Rick Longobart and Cynthia Ross, authors
Most Americans view sustainability as a higher power from corporations. Examples include household recycling of bottles, cans, newspaper and other waste. However, government agencies are successfully moving toward being good stewards in local communities and in our own backyards. Evidence of these stories come from magazines, journals and newspapers. This week there was a webinar sponsored by Tom Johnson, creator of “Top Fleets of the Green Fleet Awards 2018” program. As a participant of this webinar, I learned things our company thought may benefit your fleet’s operation.
Technologies are currently being tested, then proved, in local fleets across the country and adopted by county and city agencies. Robert Gordon, from Dekalb County Georgia was named top fleet in America by Top Fleets. During the webinar, he discussed his efforts toward sustainability by sharing the success his operation has experienced by utilizing CNG and propane-fueled vehicles on various-sized assets. This has allowed his operation to avoid the use of petroleum products.
Another example of local achievements was discussed by Mark Stevens, Fleet Manager at the City of Sacramento, winner of the 2nd Best Fleet in America award. Mr. Stevens discussed their decision to replace older vehicles with alternative-fuel vehicles. This allowed their operation to lower emission levels. Stevens has adopted a Fleet Sustainability Policy that will include reduction of costs through the utilization of an anti-idling technology, implementation of an EV Policy and a plan for under-utilized vehicles. The city’s efforts include community encouragement to adopt car sharing and the use of EV vehicles.
Similar efforts are being demonstrated by their counterpart at the County of Sacramento, Keith Leech Division Chief and Fleet Manager. He has been using CNG/LNG for several years and has now escalated efforts by using hydrogen, renewable CNG and diesel. Both Leech and Stevens expressed it was through grant funds that provided the monies for them to reinvest in other technologies that have advanced their sustainability efforts. These efforts were supported by city and county administrations.
Protech Fuel spoke on behalf of their technology. They use various domestic ethanol fuel sources, with advanced and cellulosic ethanol gaining in availability. This biofuel is produced from waste food and beverages, municipal solid waste, sorghum, wood, grasses and other waste materials. PulseTech Products also spoke. They have unique and patented pulse technology that is incorporated into all products and is the ONLY proven method of de-sulfating a lead-acid battery – often extending its life by 3-5x.
On behalf of Longobart-Ross Consulting, we conclude this report with food for thought: “If we do nothing, nothing will happen. Learn more about what your operation can do to make a difference. Our future planet depends on it.”
