NAFA's Tri-State Chapter Shows Sustainability In Action

The August 6 NAFA Tri-State Chapter meeting focused on opportunities for fleets to deploy cleaner fuels and efficiency technologies to improve vehicle performance.

With such an important topic, there was no question that the turnout would be strong. Forty-one chapter members were in attendance, ready to learn about the possibilities available to fleets in regard to sustainability. The meeting, hosted by the City of Columbus Fleet Management Department, was a case of "right place and right time." The City of Columbus is ranked #1 in the 100 Best Fleets In North America, and has been a leader in alternative fuels and infrastructure.
    
Rob Sizemore, NAFA's Tri-State Chapter Chair, discussed the future of the chapter, its goals and mission in the next year, reviewed information and updates from the NAFA BOG meeting, and announced several members who received milestones and recognition in their career: 
The first speaker for the day was Andrew Conley, Program Director for Clean Fuels Ohio. He shared a comprehensive overview of fleet alternative fuel and efficiency technology solutions, costs/benefits, and available incentives for deployment. Clean Fuels Ohio is non-profit organization whose mission is to help fleets deploy advanced vehicle technology and fuel solutions designed to improve the economic and environmental performance of fleet operations. Conley’s presentation focused on the options and opportunities that fleet managers have for reducing operational costs, improving efficiency, and minimizing environmental impacts by implementing commercially available fuels and technologies including anti-idling, power management and efficiency solutions, as well as the range of alternative fuels including biodiesel, natural gas, propane, and electric vehicle options.  

Kelly Reagan, Fleet Administrator for City of Columbus, and Bill Burns, Fleet Operations Manager with the City of Columbus presented second. They shared their experiences referring to a real situation they encountered. Through this experience, they learned how to educate and get buy-in approval for implementing alternative fuels into their fleet. They also shared the cost-savings they are achieving. The City of Columbus is a pioneer in  alternative fuels for the Midwest, and has built the infrastructure around the city to support their own needs for CNG fuel, to reduce fuel costs and to driver cleaner burning, less expensive fuel. Columbus offers several CNG stations open to the public as well. Through these efforts, Columbus is expecting to save over $2 million a year on fuel costs, while displacing over 1.2 million diesel gallon equivalents over the next several years.

Scott Mayo, Fleet Sales and Operations Manager for SCT Fleet Solutions, presented another way to achieve reduced fuel costs: utilizing technology to recalibrate vehicles, reducing idling and control speeds to reduce fuel consumption and carbon emissions. Several customers have experienced fuel savings between 9-13 percent.

After the meeting, chapter members had the opportunity to tour the City of Columbus Fleet Management operations and the CNG Fueling station, which is open to the public. Attendees left with a lot of great ideas and the testimonials to offer to their supervisors that change can be done.
Special thanks to Sherry Calkins, SambaSafety, for information in this article.