Idaho International Laboratory (INL) is celebrating some remarkable fuel consumption figures having reduced its fuel use by 20.2 per cent during the first nine months of Fiscal Year 2009.
In all this amounts to 167,000 gallons less than during the same period in 2006 with INL pointing to four key tactics that have helped achieve the success.
One: INL has increased the use of alternate fuels including biodiesel and ethanol-based fuel E85. From April this year its entire bus fleet began running on B20.
Two: More than a quarter of its passenger bus fleet has been replaced with new fuel efficient buses over the last four years – the average bus carries more passengers and gets 25 per cent better mileage compared to the older versions. Its fleet cars and pick-up trucks are also being modernised.
Three: Its bus routes have been streamlined, reducing the total number of routes and eliminating many of the old start-and-stop patterns through residential neighbourhoods.
Four: INL has reduced its unneeded vehicle use with drivers coached in reducing unnecessary idling of vehicle engines. Engines are now frequently turned off as buses wait to load passengers and with a fleet of around 100 buses, the savings can run to more than 1,000 gallons of fuel per month.
