Going green for a more sustainable future

IN JUNE 2022, COATES LAUNCHED THEIR GREENER CHOICES RANGE. TWELVE MONTHS ON, THEY’RE CONVINCED THAT GOING GREEN IS NOT ONLY GOOD FOR THE PLANET, IT’S A LOGICAL CHOICE FOR BUSINESS.

Ask Peter Davis, Executive General Manager – Fleet at Coates what he thinks about their Greener Choices product range and the answer is clear.

“I’m pretty happy with what we’ve achieved over the past 12 months and excited that it’s becoming a normal part of our fleet.”

Like many companies in Australia and across the world, Coates committed to net-zero targets and established a sustainability framework with five key pillars to help drive positive change for our stakeholders and wider society. The Greener Choices range offers opportunities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve efficiencies and commit to best practice environmental sustainability standards.

Currently, the energy source categories in the range are hybrid, battery electric, solar and low pollutant engines (USA Tier 4 Final / EU Stage 4 & 5). The range also includes features such as biofuel compatibility, energy efficient appliances and LED lighting.

Davis says it’s probably one of the biggest changes any rental company has been through in the past.

“We’re the first large equipment hire company in Australia to call it out although everyone had been dabbling in greener product options,” says Davis. “We just got on the front foot and went out and marketed it.”

In the 12 months since Greener Choices was launched, Coates has grown their low emission fleet by just over $25 million.

“We set a target of 17.5% of our powered fleet to be part of the Greener Choices product range in FY23 but we’re past that already,” he says. “We’ll increase that to above 20% in FY24.”

Coates is now finding they’re getting more requests from mid-tier customers about the Greener Choices range.

“With a lot of our mid-tier customers working or sub-contracting for the big tier one construction and mining companies, they have to include details in their proposals how they plan to reduce emissions. That means the focus on emissions and sustainability is no longer just at the top end of town, it’s starting to filtrate down.”

The challenge, he says, is that many customers don’t know what they don’t know.

“It’s what we’ve got to get better at as industry, selling the value of green. But it’s not just about emissions; at the end of the day, it’s about cost.”

“If you think about it, a customer might hire a diesel-powered generator to run one or two site sheds. That generator operates 12 to 24 hours a day to power the lights, air-conditioning, urn, microwave and laptops. But if you put solar panels on the roof of the site sheds and install a battery energy storage unit, they don’t have to draw as much power from the generator and it might only be turned on once every few days. It not only decreases emissions but is more economically viable for the customer because they’re no longer spending hundreds of dollars a day on diesel. It’s a no brainer.”

While costs will always be one of the major drivers in the rental industry, customers are starting to see the benefits of low emission equipment and are most are willing to pay extra for it.

“If we don’t make a return from these assets, we can’t reinvest, and if we can’t continue to reinvest, the purchase price won’t come down. That’s when it becomes a challenge for our customers. We’ve been careful in our selection of Green Choices, ensuring the products are fit for purpose and what our customers are asking for. To date, from a business and financial return point of view, it’s been good for us and for our customers.”

Coates is also practicing what they preach with their sustainability program extending beyond their hire fleet. The first electric vehicles for the Coates sales team are now in use while solar panels have been installed on their large facilities.

“We’ve all got our part to play,” says Davis. “That realisation is starting to hit us here.”

“The feedback we’ve had from our team has been phenomenal because they can see it’s not window dressing or lip service. There’s pride in what they can see is happening with the hire fleet, they can see solar going onto the roofs of our properties, the electric vehicles are here and we’ve implemented much better waste management systems. The change is tangible.”

They’re also acutely aware of the community demand for change.

“I think most people are concerned about the environment and climate warming, I know I am,” he says. “None of us have the answers but if you don’t commit to making a change and make a start, it will never happen.”

For Davis, that makes it an exciting time to be part of the hire industry.

“It’s now more than just providing equipment it’s how do we provide a solution? Electricity and power usage are ‘low-hanging fruit’ for our customers and an easy target to reduce emissions. There’s less maintenance, you don’t have to change oils or filters, there are less moving parts and improved safety, and the costs of repairs and maintenance are lower. All these things offset a customer’s hire costs and it starts to make sense.”

“But we have to keep working on products and pricing and listening to our customers to ensure we continue to understand the trends and know what the market is demanding.”

Davis says Coates will continue to grow their Greener Choices product range.

“It’s good for our customers, good for the environment, good for our business and good for our people,” he says. “And the reality is that if we don’t do it, if we don’t continue to adapt, we will get left behind because it’s happening.”

Coates Greener Choices range solutions include:

• Electric and hybrid boom and scissor lifts

• Greener lighting solutions, including solar powered, hybrid and portable LED options

• Electric, lithium-ion battery-powered forklifts and warehousing equipment

• Stage 5 low diesel particulate emission engine forklifts and telehandlers

• Large range of battery powered hand tools

• Blended Biodiesel, up to B7, for all Coates’ diesel engine-powered plant and equipment.

Blue Diamond electrifies mining and construction with hybrid power solution

Blue Diamond is leading the energy transition in Australia with its investment in clean energy solutions specifically for the rental, construction and mining sectors.

Our low emission and net zero emission power solutions can help you transition to a cleaner future.

With our hybrid power systems consisting of the exclusive Powr2 Battery Energy Storage System & Denyo generators, you can achieve reductions of up to 80% in diesel use and CO2 emission. By adding solar will see savings of well over 90%. We can package a hybrid power system specifically for your rental, construction and minesite needs.

For the 20-year-old Hire Manager from Larsen’s Air Conditioning Hire in Central Queensland, the International Rental Business Leadership Exchange program between the HRIA and the American Rental Association (ARA), was a great opportunity to gain insights into the US hire industry.

Hosted in the US by CES Power, Michael visited multiple states including Tennessee, Mississippi, New Orleans, California and Florida, before attending the 2022 American Rental Association Show in Orlando, Florida.

“The scale and size of the ARA show was truly amazing,” said Michael. “I thoroughly enjoyed meeting everyone participating in the ARA young professional network, and it was great to see so many enthusiastic young people entering this exciting industry.”

“It was also incredible that so many Aussies were at the show, including awesome representation from HRIA members.”

During the exchange, Michael visited CES Power branch locations and joined them onsite at the Miss Universe Pageant in New Orleans, the preGrammy Awards in Los Angeles, and the Daytona 500 race in Daytona Beach.

"I cannot thank CES Power enough for their overwhelming hospitality,” said Michael. “They made my experience unforgettable, giving me so many opportunities to learn and experience their amazing company. Supplying power and HVAC (heating, ventilation, air-conditioning) services to the largest