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Week of Apr. 3, 2006
Fleet is taking steps to get even greener
 King County’s Fleet Administration Division is always looking for ways to get greener. Already a national leader in the use of hybrid technology, recycling and alternative fuels, the Fleet Division is leading a new effort to reduce some of the worst air pollutants generated by vehicle emissions, which cause significant harm to the environment and public health.
The Fleet Division buys, manages and maintains more than 2,500 vehicles for the county. This includes everything from sheriff patrol cars to heavy-duty road building equipment. Finding a way to make these diverse vehicles operate leaner and greener is a challenge, but one that Fleet staff has been very successful in implementing.
“In the Fleet Division, we believe in the motto: ‘Green cars today, blue skies tomorrow,’” said Division Director Windell Mitchell
The new pollution-reduction effort begins with the obvious – burn less gas. The Fleet Division has outlined three strategies to reduce fuel consumption by King County vehicles:
Increase the number of cleaner engine types and green vehicles – King County’s fleet already has one the largest inventory of hybrid vehicles in the state – with 140 hybrids currently and another 35 to be delivered by the end of the year. The division’s goal is to convert 50 percent of all county vehicles to green vehicles by 2012, and 75 percent by 2016.
Increase fuel efficiency in county operated vehicles – Fleet’s goal is to increase fuel efficiency by 10 percent by 2016, and 25 percent by 2020.
 Decrease fossil fuel expenditures and increase use of alternative fuels – Fleet’s goal is to use a 20-percent mix of biodiesel fuel in heavy-duty equipment and trucks by 2006, and invest in other forms of alternative fuels as feasible by 2015.
As more and more vehicles are replaced with hybrid electric and advanced technology vehicles, Fleet figures it can reduce vehicle emissions and fuel use by 30 to 50-percent per vehicle. In addition, King County continues to lead the national green effort by investing in environmentally responsible technology and supporting the emerging alternative and fuel-efficient market.
Not every green step needs to be a giant step. Fleet Administration Director Win Mitchell has some smaller actions planned that will add up to significant savings in fuel and pollutants.
Mitchell said driver education programs can teach employees how to reduce fuel consumption by five-to-ten percent. Idling engines can burn a gallon of fuel per hour. He says by reducing idling time, using battery power or auxiliary generators instead, it cuts fuel consumption and engine wear and tear.
“By encouraging employees to use strategies such as planning their trip to avoid congestion, carpooling and staying on top of maintenance, we can all be part of the daily mantra of becoming more environmentally conscious – even while we’re working,” Mitchell said.
Nobody is saying getting greener is going to be easy. It’s going to take new technology and new ways of thinking. But, King County’s Fleet Administration Division is taking the steps needed to change its image to a deeper green.
As the Seattle Mariners open the 2006 baseball season this week, don’t forget the easiest path to Safeco Field may be a ride on the bus. Every year Metro Transit and the Mariners team up to transport baseball fans to and from the ballpark with a combination of regular bus routes and special shuttles. Photo: Mariners BusThe special shuttles operate post-game only on weeknights, and both before and after weekend games. They travel to and from Safeco Field from 13 outlying park-and-ride lots. The fare for special shuttles is $3 each way. There is also a post-game shuttle with a $1 fare that circulates through downtown Seattle on First and Second avenues. The post-game and weekend shuttles serve the following park-and-ride lots: Northgate; Northgate Transit Center; South Kirkland; South Bellevue; Eastgate; South Renton; Tukwila; Kent Station Transit Center; Kent/James Street; Kent-Des Moines; Star Lake; Federal Way Transit Center; and Federal Way/South 320th. The shuttle also stops after games only on North Mercer Way on Mercer Island, but passengers should be aware the Mercer Island Park-and-Ride is currently closed for construction. Detailed information for all Mariners service is available on the Metro Online website. Or, call (206) 553-3000 (voice) or (206) 684-1739 (TTY). |
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It’s a small role in a short film, but King County International Airport will play a part in a locally produced film for the Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF) [external link]. Photo: Boeing FieldBoeing Field is one of several locations chosen for an entry in SIFF’s “Fly Filmmaking Challenge.” The films are shot “on the fly,” with filmmakers creating their story in a short time frame while facing a set of pre-determined restrictions. Filmmakers have five days to shoot and five days to edit for a total of 10 minutes of screen time. Not to give away the story, but the film called “War and Peace” focuses on families and servicemen saying goodbye at the airport. The production crew did run into an unexpected snag during shooting. It was raining on the designated filming day, forcing some last second changes to the script. Under the circumstances, the crew had no choice but to adapt to the weather. “Nobody would believe it was a film shot in Seattle if it didn’t have a rainy scene in it anyway,” said director Douglas Horn. “So we just have to work around it.” The Fly Filmmaking challenge films will premiere at the 32nd SIFF to be held May 25 – June 18, 2006. |
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