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Calling All Fleets:
It’s Never Too Late To Make A Difference
Evergreen Fleets invites all public and private organizations and vehicle fleets in the Puget Sound Area to join the Evergreen Green Fleet Certification program. With the help of Evergreen Fleets, organizations both big and small can begin realizing lower costs, reduced emissions and improved operating efficiency today. And best of all, participation is fast and simple — on either a membership or full certification level.
Evergreen Fleets Best Practices
Evergreen Fleets realizes that "going green" is a serious commitment. That’s why we have collected a powerful set of Best Practices from industry experts — providing a solid plan to get you started on the green fast track. Adopting Evergreen Fleets Best Practices can help any organization reduce greenhouse gas emissions and maximize its operating efficiency. Members and certified participants in the Evergreen Fleets are encouraged to adopt the following Best Practices to transition their fleet to a greener and more responsible future.
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A well thought-out Green Fleets Plan is one of the most important steps to effectively greening your fleet. When developing a Green Fleets Plan, Evergreen Fleets recommends fleet managers draft a brief policy statement or objective. This document should identify why a green fleet is important, identify the goals your organization hopes to accomplish, and lays out the budget and metrics required to meet the desired goals.
Green Vehicle Purchasing Policy
When it comes time to replace or purchase additional vehicles, Evergreen Fleets encourages fleet managers to consider the greenest options possible to help reduce air pollution, while also helping to increase public exposure and demand for green vehicles. Hybrid, E-85 Flex Fuel, biodiesel and natural gas vehicles are readily available in a variety of diverse applications to meet the needs of many fleets.
Require "Right-Size" For Vehicle/Equipment
Purchases
It is advantageous for fleets to purchase the most appropriate size and class of vehicle for the intended application. Having “too much vehicle” for the job is not only a waste of resources, it can often have a negative impact on the environment. In cases where smaller vehicles are purchased, the fleet will usually save money, given that smaller vehicles are typically less expensive than larger vehicles.
For more information, join Evergreen Fleets today!
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Green Fuels Procurement
Evergreen Fleets recommends that fleets implement a policy encouraging the active use of alternative fuels and/or electricity to the maximum extent possible. Replacing petroleum-based fuels with renewable fuels can, in many cases, reduce both greenhouse gases and toxic diesel emissions. The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency and the Puget Sound Clean Cities Coalition consider alternative green fuels to be biodiesel blends (B20 or higher), ethanol blends (E85 or higher), natural gas and electricity.
Fuel Consumption And Vehicle Use Tracking
Collecting and reporting fuel and vehicle/equipment use data is key to understanding fleet efficiency. The right data management system for each fleet depends primarily on fleet size, annual miles traveled and resources available to each fleet. For small fleets, an electronic spreadsheet may suffice as a data management system. For larger fleets, dedicated software and telemetry systems may be more appropriate for optimal efficiency.
Fleet Efficiency Technologies
Technology can play a very important role in fuel conservation and efficiency improvements. Large fleets can realize dramatic environmental and cost savings by making use of anti-idling and fleet utilization technologies. Fleets can also improve efficiency by increasing the level of coordination and communication among departments and external partners.
Fuel-Efficient Driving Practices And Training
As the primary users of fleet vehicles and equipment, drivers and operators are critical to successfully reducing fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Evergreen Fleets recommends educating and training drivers and operators on methods to help optimize fleet efficiencies. Without a doubt, a little information can go a long way.
Incentive/Reward Program For Fuel Conservation/Efficiency
A well-planned internal rewards program can encourage fuel savings by offering incentives to environmentally-conscience fleet users and managers. Such programs also provide a great opportunity to recognize and promote the exemplary practices of those who have significantly reduced their fuel consumption. Evergreen Fleets encourages fleet managers to highlight the key role played by fleet staff in creating sustainable and efficient fleets — and reward them for their efforts.
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Preventive Maintenance Program
A proactive preventive maintenance program can help track the usage of fleet vehicles, record data and compare it to the manufacturer’s recommended service intervals. The underlying intent is to always perform maintenance on-schedule for optimal service life and performance. This strategy applies equally to fleets that perform their own maintenance, and those who outsource maintenance to a third party. Preventive maintenance programs are crucial to increasing vehicle life and efficiency, reducing downtime, cutting costs, and improving overall fleet safety.
Recover, Reduce and Reuse Program for Maintenance Products
This Best Practice helps reduce the environmental impact of vehicle and equipment maintenance by ensuring fleets recover, reuse and reduce maintenance products whenever possible. While this practice may not directly reduce greenhouse gases or diesel particulate matter, Evergreen Fleets strongly recommends that green fleets include this effort to reduce the environmental liabilities caused by spills and improper disposal of potentially harmful maintenance fluids and waste materials.
For more information, join Evergreen Fleets today!
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Diesel Vehicle Emission Reductions/New Engines and Retrofits
Diesel engines are significant generators of fine particles and toxic emissions. Evergreen Fleets encourages fleets utilizing on-road diesel vehicles to modernize their fleet to current green standards by retrofitting or installing new engines (year 2007 or newer) on 50 percent or more of their diesel vehicles. Modern diesel engines have come a long way in reducing soot and particulate emissions. Reducing diesel particulate emissions can result in improved air quality, along with improved health for fleet employees (drivers and mechanics) who are exposed to diesel exhaust on a daily basis.
Car Sharing/Vehicle Lease Agreements
Evergreen Fleets recommends that fleets ensure competitive bidding guidelines for vendors that give preference to car sharing or car rental companies providing “green” vehicles to fleets. The applicant’s policy should require that external partners implement at least one of the Evergreen Fleets Best Practices (or more if possible) into contracts with car sharing or rental car vendors.
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