The GenSet Locomotive is just one way transportation company CSX is demonstrating their commitment to operating a sustainable business. Not only has the company achieved an impressive 80 per cent improvement in efficiency with their freight rail, making it three times more efficient than other transport methods, they also actively participate in Climate Leaders, an EPA industry-government partnership that works to develop climate change strategies and assist partner companies in reducing their environmental impact. Participating in the Climate Leaders program is entirely voluntary.

Beyond their environmentally-conscious locomotives, CSX also recycles upwards of three million railroad cross ties each year, collecting and shredding the hard wood. They are currently exploring the possibility of burning the wood for electricity onsite, which would be put right back on the grid. Approximately two million gallons of oil used by company locomotives is recycled each year, and later used to heat buildings. With over 34,000 employees and a freight system that extends across 23 states, CSX has also implemented energy-efficient lighting and heating in their buildings and even recycles the water consumed by their facilities. In the future as technology continues to evolve, the company is also exploring the possibility of using solar energy to power their facilities.

However the company's biggest eco-friendly initiative is their constant drive for improved fuel efficiency through projects such as the GenSets. By reducing fuel consumption, the company is able to save money while being environmentally conscious. Or as one company representative put it, "The safer and more efficient we are, the more financially successful we are."

The initiatives aren't just driven by the company, but by their customers. In response to shippers inquiring about their environmental impact, CSX developed a carbon calculator meant to help compare estimated carbon emissions of transport and visibly show the difference choosing rail can make.

To learn more about what CSX is doing to practice environmental stewardship, visit their official site.

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