ReFUEL
September 2011 | Wisconsin Clean Cities - Southeast Area | Monthly Newsletter
Saving Money at the Pump:
Simple Tips and Strategies to Improve Your Fuel Economy
Also In This Issue:
Welcome New and Returning Members Member Spotlight: Milwaukee County Question of the Month: Petroleum Reduction Planning Tool AND Listings of Upcoming Events “Driving Wisconsin Forward”
Co nnect Wi t h U s On T h e Web !
www.wicleancities.org
twitter.com/wccsea
www.facebook.com/wicleancities
www.flickr.com/wicleancities
Soy Biobased Products Conference and Expo Featuring biodiesel, printing ink, and much more... September 7, 2011 8:30 am - 2:00 pm FREE Kenosha Public Museum 5500 First Ave. Kenosha, WI 53140 Keynote Speaker: Jim Evanoff, Environmental Specialist for Yellowstone National Park & Wisconsin Native Registration: Contact Emily DeVillers at 414-221-2509 or emily.devillers@wicleancities. org.
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ReFUEL is Wisconsin Clean Cities Southeast Area’s (WCC-SEA) monthly coalition newsletter. WCC-SEA is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3), organization, and is one of nearly 100 Clean Cities coalitions across the U.S. WCC-SEA works to reduce emissions, encourage the use of alternative fuels and alternative fuel vehicles, and develop the refueling infrastructure necessary to sustain the industry. If you would like to contribute to ReFUEL, please contact Lorrie Lisek at lorrie.lisek@wicleancities.org or call 414-221-4958. September ReFUEL | 3
Con te n ts Page 6
Welcome New and Returning Members
Page 7
Member Spotlight:
Page 8
Question of the Month:
Page 9
Saving Money at the Pump:
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August Newcomers and Renewals
Milwaukee County
What is the Petroleum Reduction Planning Tool and why should I use it?
Simple Tips to Improving Your Fuel Economy
A r e you a me m be r y et ? Sta rt mak i ng an i mpact today, join WCC - S EA !
It’s all a bo ut i m p r o v i n g q u a l i ty of life fo r t he pe o ple living in Wisc ons in. WCC-SE A r e l i e s o n s u p p o r t f r o m o ur members. Dues and co rpo rat e member s hi p s e n a b l e W C C - S E A to ho ld meet ings, spo nso r educat io nal wor k sh op s, a nd p r o v i d e v i ta l o u t reach mat e rials. Wh at ca n W C C-S E A d o f o r y o u ? • Net w or k i ng o p p o r tu n iti e s w i th fleet s & indust ry part ners wit h experienc e in alt e r na t i v e f u e l s & a d va n c e d ve hicle s • Techni ca l t r a in i n g , w o r ks h o p s , and we binars • In forma t i o n re s o u r c e s o n a l te rnat ive fuels, advance d ve hicle s, idle reduc t i o n, a n d o th e r te c h n o l o gie s t hat re duce pe t ro le um use • In divi d ua l c o n s u l ta tio n a n d technical assist ance • F undi ng o p p o r tu n iti e s f r o m the U. S . Depart me nt o f Energy, st ate and local gov e r nm e n t a g e n c ie s , n onpro fit s, and fo undat io ns • Pu bli c r e c o g n i ti o n f o r p r o g r e ss in re ducing pet ro le um co nsumption • Assis t a nce w i th m e d ia o u tr e a ch
J oi n toda y !
Visit ww w.w i cl e a n c iti e s . o r g /j o i n. php, email info @wicle ancit ies. org, or call 4 1 4 -2 2 1 - 4958.
2 0 11 D i am o n d a nd Go l d M e m b e r s:
W e lcom e n e w a n d returnin g me mbe r s Members that renewed or joined in August.
Waste Management Clean Energy Fuels Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District Outpost Natural Foods Pieper Electric City of Milwaukee Dual Fuel Systems, Inc. Remy Battery Co., Inc. Hribar Trucking, Inc. U.S. Venture Green Fuels Workshop
Using Green Fuels in Green and Gold Country Join us to learn about Compressed Natural Gas, Electric Vehicles, and Hybrid Electric Vehicles! September 14, 2011 8:30 AM - 1:00 PM FREE with registration Western Technical College 400 7th St., North LaCrosse, WI 54601
Featuring: Instructor Rich Cregar, an ASE Certified Master Automobile Technical, Advanced Engine Performance and Alternative Fuels Technical Speakers include representatives from: Kwik Trip, ElectriCharge Mobility, General Motors, and Honda Motorwerks Registration: Contact Emily DeVillers at 414-221-2509 or emily.devillers@wicleancities.org.
