others. Then, the customization process begins. Our design staff works one-on-one with each client to create an environmental design for your space that is cohesive and coordinated, from space planning and design services to assisting with color selections, wood finishes and fabric choices. With that input, our team goes to work to transform our furniture into a custom design that matches your image and business persona. We create products that speak to your individuality and communicate to your clients who you are as a company and what you represent. It’s all about your very own look, feel and identity.

Our expertise is in the transformation. With our design savvy understanding of work space fundamentals and requirements, and our expert team of upholsterers, refinishers and designers, we create environments that are stylish, fresh, innovative and productive – and at a fraction of the cost of new inventory. We transform your vision into reality.

ABOUT US

Our company’s principal has over 35 years of experience in product liquidation, from sourcing and product locating to evaluation and sales. And our remanufacturing staff has over 100 years of experience in furniture services; they are craftsmen and artists skilled in the art of wood repair and finishing, upholstery and painting. We use our tremendous pool of talent, experience, skills and materials to create your design at a price you can afford.

Our impressive client roster consists of prestigious national companies, such as Union Carbide, Merrill Lynch, Renaissance Cruise Lines, Hamilton Bank, Washington Mutual Bank, Smith Barney, Direct TV, Citibank, Comp USA and many others.

Let us put our services to work for you today!

954-801-9920
Office Remix

South Florida Shavings - The Healthy Alternative For Your Horses

2009-04-30T08:00:00.000-07:00

With the many choices available for your horses, South Florida Shavings recommends Pine Shavings which are healthy for your horses as well as the environment! Offering 100% recycled materials, South Florida Shavings is proud to say that they do NOT promote deforestation or destruction of any natural habitats.

The process for ordering these prime pine shavings is simple. The pine logs are all pine that have been picked up with South Florida Shavings' own log trailers or brought to us directly from various independent resources. Once arriving to their facility, the logs are immediately grinded into one of the following products:

Mill
Nuggets
Fresh Pine
Grind
Dry Pine
Or Bagged Shavings

Once these products are created they are immediately brought to you!

For more information on how South Florida Shavings creates their eco-friendly products, call 561-433-9955

Pine Shavings Florida

TerraCurve - Tri-Rail's Getaway to Yosemite

2009-04-29T12:11:00.000-07:00

There are obvious benefits of traveling by rail. In commemoration of this past Earth Day and Clean Air Month, SFRTA (in partnership with Comcast) is giving away a 4-day, 3-night getaway for two to the beautiful Yosemite National Park.

Tri-Rail is the green way to go to school, work or play with affordable fares and trains every 20 or 30 minutes during rush hours. Plus, it’s a great way to enjoy a relaxed commute, while saving time, money, gas and doing your part to help preserve the environment.

Tri-Rail has been running on biodiesel fuel since October of 2008. Made from either palm oil or soy oil, biodiesel fuel has significantly less impact on the environment than regular diesel. It produces lower emissions and presents fewer hazards when being stored or transported, without sacrificing power or efficiency.

For schedules and train information visit www.tri-rail.com.

South Florida Shavings - 100% Recycled Pine Shavings

2009-04-28T08:00:00.000-07:00

Many pine shaving companies are not 100% eco-friendly. South Florida Shavings is one of the only companies that DOES NOT promote deforestation or the destruction of any natural habitats. Their products are all 100% recycled and healthy for your horses.

About South Florida Shavings:

Pine Shavings

Be Green with Tri-Rail! Biodiesel Press Release

2009-04-27T07:38:00.000-07:00

The workplace is one of the first places that can be used to help the environment. Many companies are allowing their employees to work from home to save the costs of public transportation. Companies such as York & White and Bellacroft are prime examples.
Other companies, however, simply cannot follow suit. This is why they are paying for their employees to utilize public transportation in an effort to save money and the environment.
The South Florida Regional Transportation Authority announced today that effective immediately, Tri-Rail trains will operate on biodiesel fuel. The goal is to operate trains on a 99-percent blend, when available. Tri-Rail is one of the few commuter rail systems in the country that can operate on such a pure blend of fuel, due to South Florida’s temperate climate. The transition to biodiesel fuel will have a significantly positive impact on the region’s environment and is supported and encouraged by many public transportation oversight and regulatory agencies.

“The Federal Transit Administration is committed to encouraging the use of alternative fuels in the nation’s rail and bus systems,” said FTA Administrator James S. Simpson, whose agency funded the locomotives that will be part of Tri-Rail’s biodiesel fleet. “By taking this important step, Tri-Rail is leading the way toward energy independence.”

