Crowned Low Carbon Vehicle Operator of the Year at the 2011 Low Carbon Champion Awards
Stagecoach Group has been named Low Carbon Vehicle Operator of the Year at the 2011 Low Carbon Champion Awards in London.
The company impressed judges after reducing the carbon footprint of its buses over the past two years through the use of cleaner fuels, investment in new technology and the introduction of eco-driving techniques across its UK bus operations.
Stagecoach Group chief executive Sir Brian Souter said: “We’re delighted to have won this latest green award, which recognises the hard work of our employees in reducing the impact of our operations on the environment.
“As well as looking at new and innovative ways to make our fleet greener, we believe it’s important to help people reduce their own carbon footprint by offering good value, greener, smarter transport and raising awareness of more sustainable ways of living and doing business.”
The Low Carbon Champions Awards are run by the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership (LowCVP), a public-private partnership. The awards recognise best practice in key areas from vehicle manufacturing and fleet operation to the development of products and services which reduce greenhouse gases from road transport operations.
Stagecoach is investing £11m in a range of measures to meet its environmental targets. The group is targeting an overall reduction of 8% in buildings CO2 emissions and a cut of 3% in annual fleet transport CO2 emissions by 2014.
Stagecoach’s UK Bus division has launched a number of initiatives in the past 12 months to improve environmental performance, including:
- testing a new MAN CNG gas bus in Liverpool;
- mixing its own biofuel on site using a new bio-blender installed at its Kilmarnock depot;
- launching a fleet of 11 buses in Lincoln operating on biomethane, derived from household rubbish and animal waste;
- placing orders for 142 BAE-Systems-powered ADL hybrid buses;
- a multi-million-pound investment in Green Road, the hi-tech eco-driving system, which is expected to reduce fuel consumption at its bus division by 4%. The scheme also offers employees the chance to earn ‘green points’ which are converted into financial benefits from a potential £900,000 annual bonus pot;
- the launch of a £500,000 project to fit new Euro5 in 50 ADL Tridents to prolong life; and
- trialling a new ‘intelligent’ lighting system, which uses movement sensors to determine the amount of light required, at six bus depots across the UK.
For further information about Stagecoach Group, visit www.stagecoach.com
