Glasgow joins fleet emissions scheme
ECO Stars scheme encourages operators of trucks, vans, buses and coaches to run their fleet more efficiently
Glasgow city council has joined a national and European fleet management recognition scheme which aims to cut emissions and improve local air quality.
The council will manage the city’s ECO Stars scheme, which encourages operators of trucks, vans, buses and coaches to run their fleet more efficiently by helping them to reduce fuel consumption, improve efficiency and reduce emissions.
The Glasgow ECO Stars scheme was launched by councillors and transport operators at the Riverside Museum this week
The free scheme is open to all operators of any fleet size who are based in, or regularly operate in the Glasgow city council area and will help Glasgow to cut traffic pollution and assist towards its aim for a 20% reduction in carbon emissions by 2020.
Originally set up by four South Yorkshire local authorities — Barnsley, Doncaster, Sheffield and Rotherham — in 2009 to improve local air pollution from transport, the ECO Stars scheme assesses both individual vehicles within a fleet and overall fleet management practices and then giving the fleet an overall rating of between one and five stars.
According to the council, member businesses and transport operators then receive a free operational efficiency review and ‘road map’ to outline the measures they can practically take to reduce fuel consumption and save money on fleet operating costs.
At the launch event for Glasgow’s ECO Stars at the Riverside Museum this week (March 10), the first fleet operators to sign up to the scheme were recognised, including supermarket Asda, bus firm First Group, transport and haulage contractor JW Suckling, Newtown Waste Solutions and SEPA (the Scottish Environment Protection Agency).
Delegates were transported to the launch via the Glasgow Citybus 100 Riverside route from George Square, which is serviced by two new zero emission electric buses.
Speaking at the launch of the scheme, which is part of the council’s Green Year 2015, Glasgow councillor Alistair Watson, executive member for land and environmental services, said: “We are delighted to sign up to the very successful ECO Stars scheme and demonstrate Glasgow’s commitment to work with fleet operators to reduce emissions.
“Glasgow continues to grow its green credentials. We believe this scheme is a win-win situation for both the city and our fleet operators. The scheme helps fleet operators reduce their fuel costs and reduce their impact on the environment. At the same time, the scheme will help Glasgow City Council in our drive to reduce air pollution and reduce the city’s carbon emissions.
“We hope that fleet operators across Glasgow will join the scheme and help our Dear Green Place have a greener and cleaner future.”
Glasgow will join ECO Stars schemes encompassing more than 200 operators with over 14,000 vehicles located in cities across the UK and Europe including Nottingham, Falkirk, Mid Devon, Rotterdam in the Netherlands, Parma in Italy and South East Sweden. In total, the individual schemes have more than 300 members.