NAFA Awards The Best And Brightest At The 2011 Institute & Expo

The list of 2011 award winners for the Sustainable Fleet Award included Gary Polito (EMD Millipore); Amy Leddy (Liberty Mutual); Angela Sterick-Bright (City of Los Angeles); and Gerry Calk (City of Austin, TX).

Gary Polito, Global Commodity Manager for Travel, Fleet and Meetings, at EMD Millipore, decided to incorporate the company's fleet into its overall sustainability plan in 2008. Three years later, hybrid vehicles now comprise one-third of its entire U.S. fleet. It was that forward-thinking ethic that garnered him recognition for sustainable practices.

EMD Millipore's combined efforts of right-sizing vehicles according to job responsibilities and integrating hybrid vehicles contributed to a significant decrease in fuel consumption and carbon emissions. On an annual basis, fuel spending was reduced by nearly 150,000 gallons, which also prevented more than 2.8 million pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2) from being expelled into the atmosphere.

Liberty Mutual, one of the largest property and casualty insurance companies in the United States, was determined to make a difference. With clearly impressive results, the company's hard work was recognized when Amy Leddy, Manager of National Program Management at Liberty Mutual, became one of four to earn NAFA's 2011 Sustainable Fleet Award.

The company has made a strong commitment to operating its fleet in an environmentally responsible manner. With a sales, consulting, and claims fleet of more than 2,700 vehicles covering the United States, increasing fuel efficiency without detrimentally affecting driver productivity became the primary objective for the Liberty Mutual fleet team.

Based out of Boston, MA, Liberty Mutual has made it an ongoing practice to reduce the fleet's environmental footprint. As part of the company's overall commitment to green practices, replacement vehicles will either meet Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (PZEV) standards, or be capable of operating on E85.The company also provides several options to help employees limit their travel time and reduce fuel consumption.

The City of Los Angeles has had a long-standing history of leading the way for clean air vehicle programs. As an early adapter of alternative fuel technology, the City has demonstrated a commitment to Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and CNG vehicles for years. That dedication, along with a robust commuter program,was recognized when Angela Sherick-Bright, Acting Assistant General Manager for the City of Los Angeles General Services Department, accepted the 2011 Sustainable Fleet Award.

Austin, Texas' sustainability efforts had previously been recognized in USA Today and featured on the PBS show MotorWeek; on April 12, Gerry Calk, Fleet Officer for the City of Austin was recognized as one of four to earn NAFA's 2011 Sustainable Fleet Award.

Austin City Council made a resolution in 2007 to have a carbon neutral fleet by the year 2020. In just three years, the City's plan helped raise the City’s alternative fuel and hybrid vehicle count from 8 percent to 60 percent, and reduce its carbon footprint by 16 percent in just three years.

To support its vehicles, the City has six propane sites, three E85 (85 percent denatured fuel ethanol) sites, one slow-fill Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) site capable of fueling 28 vehicles, and one public access CNG fast-fill site. The City encourages its employees to get involved in the sustainability plan by offering free bus passes to interested employees. To date, more than 900 City employees have received a pass and more than 500 use them regularly.