Survey offers insights, benchmark data on fleet emissions

The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) recently completed a survey of vehicle fleet emissions trends among U.S. companies with large vehicle fleets. As this post from the EDF states, the project sought to better understand metrics such as greenhouse gases emitted per mile travelled, as well as total fleet emissions.

The EDF survey is worth a look for sustainability managers or operations executives looking for benchmark data on vehicle fleet emissions, as well a reduction goals. Some of survey’s questions also give insight into tactics being used by companies to reduce fleet emissions, such as right-sizing vehicles to the job, educating drivers about fuel savings, improved routing, and steps to reduce idling.

In today’s economy, not many companies can afford to replace all their conventional vehicles with hybrids, though according to this EDF post about vehicle efficiency, some hybrids can net a 30 percent to 50 percent savings in fuel efficiency. Simpler, low-cost steps, like driver education and automatic idle shutoffs, also have been shown to be effective, according to the post. One interesting finding from the survey was that close to 50 percent of respondents agreed (35 %) or strongly agreed (13%) with the statement that there are low-cost or no-cost methods available to help a fleet reduce emissions.

Although vehicle fleet costs aren’t as high profile as they were before the recession brought down fuel costs, the management of corporate vehicle fleets continues to be an area with solid potential for both emissions and cost reduction.