Green fleet policy will help reduce emissions, increase fuel economy

Reducing vehicle emissions and increasing fuel economy - while saving money - are the primary goals of the Town's new green fleet policy, approved Tuesday, July 15, by Town Council.

The policy - the purpose of which is to ensure that the Town's fleet is operating in the most efficient and environmentally friendly way possible - is part of the Town's broader Project Green environmental initiative.

"It (the policy) involves a lot more than just purchasing equipment," Public Works Director Bob Goebel told Council. "It involves more dramatic changes. Changes in the way we think about operating the equipment."

In addition to goals of reducing emissions by 10 percent and increasing fuel economy by 10 percent between 2009 and 2014, the policy includes these goals:

• Replacing fleet units with alternative fuel vehicles - biodiesel, electric vehicles, hydrogen, natural gas and hybrids - when the life-cycle costs of the alternate vehicles are equal to or less than that of a standard unit to reach a goal of having 10 percent of the Town's light-duty vehicles being alternative fuel-powered by 2013.
• Having a pool of vehicles accessible by all departments to eliminate the need for departments to maintain units for occasional use.
• Encouraging employees to use alternate modes of travel such as public transit, bicycles or walking when feasible and scheduling travel efficiently so multiple tasks can be accomplished with one trip.
• Not allowing Town vehicles to idle for more than 30 seconds when parked unless required.

Alternative fuel vehicles typically cost $4,000 to $5,000 more than their traditional counterparts, but there are programs to help the Town recoup those costs, Town Fleet Superintendent Todd Richardson told Council. By implementing all components of the policy, the Town is expected to realize a cost savings of $100,000 or more over the next three to five years, according to a staff memo to Council.

The Town's fleet is expected to travel 2.4 million miles in 2008 and will consume about 208,000 gallons of fuel, which translates to 4.5 million pounds of carbon dioxide. Meeting the goals outlined in the green fleet policy will reduce that by about 500,000 pounds per year.