Article Contributed on: 11/20/2007 4:05:53 PM
Castle Rock's air became a little cleaner last week, when the Town's first two hybrid vehicles hit the streets on Nov. 15.
The 2008 Ford Escapes will be used by Utilities Department employees for water-monitoring and other seasonal purposes, said Todd Richardson, Town fleet services superintendent.
"The Town needs to set the bar for environmentally friendly practices," he said. "Replacing standard gas vehicles with more fuel-efficient units and hybrids is one way of doing that.
"This practice also reduces the Town's carbon footprint, decreases our dependence on foreign energy sources and supports our 2020 Vision statement of protecting and enhancing our environment," Richardson continued.
The sport-utility vehicles operate on both electric and gas power, with on-board computers that monitor the vehicles to decide the most efficient power mode. Electric power is used mostly at low speeds and in stop-and-go traffic, and gas power at higher speeds on highways.
The vehicles will get 27 to 34 mpg while driving in the city and 26 to 29 mpg on the highway - a 32 percent improvement over their gas-powered counterparts, Richardson said.
The two new SUVs soon won't be the only fuel-efficient vehicles the Town has in its fleet.
With direction and inspiration from the Town Council to become more environmentally conscious, the also Town plans to replace three older vehicles used by the Information Technology Department with one new hybrid vehicle, Richardson said. In addition, he said, the five new Ford Crown Victorias planned for purchased in 2008 for the Police Department will be "flex fuel" vehicles, meaning they can run on gasoline or E-85 ethanol fuel.
The Public Works Department is in the process of developing a five-year "green fleet" policy to address the use of flex fuel, hybrid, bio-diesel and other technologies to achieve lower operating costs, improve fuel efficiency and yield environmental benefits.
The policy still is being researched and reviewed by the Public Works Commission and Fleet Advisory Committee, Richardson said. It eventually will be presented to the Town Council as part of a Town-wide effort to become more environmentally friendly.
Town Councilwoman Katie Kruger welcomed the Town's use of hybrid vehicles, which she said is "not only good for the Earth, but good for taxpayers' wallets as well, since the vehicles use less gas than traditional engines."
"I think this sets an example for Town residents and will hopefully be just the beginning for the Public Works Department," Kruger said.