Increasingly, regulations mandating environmental protection practices are requiring fleet managers to implement new procedures and programs, address shop equipment and design, and provide training for technicians. These rules cover a wide variety of topics, among them waste handling and recycling, fuel storage and leak detection, parts washing, AC system service and vehicle refinishing.

One consolidated source of information about regulations is the GreenTruck website (www.greentruck.com). Provided by American Trucking Associations and the Transportation Environmental Resource Center, the site details U.S. Environmental Protection Agency programs for oil spill prevention and response, and Hazmat incident reporting. Also covered are federal and state underground storage tank regulations, safe fuel handling regulations, hazardous waste definitions, refrigeration service activities regulated under the Clean Air Act, and requirements that may pertain to vehicle painting.

GreenTruck also provides details on EPA’s National Environmental Performance Track program, which rewards companies that exceed minimum regulatory requirements and take extra steps to reduce and prevent pollution. While upgrading shop equipment, including lifts, parts washers and recycling systems, and actively providing training to technicians on environmental compliance initiatives, Southern California Edison (SCE), has already been honored in another way for its green shop efforts.

SCE, one of the nation’s largest electric utilities, operates 1,900 medium-duty trucks and 3,000 passenger and light-duty vehicles, along with 1,000 heavy-duty units and 1,100 pieces of equipment. The fleet is maintained in 44 shops staffed by 246 technicians.

SCE has achieved Platinum certification under the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) program sponsored by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) for its Wildomar, Calif., facility, southwest of Los Angeles. The USGBC process includes a green building rating system covering sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality, and innovation and design.

During the 2010 Electric Utility Fleet Managers Conference in Williamsburg, Va., James Kennedy, fleet manager, presented details on SCE’s “Greening Utility Fleet Garage Facilities” activities. The Wildomar Service Center site is home to a 21,116-sq.-ft., two-story garage with six truck bays, a welding bay and a wash bay, along with an office building, an assembly space and a Yard Management Warehouse.

“In the shop we focused on environmentally-sensitive planning, design and construction,” Kennedy said. “Skylights and glass bay doors in the garage were placed to optimize the use of natural light. Low volatile organic compound-emitting, non-toxic paints, coatings, adhesives, carpets and floor coverings were used to promote high indoor air quality. The building has an HVAC system with CO2 monitoring devices and HEPA filters to regulate fresh-air ventilation when indoor CO2 levels reach a pre-determined threshold.”

SCE also earned LEED credits for its Green Building Education practices by providing public information on the sustainable features of the Wildomar facility. The utility also has been awarded credits for its Green Housekeeping program that promotes the use of nontoxic cleaning supplies, for achieving water savings through the use of high-efficiency plumbing and landscaping fixtures, and for the purchase of renewable energy credits to offset the facility’s energy usage.

Kennedy went on to say that the Wildomar service center is a model for new building construction at SCE. “We’re committed to environmental protection. Beyond meeting regulatory requirements, we’re developing and implementing programs and practices that improve air and water quality, reduce solid waste and conserve natural resources. In addition, we’re benefitting by reducing operating costs and by providing a healthier, more comfortable work environment for our employees.”

Editor’s Note: The 2011 Electric Utility Fleet Managers Conference will be held June 19-22 in Williamsburg, Va. For information, visit www.eufmc.com.