Islington Council now has one of greenest fleets in London with almost 300 council vehicles now using eco-friendly bio-diesel fuel.
“Making Islington greener and cleaner is our top priority. We are already ‘greening’ our council vehicles, and the introduction of bio-diesel is an exciting step, making our fleet even more environmentally friendly. Not only will it help us reduce vehicle emissions it will also save the council money, helping us keep council tax down - and that’s what I call real energy efficiency,” says Cllr Bridget Fox, executive member for sustainability
Running all vehicles including refuse and recycling on bio-diesel fuel will mean a dramatic reduction in net carbon emissions, local particulates and greenhouse gases, underlining Islington Council’s commitment to the sustainability agenda.
Louise Fitzsimons from Asthma UK who are based in Islington said: "66% of people with asthma tell us that traffic fumes make their asthma worse and 42% say that traffic fumes stop them walking or shopping in congested areas. We therefore welcome initiatives such as these that could help to improve the lives of people with asthma."
Using bio-diesel will also save the council money as its cost 20p less than standard petro-diesel. This is because the government have reduced the tax on bio-diesel as it can support targets for lowering carbon emissions.
Vehicles require no modifications and the fuel may even help to reduce engine wear. Initially a 5% blend of vegetable oil is being used to make sure that a wide range of vehicles can run successfully. Once the testing stage is complete, and the original equipment manufacturers (OEMS) give warranty support, the council will use blends with higher percentages of vegetable oil than 5%.
Islington is also set to host the 2006 Green Fleet Awards, further testament to the council’s work towards making the borough cleaner and greener.
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Page Last Updated: 29 July 2008