Texas A&M University Transportation Services Sustainable Policies:
- Lights off in garages during summer months
- Reduced bus routes - focus on efficiencies
- Reduced bus fleet - sold older, less efficient buses
- Reduced fleet vehicles - retiring older, less efficient vehicles
- Photocell lighting used on exterior of all garages
- Replaced lights in automotive shop with more efficient fixtures
- Photocell lighting used at the fuel island
- Fuel island offers biodiesel (B20) and have dedicated one 12,000 gallon underground storage tank for biodiesel storage
- Preventive Maintenance schedules have increased to 3 per year instead of twice a year
- Signs have been posted at the fuel center with helpful tips encouraging customers to conserve fuel
- Conservation tips have been posted on our website
- A brochure has been produced regarding fuel conservation and is included with each fleet rental agreement
- We continue to communicate our efforts with Communication Representative from Energy Conservation Committee and offer assistance where needed with University-wide conservation efforts
- We are aggressively researching alternative fuel sources such as biodiesel
- We continue to research different blends of biodiesel (B99, B50 & B20) to determine the best blend to use
- We continue testing biodiesel blend B20 in 55 buses
- Bid proposal for biodiesel has been reviewed by Purchasing. Biofuels vendor Brenco Marketing has been selected.
- Test drove a 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid and then added it to our fleet.
- Utilized B50 biodiesel blend during the summer months
The following procedures and communication efforts are proposed for immediate action:
- Continue to replace lighting with more efficient fixtures at the heavy equipment shop
- Continue to investigate use of hybrid vehicles in the fleet
- Research the effects of using B20 during the winter months
- Research fuel additives to reduce gelling during the winter months
- Research using lower blends of biodiesel (B10) during the winter months