University of British Columbia - Building Operations Department: Platinum-Rated Fleet (2014)

Adam McCluskey and Belle Dale-Wills (back centre) and Dave Woodson (second from right) accept the first-ever E3 Fleet Platinum Award on behalf of the University of British Columbia’s Building Operations Department team.

The Building Operations Department at the University of British Columbia (UBC) has been awarded the first-ever Platinum Rating from E3 Fleet. UBC’s Building Operations Department operates 240 vehicles and specialty motorized equipment in carrying out facilities maintenance, operations and renovation services for the lands and buildings owned by the University of British Columbia.  Between 2011 and 2013 the Department cut greenhouse gas emissions in the fleet by 217 tonnes, or 25%, and increased average fuel efficiency by 16%.

To better the performance of its fleet, the UBC Building Operations Department took several key steps:

• adopted a green fleet plan
• implemented better tracking and analysis of fleet data, including data on fuel use
• replaced vehicles when due for replacement, to minimize repair costs and fuel use
• “right-sized” the fleet in all vehicle classes (light, medium and heavy duty), by choosing smaller, more efficient vehicles suited to the task
• trained staff on fuel management and fuel-efficient driving practices.

The Department also embraced innovations:

• electric bikes with detachable trailers, used by trades staff on campus
• an eco-friendly, mobile car wash that uses less than a gallon of water per wash, saves fuel by servicing multiple vehicles in one place, and devotes proceeds to support homeless youth
• carbon offsets for remaining fleet emissions as part of UBC’s central offsets program.