Santa's Commitment to the Environment

Stephen J. & Madelyn M. Santa Environmental Fund
In 1990 on the occasion of the company's 50th anniversary, Santa set aside $50,000 to create an Environmental Fund in honor of the company's founders. The Santa Fund is the first and only private fund within the State of Connecticut that focuses on the environment, and provides an annual grant to maintain and improve our fragile local ecology. Grant recipients include:

Mill River Wetlands Study Group, Fairfield, CT
in support of a 5th & 6th grade summer study group along the Mill River Coastal wetland habitat that flows into Long Island Sound.

Public Radio Station - WSHU 91.1FM, Fairfield, CT
in conjunction with National Public Radio and National Geographic Radio Expeditions, in support of environmental programming.

Long Island Sound Taskforce, Stamford, CT
for environmental clean-ups.

Clean Sound, Inc., Shelton, CT
for environmental clean-ups.

Connecticut Audubon Society, Inc., Fairfield, CT
in support of the Coastal Center at Milford Point, a coastal nature interpretive center.

Housatonic Valley Association, Inc., Cornwall, CT
in support of the "Rail-Trail" hiking trail project (Seymour section) that is being developed within linking greenways along the Housatonic River.

Housatonic Valley Association, Inc., Cornwall, CT
in support of a bike trail project (Stratford Army Engine Plant section) that is being developed within linking greenways along the Housatonic River.

Connecticut Audubon Society, Fairfield, CT
in support of the "Linkages" Program, a unique environmental education program that brings together 3rd graders from the urban and suburban schools of Bridgeport and Fairfield and guides them in cooperative, hands-on science projects.

Santa sells only fuel with a (0.2%) sulfur content -- 30% less sulfur than the the maximum level allowed by the State. From the Bridgeport terminal alone, which moves 60 million gallons of product annually, based on EPA emissions factors, the Santa Energy low-sulfur policy has kept 3,450 tons of sulfur out of Fairfield and New Haven counties' air each year.

In response to the requirements, Santa Energy and Ocean & Coastal developed a pneumatic air boom called the Air Guard System. The only one of its kind in the State of Connecticut, the Air Guard System is comprised of a fixed, bottom-mounted manifold with small holes. A compressor, located on shore, supplies air to the manifold, thus creating a bubble screen in the water. The rising bubbles cause a horizontal surface current that will contain any floating pollutants, liquid or solid, and allow for rapid containment. The system, which cost about $30,000, has proven to be a more economically and functionally effective means of controlling an accidental spill when compared to the standard floating booms. Investment payback was a quick three months.

A welcome side effect of the Air Guard System is that it has helped re-oxygenate the water of Cedar Creek in Bridgeport, on which the Santa terminal is located. The air induction provided by the system has helped to disperse oxygen and in turn has stimulated the marine and bird life within the area. Unlike years previous, bait fish have returned, attracting bluefish and fisherman. A wide variety of shore birds have been sighted, including snowy egrets, night herons, laughing gulls, cormorants, terns and lesser terns. The oxygen level at the terminal site before installation of the system was measured at zero. Measurements taken after installation show the oxygen level increased to near saturation.

Proactive underground tank removal program
In direct response to our customers concerns, Santa Energy offers the Alert 1000 Tank Test and the Soil Sample Test. Both are cost-effective, accurate, and safe method for testing and underground storage tanks. Santa's sales team works closely with the realtor community providing educational seminars and materials addressing underground fuel storage tank issues.

Conservation-wise practices
As a strong promoter of energy conservation, Santa Energy conducts an aggressive Oil Burner Tune-up Program to increase and maintain fuel efficiencies for our customer's heating systems. This has saved our customers over a million dollars per year in fuel costs.

In-house recycling program
Paper, motor oil and waste oil are all recycled at the Santa Energy offices. The waste materials are burned in a special oil burner that uses air pressure to break down the heavy particles, and suppies heat for our large garage facility. As a result of this program, Santa is able to conserve 7,000 gallons of clean heating oil, valued at about $7,000, every year.