“The switch to biodiesel fuel has been long in coming,” said Commissioner Josephus Eggelletion, Jr., chair of the SFRTA Governing Board. “It follows in the path of Governor Crist’s mission to ‘green’ the state of Florida and we are pleased that the economies and efficiencies have come together to allow us to make this change for the betterment of the environment.”

The biodiesel fuel will consist of either palm or soy oil, depending upon availability. According to tests done at the Southwest Research Center in San Antonio, Texas and funded by the FTA, Tri-Rail locomotives use approximately seven percent more fuel when operating on biodiesel; however, it currently costs approximately 30 cents per gallon less than diesel fuel and the environmental benefits outweigh the additional cost. Furthermore, possibilities of environmental impact to the soil in the event of a fuel spill is significantly reduced in instances where biodiesel fuel is used, because biodiesel fuel does not present the same hazards as a typical diesel-fuel spill, foremost among them - soil pollution.

Additional benefits to using biodiesel fuel in lieu of diesel fuel are low emissions, comparable power and efficiency, capability of being mixed with diesel fuel without modification, and safer storage and transport. Biodiesel fuel is non-toxic, biodegradable and has a flashpoint of 300 degrees Fahrenheit compared to diesel fuel’s flashpoint of 125 degrees Fahrenheit.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, biodiesel fuel produces approximately 43 percent less carbon monoxide, 56 percent less hydrocarbons, 55 percent less particulates, 60 to 90 percent less air toxins and 78 percent less carbon dioxide than diesel fuel. Biodiesel fuel produces no sulfur emissions, and produces five percent more nitrous oxide than diesel fuel.

Biodiesel will be used in all of Tri-Rail’s conventional train sets. The Diesel Multiple Units will continue to operate on standard diesel fuel, due to warranty restrictions. Separate fueling stations located at the Hialeah Yard make it possible for the SFRTA to operate trains on both types of fuel.

The SFRTA currently operates 50 Tri-Rail trains daily, Monday through Friday and 16 trains on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. A study by the American Public Transportation Association has shown that the single most effective choice an individual can make to help the environment is to utilize public transportation. With a Tri-Rail Monthly Ticket available for only $80, riding Tri-Rail not only provides an environmental solution for commuting, but an economical one, as well. For more information, call 1-800-TRI-RAIL
(874-7245).

Tri-Rail

Tri-Rail Offers a Green Way To Go With Getaway For Two

2009-04-24T11:22:00.000-07:00

South Florida is taking huge steps to take better care of the environment and they are doing it NOW! One of the major things that we, as citizens, can do is utilize public transportation. Tri-Rail has just released their latest eco-friendly camppaign: The Green Way to GO! This campaign features a chance to win a trip for two to Yosemite!

Official Press Release:

For a limited time, those recognizing the environmental benefits of the rail commuting service have the opportunity to be rewarded for their support. In commemoration of Earth Day and Clean Air Month, SFRTA (in partnership with Comcast) is giving away a 4-day, 3-night getaway to the beautiful Yosemite National Park.

Pompano Beach, FL (PRWEB) April 23, 2009 -- For millions of Americans, eco-friendly living means recycling, running the furnace and air conditioner less often and perhaps switching to energy-efficient light bulbs. While these are all important initiatives, there's no reason to stop there.

By switching to public transportation for a daily 20-mile round-trip commute, one person can reduce up to 4,800 pounds of carbon emissions and save more than $8,000 a year according to the American Public Transportation Association. No other single change has such a significant, measurable impact, and what's more -- public transportation helps create a cleaner environment and improves our quality of life.

In commemoration of Earth Day and Clean Air Month, consumers can visit www.tri-rail.com to register for the chance to win a 4-day/3-night Green Getaway for 2 to the beautiful Yosemite National Park, compliments of Comcast. The package includes:

Round-trip airfare
Deluxe accommodations at The Ahwahnee, an historic inn that's also a National Registered Landmark
Entrance fees to the Yosemite National Park, famous for its scenic waterfalls, awe-inspiring caves, rolling prairies, and deep canyons
Yosemite Grand Tour for two and one activity per person, including lunch
Rental car and more

Tri-Rail is the green way to go to school, work or play with affordable fares and trains every 20 or 30 minutes during rush hours. Plus, it's a great way to enjoy a relaxed commute, while saving time, money, gas and doing your part to help preserve the environment.

Tri-Rail has been running on biodiesel fuel since October of 2008. Made from either palm oil or soy oil, biodiesel fuel has significantly less impact on the environment than regular diesel. It produces lower emissions and presents fewer hazards when being stored or transported, without sacrificing power or efficiency.

For schedules and train information, call 1-800-TRI-RAIL (874-7245) or visit www.tri-rail.com.