Sponsors: 6 | September ReFUEL
M embe r Spotli gh t : M i lwauke e C ou n ty M
ilwaukee County has long embraced alternative fuels and vehicles, both for the monetary and environmental benefits. The county has been interested in compressed natural gas (CNG) technologies, but recently through the Wisconsin Clean Transportation Program (WCTP) has been able to include hybrid electric vehicles to that list.
The county not long ago replaced 35 aging Chevrolet Impalas with 35 Ford Fusion hybrid vehicles. It is estimated these vehicles will save approximately $14,000 annually in fuel costs and more than 4,400 gallons of petroleum per year. Additionally, they will save on maintenance costs since the vehicles require oil changes less frequently. Milwaukee County also plans to purchase four plug-in hybrid electric bucket trucks as part of the WCTP grant funding. According to Dan Goeden, Director of the Fleet Division for Milwaukee County Transportation and Public Works Department, the County will continue to purchase alternative fueled and advanced technology vehicles. Over winter, they plan to test out four-wheel-drive vehicles for winter plowing that run on CNG. For next year, the county will additionally look at adding a few CNG trucks.
A window sticker required by the Wisconsin Clean Transportation Program, recognizing it as an alternative fuel vehicle.
A look under the hood of one of the Ford Fusion hybrid vehicles and the other 34 hybrids in the background.
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Question of th e m on t h Q A
: What is the Petroleum Reduction Planning Tool and why should I use it?
: The Petroleum Reduction Planning (PRP) tool helps fleets, consumers, and business owners create a strategy to reduce conventional fuel use in fleet and personal vehicles. It is an interactive tool that allows users to evaluate and calculate petroleum reductions by choosing one or a combination of strategies. This includes: alternative fuels, hybrid electric vehicles, biodiesel blends, fuel economy, vehicle miles traveled reduction, truck stop electrification, idling time reduction, and onboard idle reduction. The PRP tool will help you reach your reduction goals, improve the environment through reduced emissions, and save you money by decreasing your overall petroleum usage. Two steps to the PRP tool are: 1) set your petroleum reduction goal, and 2) create your petroleum reduction scenario. In other words, decide how much you would like to reduce your usage and then choose a strategy. For example, a typical sedan that gets 25 miles per gallon and drives 15,000 miles per year will use 600 gallons of fuel. In this case, a user may choose to reduce its petroleum consumption by 20 percent, thereby setting their petroleum reduction goal at 120 gasoline gallon equivalents (GGEs). The user may then use the scenario simulator to figure out which strategies will help him/her meet this goal. The best part about the PRP tool is it generates a plan based on the goal you set and strategies you choose. After seeing the results, you can always go back to step 1 or step 2 to make adjustments and evaluate how it affects the outcome. The tool does require some simple calculations, such as finding the number of GGEs, but does have a convenient “Help” page that describes the calculations used, and defines and explains terms, such as “Fraction of Fuel Use.”
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The PRP tool is offered by the U.S. Department of Energy on the Alternative Fuels and Advanced Vehicles Data Center website at http://www.afdc.energy.gov/afdc/prep/index. php.
S A vi n g m one y at t he pum p: Si mp l e t i ps to Im provin g your fue l e c ono m y
F
uel economy is a measure of miles per gallon (MPG) of a vehicle. Increasing a vehicle’s MPG is beneficial in several ways: it contributes to reducing the United State’s dependence on foreign oil, releases fewer emissions into the air we breathe, and most importantly, it can significantly decrease fuel costs to save money for drivers and companies. You don’t have to go to extremes to save
The U.S. spent approximately $209 billion importon your fueling costs. ing petroleum in 20092. Most of the petroleum is from Canada followed by Saudi Arabia, Mexico, and Venezuela, thereby stimulating their economies6. By taking measures to improve the fuel economy of U.S. vehicles, drivers strengthen our country’s national security, making us less dependent on foreign oil.
