Green Options » reduce emissions

Trucks Reduce Emissions by 83%

Sarah Lozanova — Thu, 15 May 2008 14:02:39 +0000

Truck stop electrification is boosting fuel efficiency and minimizing dependence on foreign oil from idling trucks

There are 1.3 million long-haul diesel trucks with sleeper cabs in the United States, with most drivers averaging over 100,000 miles annually. These trucks are highly affected by skyrocketing fuel prices and are dependent on foreign oil. As the value of the dollar diminishes, transportation costs are partly to blame.

Idling Trucks Waste Fuel

Truck drivers are required to rest for 10 hours for every 11 hours of driving. A large amount of fuel is consumed when drivers leave trucks idling to maintain comfort. 85% of the energy is wasted sleeper cabs are heated by an idling truck. It is even more inefficient to cool the sleeper cab, wasting 94% of the fuel’s energy.

Truck Stop Electrification

Truck stop electrification (TSE) reduces fuel use while maintaining comfort for the driver with a heating, cooling and ventilation unit that attaches to trucks through a flexible concentric hose. Electricity, internet, and television reception are also available.

The Benefits

An impressive 83% net emissions reduction is achieved after taking into account the electricity required to power these units. Because most electricity is generated using domestic energy supplies, energy dollars stay closer to home. Air quality is improved for communities near truck stops as fewer trucks idle. Trucking companies enjoy lower fuel costs and less wear and tear on engines. Driver comfort is increased by reducing the noise, pollution and vibration from the idling trucks, while offering more entertainment and communication options.

Now TSE manufacturers just need to figure out how to provide showers and fresh coffee through these units.

Fuel from Trash Will Power California Garbage Trucks

Sarah Lozanova — Thu, 08 May 2008 07:40:12 +0000

300 garbage collection trucks in California will soon be fueled by the same trash that they haul. Landfill gas will be purified and liquefied, producing up to 13,000 gallons of liquefied natural gas (LNG) daily.

This facility at Waste Management’s (WMI: NYSE) Altamont Landfill in Livermore, California will begin operation in 2009. It comes with a price tag of $15.5 million, with grants providing $1.4 million.

Cleaner Fuel

Waste Management is the largest waste management company in North America and operates the largest US fleet of heavy-duty collection trucks. The company has a goal to reduce fleet emissions by 15% by 2020.

The new facility will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 30,000 tons per year, according to Linde North America. LNG is a cleaner burning transportation fuel that emits less nitrogen oxide, carbon dioxide and particulates than diesel-fueled vehicles.

Duane Woods, senior vice president, Western group of Waste Management, said, “This will be the largest plant of its kind and we hope to break new ground by producing commercial quantities. Natural gas is already the cleanest burning fuel available for our collection trucks, and the opportunity to use recovered landfill gas offers enormous environmental benefits to the communities we serve.”

Demand for Low-carbon Fuels

California passed a law to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25% by 2020 and other states may follow. Demand for low-carbon fuels is expected to increase significantly in California as the state starts requiring a decrease in carbon emissions. Waste Management will be ahead of the curve by having plants like this in operation, creating lucrative business opportunities.

Don’t Commute, Don’t Pollute

Megan Prusynski — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 19:46:31 +0000

They say that location is everything. Where your business is located can certainly have a big impact on your operations and your bottom line. It can also have a big impact on the planet.

Many small businesses are born in the most humble of beginnings: a small corner of a bedroom, the kitchen table of an apartment, maybe even a closet. Most expand to off-site offices as they grow, leaving behind the convenience of working from home for the increased visibility and professionalism of a “real office.” But for many types of businesses, having an off-site office is not at all necessary. Especially if much of the work revolves around a computer.

Luckily, working from home is very easy for graphic and web designers like myself. I do almost all of my work on my laptop, keep in touch with clients via e-mail, and don’t need much in terms of office equipment. I’ve thought about where I will go once I officially launch my own business, and have decided to stay put. After telecommuting for jobs in the past, I’ve become spoiled, and so my office will always be a spare room in my house, not a place I have to commute to.

While the daily commute has become quite the American tradition, telecommuting is gaining ground. Employers are finding out they can save on overhead by letting employees telecommute, and employees love the convenience of swapping their commute for the comforts of home. It’s a win-win-win situation: better for employers, their employers, and of course, the planet.

Anything that reduces driving will of course benefit the environment. Fewer cars on the road means fewer emissions and pollution, cleaner air, less wear and tear on roads and cars, less traffic (therefore more sanity!) and less contribution to global warming. So it’s important for small businesses, whether brand-new start-ups or established companies, to consider staying small and staying at home. Many companies compromise with employees by letting them telecommute a day or two out of the week. Others let certain staff that can work from home do so. There are countless benefits to starting a telecommuting program.

For a sole proprietorship, unless you need a storefront, you probably don’t need an off-site office. I meet with clients at their offices or at coffee shops and gain visibility through the web, not a downtown office. With advances in internet technology, it’s possible for many of us to work from anywhere. So we might as well save some gas, reduce pollution and emissions, and avoid the dreaded commute if we can!

Setting up a home office will allow new businesses to get started more quickly and is especially handy for those who need to work part time while they’re starting out. You’ll want to make sure your home is as green and efficient as possible, of course, and have a space set aside just for your business. I’ll discuss supplying and setting up a green office in an upcoming column.

Resources and Links in this article:

Green Living Ideas on Telecommuting.
Starting a Telecommuting program from CleanAir.org
5 Ways to make your home energy wise on Green Options.

This article is the seventh in a series called Green Dreams following my journey starting a green design business. You can read the series introduction, see some green business resources, get inspired, learn how to write a business plan, find out how to name a business, and learn why sustainability should be a part of your planning from the beginning in this series. Stay tuned for more on starting a green business!

Photo credit: Daniel Morrison, via flickr.