As Politicians Debate, an Ohio Business Acts to Reduce Fuel Consumption Creates ‘Ride on Nitrogen Initiative’ (RONI) Over a Cup of Coffee
Contact:
Lisa Hahn, lisa.hahn@chcomm.com 201-251-7778,
Caugherty Hahn Communications, Inc.
Bill Goodyear, American Frame Corporation, 419-887-8023
American Frame Corporation
400 Tomahawk Drive
Maumee, Ohio 43537
419-887-8099
www.americanframe.com
August 15, 2008
Maumee, OH, August 15, 2008 — While Congress is on vacation and presidential candidates debate energy strategy, an Ohio picture framing company — American Frame Corporation — is actually taking action this week.
American Frame is a national Internet company, which offers picture frames and framing products, fine art printing and photographic services at wholesale prices direct to the consumer. This family business has been supporting do-it-yourself framers, artists, photographers, businesses and homeowners for more than 35 years, and has been concerned about rising energy costs affecting their employees.
Recently Chris and Dana Dunbar of American Frame were discussing the merits of the presidential candidates' energy policies while watching the news and enjoying a morning cup of coffee. Chris, a car enthusiast and the company's purchasing manager, interjected, "You know, nitrogen is a smarter gas for inflating tires. Why aren’t the politicians encouraging this?"
Dana Dunbar, the company’s controller and co-owner, jumped on this idea as a proactive step that American Frame could immediately take to positively impact the environment while helping its employees reduce their commuting costs. According to www.getnitrogen.org, nitrogen is more stable than oxygen and allows for increased gas mileage of 4% to 10%, tire longevity of up to 30%, and eliminates rim rust.
Within minutes, Chris contacted a local tire service center, Tireman in Maumee, a suburb of Toledo, Ohio to arrange for American Frame’s employees to bring their cars to its location for fill-ups, with cost to be covered by American Frame.
Employee reaction was instantaneous. American Frame has made this a permanent program, calling it the Ride on Nitrogen Initiative (RONI) and is now encouraging its customers, local business owners and the nation to fill up their tires with nitrogen.
American Frame expects RONI to save its employees $10,000 collectively on gas and maintenance within the first year.
"We simply cannot wait around while our politicians debate issues," said Dana Dunbar. "We hope the Ride on Nitrogen Initiative will demonstrate the ability of small businesses to positively impact communities in a grassroots fashion."