Reducing Our Carbon Footprint
With effective maintenance and driver training in place, we aim to operate our vehicle fleet as efficiently as possible. We will continue to implement our no idling policy and tyre replacement programme to reduce fuel use. In addition, new electronic control modules are being introduced to our buses that record a wide range of vehicle characteristics such as vehicle braking, idling time, routes etc.
The information derived from this technology will be used in future safety training but we will also look at how this can be used to promote more fuel-efficient driving. We will also examine the possibility of obtaining fuel efficiency data for individual vehicles on a pilot basis. As vehicles are largely driven by the same drivers, this would allow us to assess the performance of individual drivers and promote best practice.
Emissions from our new vehicles are controlled by rapidly changing emission standards for particulate matter, nitrogen oxides and non-methane hydrocarbons. Because the technology required to meet the new 2007 standards is not sulphur-tolerant, the First Student vehicle fleet has been converted to ultra low-sulphur diesel.
Carbon dioxide emissions from these vehicles are not regulated and at present we do not know if there will be any consequent impact on fuel use. Our Climate Change Strategy will help us work with our vehicle suppliers to minimise any fuel consumption impacts.
First Transit
First Transit operate vehicles belonging to their customers. We work closely with them to reduce emissions. We check vehicle fuel efficiency (miles per gallon) on every vehicle four times per year and implement a number of fuel efficiency initiatives. These include:
- a company-wide no idling policy;
- a tyre replacement programme ensuring reduced rolling resistance, saving fuel;
- use of synthetic lubricants in transmission, wherever possible, which improves fuel savings; and
- procedures to identify air leaks and high electrical draws that put unnecessary loads on the engine.
First Transit will also be looking at how new electronic control models can support driver training initiatives to further improve fuel efficiency.
In both businesses we continue to work with our customers to identify opportunities for the introduction of biodiesel.
Off-setting Our Emissions
We work with American Forest, an organisation that protects, restores and enhances the natural capital of trees and forests. We are looking to team up with some of our clients on reforestation programmes in some of the cities in which we operate. This will create better local environments and will offset some of the emissions from our buses.