Emissions from vehicles using gasoline and diesel diminish air quality, contribute to public health problems, and climate change. Additionally, the refinement process and transportation of oil and petroleum products contribute to environmental degradation through spills and leaks3. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has reported approximately 200 confirmed leaks each week since 2000 and estimates 1.7 million gallons of oil spill in U.S. waters each year. Therefore, reducing the total amount of petroleum use through improving fuel economy can contribute to decreasing the number and volume of leaks that damage ecosystems and pollute groundwater and streams. Most importantly, improving fuel economy will save money for consumers and fleets by reducing overall fuel costs. Depending on the class of the vehicle (light-, medium- or heavy-duty), savings can be anywhere from $300 to $500 each year by driving the most fuel-efficient vehicles. Over the lifetime of the vehicle, this can total thousands of dollars. Consumers and fleets do not need to purchase new vehicles to increase their fuel economy. Proper maintenance and practical driving techniques can increase the fuel economy of their current vehicles.
Str ateg i es f o r l i ght - du t y v e hi c l e s 1. If it is time to replace a vehicle, choose one that is considered one of the most fuel-efficient. The most fuel-efficient currently are hybrid electric vehicles, but high-efficiency diesel vehicles are also a good choice5. Due to innovation and technological advances, many different types of makes and models are available.
Consumers can use the 2011 Fuel Economy Guide provided by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and EPA, to find which vehicle is most appropriate for him/herself1. 2. Check tire pressure and consider purchasing low rolling resistance tires when replacing old tires. September ReFUEL | 9
Rolling resistance is simply the energy a tire consumes while rolling under load, meaning the energy it takes for a vehicle to overcome the resistance of tires to move. It is estimated that 5% to 15% of fuel in light-duty vehicles is consumed due to rolling resistance. Purchasing low rolling resistance tires is cost effective as it is reported that the fuel savings pays for the additional cost of the tires. 3. Track your fuel consumption. Many companies manufacture fuel-tracking devices that fleets and individual consumers can purchase. Many new vehicles include this type of system in the vehicle. These devices can track the MPG over time, maintenance schedules, and fleet performance. Tracking fuel consumption is an important step to understanding and controlling fuel economy. 4. Be conscious of how you drive. Making some simple adjustments to your driving habits can result in fuel cost savings. First, avoid driving aggressively, meaning do not speed, or rapidly accelerate or brake. Second, observe the speed limit because gas mileage can decrease rapidly at speeds above 60 MPH, and is also safer for you and others on the road. Third, refrain from keeping unnecessary items in your vehicle because an extra 100 pounds in the vehicle can reduce MPG up to 2 percent. The reduction is based on the percentage
of extra weight relative to the vehicle’s weight and affects smaller vehicles more than larger ones. Fourth, if you are parked for longer than 30 seconds, turn off your vehicle. Idling produces zero miles per gallon and can use up to a half gallon of fuel per hour. Finally, use cruise control on the highway to maintain consistent speeds and use overdrive gears to save gas and reduce engine wear. 5. Combine and plan trips, and use carpools and public transit. If possible, avoid rush hours by adjusting the times you arrive and leave work, or telecommute (work from home). Take advantage of or start a carpool or ride-share program, such as Zimride. Use public transportation if it is available and convenient. If you are traveling, try to avoid putting items on the roof of the vehicle because it reduces the aerodynamic characteristics of the vehicle and reduces fuel economy. 6. Perform regular maintenance on your vehicle. Fixing a vehicle with noticeable issues, such as a failed emissions test, can improve mileage by an average of fourpercent. And, fixing a major issue, such as a faulty oxygen sensor, can improve your mileage up to 40 percent. Additionally, use the manufacturer’s recommended grade of motor oil, and consider using synthetic oil. The proper motor oil can improve your gas mileage by one to two percent.
Str ateg i es f o r H e av y - du t y v e hi c l e s 1. Proper vehicle maintenance can improve gas mileage. Similar to steps 2 and 6 above, make sure tires are properly inflated, use the manufacturer’s recommended motor oil, and tune your engine. Additionally, purchasing motor oil labeled “Energy Conserving” in the performance information contains friction-reducing additives that improve fuel economy4.
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2. Consider using special equipment to improve aerodynamics and reduce friction. Install low-rolling resistance tires, and replace dual tires on the rear axle with super-single tires for a smoother ride and better gas mileage. Further improve rolling resistance by using tag axles to eliminate the internal axle drive train. Truck airfoils over the cab and trailer, and side skirts extending between the back of the tractor and front of the trailer both improve the aerodynamic performance of the vehicle.
