02/12/2009
- New eco-badge system to highlight companies’ good environmental performance
- University of Vermont pilot initiative recognises green stewardship of businesses
Stagecoach Group’s market-leading budget service megabus.com has signed up to a new US Green Coach Certification Programme as part of the company’s drive to encourage people to switch to greener smarter travel options.
megabus.com, which offers daily, express coach travel for as low as £1 in the UK and from $1 in North America, is taking part in the pilot initiative launched by the University of Vermont.
Under the ground-breaking scheme, participating companies’ qualifying vehicles are badged with “Green Coach Certified” eco-labels to highlight their environmental performance, similar to the existing system for electrical appliances.
The initiative is part of a larger research project aimed at laying the foundation for a long-term environmental certification programme for the motorcoach industry and the passenger transportation sector.
David Kestenbaum, member of the Green Coach Certification research team, said: “We hope this programme will help consumers recognise and celebrate the most environmentally friendly forms of transportation.
“Buses operated by megabus.com play a variety of positive roles, from less congestion on our roads to reducing the carbon footprint of travel. If travellers started to move from place to place with this type of efficiency, as a country we’d be well on our way to meeting or exceeding some of the most ambitious greenhouse gas reduction targets for this sector.”
megabus.com has received “Green Coach Passenger Miles” certification for meeting or exceeding an average of 148 passenger miles per gallon. It also has “Green Coach Clean Engine Technology” certification for running US Environmental Protection Agency 2007 compliant engines.
Dale Moser, President and COO of megabus.com in the United States, said: “The eco-badge initiative shows our customers that they are positively impacting the environment by taking megabus.com instead of driving or using other forms of inter-city transportation.”
megabus.com’s fleet of 81-passenger, double-decker buses cover 305 passenger miles per gallon of fuel. Additionally, two double-decker buses transport nearly as many passengers as three standard 54 to 57-passenger coaches, reducing carbon emissions and fuel usage by one engine.
The double-decker buses are also equipped with SmarTire to aid the driver and maintenance crew in maintaining correct tyre pressure, increasing fuel economy and reducing emissions.
Management systems are also in place to monitor the idling time of the double-decker buses to help reduce carbon emissions. Using a GPS system, they can remotely shut down the engine, reducing idling time by 57% in the last year.
megabus.com’s fleet of double-decker buses was recently runner-up in BusRide Magazine’s “How Green is Your Fleet” contest.
For additional information visit www.megabus.com.
ENDS
For media enquiries, please contact: Steve Stewart, Director of Corporate Communications, tel: 01738 442111 (office) or 07764 774680 (mobile) steven.stewart@stagecoachgroup.com
NOTES TO EDITORS
Stagecoach Group
Stagecoach Group is a leading international public transport group, with extensive operations in the UK, United States and Canada. The company employs 30,000 people, and operates bus, coach, rail, and tram services.
megabus.com
megabus.com carries more than 2 million passengers a year in the UK, covering around 40 locations. In North America, megabus.com links 30 cities across the Midwest and Northeast of the United States as well as locations in Canada.
