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Berneslai Homes joins award winning Eco Stars fleet environment scheme as a five star operator
Berneslai Homes has recently signed up to the award winning ECO (Efficient and Cleaner Operations) Stars Fleet Recognition Scheme. The free South Yorkshire scheme offers an exciting opportunity for all commercial vehicles to cut costs and improve environmental performance by reducing fuel consumption.
Berneslai Homes signed up 147 vehicles to the ECO Stars Scheme and received the maximum five star rating.
To reach the maximum star rating, Berneslai Homes had fully robust fleet management policies and procedures in place, covering all key aspects of the operation. These included fuel management, driver skills development, vehicles specification and maintenance, use of IT and performance monitoring and setting targets to progress to higher efficiency.
The scheme, which is the first of its kind in the UK, recognises fleet operators who are developing various initiatives to reduce their polluting vehicle emissions and effectively reduce the quantity of fuel used. The ECO Stars Fleet Recognition Scheme was launched in January last year by South Yorkshire’s air quality campaign, Care4Air, as part of the drive to improve the quality of air across the region.
Berneslai Homes are currently looking at hybrid vehicles for future orders and are in the process of moving away from their current fuel supplier to join the Procurement for Housing’s fuel card scheme. This will enable them to use all local Shell, Esso and Total garages instead of their current pump site, therefore reducing travelling time and CO2 emissions.
Russell Lowe, Service Control Unit Manager for Berneslai Homes, said: “This is a comparatively new fleet, comprising modern vehicles with cleaner engine technology. We are incredibly happy to have received the top five star rating and it goes to show how following strict policies and covering all aspects of operation, the fleet is working as efficiently as possible. This great achievement will push us further to keep working harder to come up with new, forward thinking ideas to lower all types of emissions from our fleet.”
With no sign up fee, help through the application process and tailor-made support for each individual company, fleet operators across South Yorkshire really have nothing to lose and so much to gain.
Robert Gillicker, ECO Stars Coordinator, said: “Since the scheme launched in January 2009, over 4,500 vehicles across the region have been assessed by our ECO Stars Team. The scheme is completely free to sign up to and we give you as much or a little guidance as you require. The process of registration is straightforward and once we have assessed your fleet we will initiate feedback for any improvements that can be made to further reduce the environmental impact of the operation of the fleet, as well as further cutting costs.
“We are looking forward to working with Berneslai Homes and hope other fleets can learn from their fleet management systems which help to reduce travelling time and CO2 emissions in the environment. I hope many more fleet operators across South Yorkshire will take advantage of this great opportunity to lower emissions and save a great amount of money annually.”
To sign up, call the ECO Stars Team on 01543 416 416 and quote ‘Eco Stars’, email ecostars@ttr-ltd.com or visit www.care4air.org.
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
Over 4,500 vehicles from fleet operators across South Yorkshire have been ECO Star assessed since the scheme launched.
The ECO Stars Fleet Recognition Scheme aims to help South Yorkshire’s HGV, LGV, bus and coach fleet operators gain recognition for their commitment to improving efficiency, reducing fuel consumption and reducing emissions – all helping to improve local air quality. Key to the scheme is the bespoke ‘road map’ action plan developed for each new member to help them progress to higher ratings levels. Members also receive windscreen and door decals issued for each vehicle to profile efficiency and environmental credentials.
Care4Air is a South Yorkshire wide campaign, aimed at raising awareness of air quality issues in the region. Through encouraging both businesses and individuals to consider reducing unnecessary vehicle use, becoming energy efficient and reducing emissions through the use of new technology the campaign will ensure that everyone in South Yorkshire is aware of the benefits of improving air quality for all residents. Care4Air also makes the links with air quality and climate change and recognises the growing importance of the need to reduce carbon emissions within South Yorkshire.
The key partners involved are:
• Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council
• Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council
• Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council
• Sheffield City Council
• Travel South Yorkshire
• NHS Barnsley
To find out more about air quality issues visit www.care4air.org
Green Apple Awards
The annual Green Apple awards are organised by the Green Organisation (www.thegreenorganisation.info) and supported by the Environment Agency, The Chartered Institution of Waste Management, The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, The Ecology Building Society, Go4Green, the MJ (Municipal Journal) and several other environment bodies.
For further information on this press release, please contact Ruth Hawke or another member of the PR team at diva
on 0114 221 0378 or email ruth@divacreative.com