UPS Hybrid Fleet

Since talking about green package delivery I've found out that UPS has announced that they have ordered 200 hybrid vehicles (HEVs), which is the largest commercial order of these trucks by any company!

"Alternative fuel research and development is just one of the ways that UPS is mitigating climate change risks," said Bob Stoffel, UPS's corporate sustainability officer. "We also are focused on aggressive conservation programs and improving network efficiency to cut fuel use."

UPS's "green fleet" operates in the United States, Germany, France, Brazil, Canada, Mexico and the United Kingdom and has traveled nearly 144 million miles since 2000. The fleet includes electric, hybrid electric, CNG, liquefied natural gas and propane-powered vehicles. The company also is continuing work with the Environmental Protection Agency on a hydraulic hybrid delivery vehicle.

"UPS has been utilizing alternative fuel vehicles for more than 70 years and is clearly the industry leader in hybrid electric and CNG vehicle purchases," said Robert Hall, director of UPS's ground fleet. "At UPS, it's very important to us to demonstrate our commitment with action, which is why we have the largest private 'green' fleet in the industry. And both CNG and HEV vehicles provide substantial reductions in carbon emissions, which supports our commitment to reducing our impact on the environment."

The 200 hybrid electric vehicles will be deployed in 2009 and join 50 HEV delivery trucks already in operation. The 200 trucks are expected to save 176,000 gallons of fuel annually and reduce CO2 emissions by 1,786 metric tons each year. That is the equivalent of removing almost 100 conventional UPS trucks from the road for a year.

Read the full Press Release here

Happy Bike-To-Work Week!

May is National Bike Month and this week (May 12th to 16th) is National Bike to Work Week so saddle up and start peddlin', folks! Thankfully I bought my bike on time and have been riding to work as much as I can and I am loving every minute of it! I'm becoming an addict...5-6 miles each way...and I'm starting to brave traffic more and more. My co-worker has even started biking to work now, too! We should really start a bike gang now...him dressing in sharp riding knickers and shoes that click into his pedals; me with my matching bike helmet, stylish cape, and basket lined with flowers.

Reasons why you should bike to work this week (and everyday for that matter):

• It’s Healthy! Great exercise without setting foot in a gym! Think of all the calories you'll burn...and how much happier your heart will be.

• It’s Economical! With gas prices rising towards the $5 mark, think about the money you'll be saving.

• It’s Environmentally Friendly! Mounting your bicycle to work reduces your carbon emissions. Did you know that if you drove a Toyota Camry and lived 9 miles from work, you would reduce emissions pollutants by 908 lbs year by biking one day a week?

Lights Out

Tomorrow (March 29th) @ 8pm (your local time), everyone is encouraged to join in on Earth Hour and turn off your lights and non-essential appliances for ONE HOUR in solidarity for electricity conservation (households and businesses alike)!

Last year's Earth Hour (created by the World Wildlife Fund) was held in Sydney, Australia where more than 2 million people flipped the switch. They even got 48,000 cars off the road for that hour. Can you believe it? Hooray for lower carbon emissions!

Need to light the way during Earth Hour? Light up some beeswax candles (they swell oh-so-sweet) and make shadow puppets, read a cook by candlelight like in the olden days, have conversation...or just have a makeout session...you know, whatever floats your boat.