3. Encourage drivers to adjust their driving habits. Fleets can save money on fuel costs by: reducing or eliminating idling, slowing down, driving conservatively, reducing the load, and optimizing routes. Innovations in technology and adoption by truck stops, many different types of idle reduction equipment and strategies are available, such as onboard equipment and truck stop electrification. Driving the speed limit and avoiding rapid acceleration and braking can significantly save fuel and money. To optimize routes, reduce the total miles driven, avoid stops, the number of trucks used, and time spent in traffic. There is route optimization software available for fleets, like the UPS Logistics Technologies’ Territory Planner. UPS developed this software based on a study of their fleet and as a result have a right turn only policy due to the fuel savings by reducing the amount of time drivers are stopped at lights or signs.
4. Use other fuel economy measures for fleets. Global Fleet provides fleets of five or more vehicles with Web-based monitoring tools as part of their Fleet Fuel Card Program. The U.S. DOE has a vehicle technology program that researches parasitic loss-reduction in heavy-duty vehicles. The SmartWay Transport Partnership is a collaboration between the EPA and freight industry that works to increase energy efficiency while reducing greenhouse gases and air pollution.
relat e d re s o u rc e s Petroleum Reduction Planning Tool helps fleets, consumers, and business owners create a strategy to reduce conventional fuel use in fleet and personal vehicles. EPA’s Green Vehicle Guide can be used to choose the cleanest and most fuel-efficient vehicle that meets your needs. EPA’s new fuel economy labels: learn about the redesigned label. EPA Data and Testing for Fuel Economy website provides links to more detailed test car reports and data. EPA National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Laboratory website has information on vehicle and fuel testing and emissions.
s o u rc e s 1. FuelEconomy.Gov. (2011, August 30). Gas mileage tips. Retrieved from http://www.fueleconomy.gov/ feg/drive.shtml 2. Holtberg, P.D., Beamon, J.A., Schaal, A.M., Ayoub, J.C., & Turnure, J.T. U.S. Energy Information Administration, Office of Integrated and International Energy Analysis. (2011). Annual energy outlook 2011 with projections to 2035 (DOE/EIA-0383(2011)). Washington, DC: Retrieved from http://www.eia. gov/forecasts/aeo/pdf/0383(2011).pdf 3. U.S. Department of Energy. (2011, January 1). Fuel economy benefits. Retrieved from http://www.afdc. energy.gov/afdc/vehicles/fuel_economy_benefits. html
4. U.S. Department of Energy. (2011, January 28). Fuel economy strategies for heavy-duty vehicles. Retrieved from http://www.afdc.energy.gov/afdc/ vehicles/fuel_economy_heavy.html 5. U.S. Department of Energy. (2011, January 28). Fuel economy strategies for light-duty vehicles. Retrieved from http://www.afdc.energy.gov/afdc/ vehicles/fuel_economy_light.html 6. U.S. Energy Information Administration, . (2011, August 30). Crude oil and total petroleum imports top 15 countries. Retrieved from ftp://ftp.eia.doe. gov/pub/oil_gas/petroleum/data_publications/company_level_imports/current/import.html
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Save the Date
6th Annual Stakeholder Meeting & Holiday Reception
December 1, 2011 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM FREE Concordia University 12800 N. Lake Shore Dr. Mequon, WI Join us while we celebrate you! Review the year, eat great food, and find out who are the 2011 Clean Energy Champions. Sponsorship opportunities are available. Contact WCC-SEA for more information at 414-221-4958 or info@wicleancities.org.
$200 off the full conference pass for Clean Cities stakeholders! Use the promotional code: CCC11. Register before to Sept. 9 to save an additional $100!
October 3-4, 2011 Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center Grapevine, TX Who? Fleet Management Professionals and Supporting Industry Suppliers What? A Two-Day Conference Dedicated to Car and Truck Fleet Professionals When? October 3-4, 2011 Where? Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center in Grapevine, TX Why? To provide a Resource for Fleet Professionals to Learn to Save Money, Increase Efficiency, and Stay Up to Date with Their Eco-Friendly Fleets Learn more and register by visiting http://www.greenfleetconference.com. 12 | September ReFUEL