Reducing the amount of time fleet vehicles spend idling has helped FairPoint Communications (Nasdaq: FRP) curb emissions and fuel use throughout its New England operations base, providing economic and environmental boosts for the South Burlington, Vt.-based carrier.
According to a company news release, FairPoint--which operates 1,232 fleet trucks across Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont--saw a drop of 42 percent in idling time in the first four months of 2012 compared to the same time period last year.
"Less fuel used means better air quality and better health, particularly for children and the elderly. And, of course, this type of reduction really helps reduce the company's contribution to greenhouse gas emissions," Wayne Michaud, director of Idle-Free VT and former coordinator of the American Lunch Association's Vermont Idle-Free Fleets program, said in a news release.
The American Lung Association joined FairPoint in presenting the benefits of reduced idling time at company garages. These presentations, the news release said, "spurred renewed interest in reducing the amount of time trucks idle" and that, in turn, spurred the improved fuel economy and emissions results.
"FairPoint has made a concerted effort across northern New England to reduce idling; it's the right thing to do for public health and to be a more energy-efficient company," Karen Mead, senior vice president of operations and engineering for the carrier said. "This is a significant step toward reducing our carbon footprint in the region."
For more:
-see the FairPoint release
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