The University's stated commitment to both a general stewardship of the environment and to the specific aim of mitigating climate change requires that we continue to improve practices on our campuses. We have already worked together to make significant inroads in conserving our natural resources, and we will continue to work together to do more. Now, it is timely to request your cooperation in achieving yet another of our stewardship goals: To reduce emissions and climate-changing greenhouse gases from the vehicles the University purchases or leases.
In order to engage this commitment, the University encourages all departments, when purchasing or leasing University vehicles from pre-approved vendors, to choose from the preferred vehicle list in order to reduce emissions of climate-changing greenhouse gases.
These lists of preferred vehicles were determined by ranking estimates of EPA fuel economy (city mpg) and emission standards.
The University of Connecticut vehicle fleet emits over two million kilograms of climate-changing carbon dioxide each year. The University’s stated commitment to both a general stewardship of the environment and to the specific aim of mitigating climate change requires that we begin to improve our practices here at home. A variety of measures can be undertaken to reduce emissions of climate changing gases from our vehicles.
Because the University contributes such a significant level of emissions each year, a Fleet Fuel Efficiency Workgroup, in 2005, sought out the first potential steps to improving fleet fuel efficiency and practices on campus.
Major initiative items included: specified purchasing agreements to limit vehicles available to departments to only vehicles that met a specified fuel economy standard, drafting and releasing a no-idling policy or statement, and reviewing several potential areas for alternative transportation methods such as car-sharing programs, electric and hybrid vehicles, and other similar programs of significant impact.
Today, sparked by increasing government initiatives and regulations that require fuel efficiency awareness throughout the state, the University is continuing to promote and adhere to regulations minimal fuel efficiency requirements. The most recent regulation passing in 2007 is directly supportive to these preferred purchasing lists:
Section 122 of Public Act 07-242: Applicable to all state agencies beginning on January 1, 2008; requires that "any car or light duty truck purchased by the state shall have an efficiency rating that is in the top third of all vehicles in such purchased vehicle's class and fifty per cent of such cars and light duty trucks shall be an alternative fueled, hybrid electric or plug-in electric vehicle. "
Page last udpated 12/15/08. MNR.
