Ask the Fuel Expert

Earth Day 2009 was celebrated on April 22. It was the 39th annual. Did your company have any reason to celebrate the day?

Earth Day was established in 1969 to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth’s environment. Since then hundreds of thousands of companies and millions of people around the world set aside time to recognize the impact we have on our planet and to pat ourselves on the back for changes we have made to how we treat the environment. So what have you done?

The mantra for the green revolution has been “Reduce and recycle.” While it may be easy for your company to reduce consumption of electricity, minimize your garbage or conservatively re-package your goods for market, many fuel dependent companies have a tough time minimizing their carbon footprint while they attempt to increase production. According to recent statistics supplied by Transport Canada, each litre of fuel (about a quarter gallon) generates 2.7 kilograms of toxic greenhouse gases. When you do the math it is frightening to think about how much pollution we spew into the air we breathe each day. But there is comfort in knowing that with each drop of fuel we don’t use there is a payback in reduced GHGs.

This Earth Day some companies who have cut their carbon footprint have celebrated their accomplishments knowing to the exact measure how much they have improved. The reason is they ascribe to Total Fuel Management (TFM). TFM helps companies manage fuel like other investments to minimize consumption and drive a higher return. The system works by combining professional onsite service with powerful online reporting tools to minimize the cost of obtaining fuel and maximize productivity and profit from using it. Because each drop of fuel is measured it is easy to calculate how much pollution has been produced and how much has been eliminated because of better fuel consumption management. For example, if a company used 200,000 litres of diesel fuel per month in the last year and TFM cut consumption by 8%, the result is 16,000 litres in reduced fuel consumption AND according to those Transport Canada statistics, GHGs are cut by 43,200 kilograms. (Remember each litre spews 2.7 kilograms in toxic emissions x 16,000 = 43,200 kilograms!)

Some TFM systems deliver incredible results because of a number of factors. The most effective providers offer a complete system from fuel procurement, purchasing and delivery to cost containment and consumption analysis. TFM is available to fuel dependent companies in transport, fleet, construction, rail and marine industries as well as for port authorities, mining and airports. Fuel is delivered where it is used, eliminating travel time and fuel consumption. Fuel consumption is measured along with the application of prudent operating practices to further maximize productivity and cut waste. It all adds up.

This Earth Day thousands of companies have celebrated their contribution to the green movement. When you look at the numbers you’ll see why. 4Refuel Inc is a Total Fuel Management Company that has over 6,000 clients. This past year, based on conservative estimates, the company has helped their clients eliminate over 17 million kilograms of GHGs. Using automated tracking and online analysis, 4Refuel calculates its lifetime client savings to exceed 89.5 million kg of GHGs.
Companies have eliminated hundreds of thousands of kilograms of greenhouse gases!

The list of companies is impressive. Miller Transport who serves McDonald’s Restaurants in Ontario has cut emissions by 599,373 kilograms. ERB Transport with operations in Quebec has cut their toxic emissions by over 553,000 kilograms while Roff Logistics of Brampton, Ontario, uses total fuel management solutions to manage fuel consumption, reduce waste and measure greenhouse gas emissions too. Their savings were 228,461 kg in GHGs. In the same region Coca-Cola has cut 242,892 kilograms of pollutants.

When you look at transport companies that operate hundreds of trucks the GHG savings, thanks to TFM, is astounding. Tim Hortons (Ontario), cut an astounding 866,355 kg in GHG emissions in just one year!

Total Fuel Management is for any company big or small, who uses fuel. When you consider the thousands of trucks, buses and pieces of equipment that operate for hundreds of hours each week it is easy to see where we can make the biggest impact to help improve the air we breathe. And when Earth Days come and go each year you will know exactly what you did to be more responsible corporate citizens.