Emissions to air
Our vehicles impact on air quality through the emission of combustion gases. We calculate these emissions on an annual basis using the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved emission model for mobile sources MOBILE 6. This model contains emission factors based on the EPA allowable emissions for a particular vehicle type in a particular year. Emission calculations will therefore reflect the age profile of the vehicle fleet and our investment in newer vehicles.
There has been an overall decrease in the emission of combustion gases over the last three years. The slight increase in total emissions this year is due to increased mileage in First Student. In First Student (where we own most of the vehicles) we continue to invest in new lower emissions vehicles. During the past year we have invested in an additional 2,470 vehicles.
*These figures do not take account of reductions to emissions from the use of catalytic converters and particulate traps.
In First Transit vehicles are mostly owned by our customers and we operate them on their behalf. We help our customers to reduce vehicles emissions by accessing suitable funding sources. For example in Richmond and Rochester, First Student and First Vehicle Services respectively have worked closely with their clients to achieve emission reductions.
First Student earns Environmental Achievement Award through Project Green Fleet-Rochester
At a recent ceremony, Project Green Fleet-Rochester was presented with an Environmental Achievement Award Rochester Public Utilities by the Olmsted County Environmental Commission. First Student Rochester participates in Project Green Fleet-Rochester, part of the Minnesota Environmental Initiative, which uses innovative partnerships to develop and enact programmes that positively impact the environment. The award acknowledged a retrofit of 42 school buses and 11 transit/shuttle buses with special filters to reduce diesel emissions.
Case study: First Vehicle Services, Richmond, Virginia
The First Vehicle Services staff at Richmond, Virginia managed to win an Environmental Protection Agency Clean School Bus Grant to enable them to install Diesel Oxidation Catalyst on all of their 197 school buses. These catalysts convert harmful gases (such as carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons) into harmless emissions, thus reducing the impact of the buses on the environment.