Cleaner Air Starts with Us

Maybe you already have a newer vehicle in your garage with an auto-start feature that turns the motor off when you’re at a stoplight or idling for more than a few seconds. Maybe you drive a hybrid or electric vehicle. If so, you’re already helping the City of Five Seasons address the issue of greenhouse gas emissions in our community. We continue finding ways to create a lasting legacy of conservation and sustainable practices in every aspect of our daily work, and that includes transportation.

The City’s operational sustainability policies call for City employees to limit idling of fleet vehicles, which reduces fuel costs and the release of unnecessary emissions. Employees are trained to turn vehicles off if they’re going to idle for more than 30 seconds. Exceptions exist for first responders and other vehicles when responding to emergencies or specific work scenes.

One encouraging development is coming in the form of the next fire engine currently being built by Pierce Manufacturing. This new engine has a high-capacity battery that allows lighting and basic onsite needs to be handled from its stores and for the diesel engine to cut off until active pumping resumes. According to Fire Chief Greg Smith, “This new tech is well aligned with the City’s Community Climate Action Plan. The added cost for this battery is expected to be offset in three years of operation, and our engines normally stay in service for 15 years.”