To achieve ambitious GHG emissions reduction goals set in the Official Community Plan, the District focused on increasing fuel efficiency, reducing harmful emissions, and incorporating new technologies and fuel sources into operations.
Success Story Snapshot
|
|
Energy Savings / GHG Reductions: 14% decrease in fleet GHG emissions and 8% reduction in fuel consumption. Emissions reduction of 400 tonnes annually with a cumulative reduction of 3,235 tonnes since 2007. |
|
Business Case: Department has cumulatively saved 1,028,000 litres of fuel and $1,230,000 over 7 years. Saanich Carbon Fund was used to purchase more efficient hybrids and electric vehicles. |
|
Co-benefits: The project supports cleaner air and pollution reduction in the community. Saanich leads by example on efficient vehicle use and life cycle cost accounting in purchasing decisions. |
|
Total project cost: Total budget was not accounted for. The program was funded through regular operating expenses and topped off through Saanich’s Carbon Fund. There were also significant benefits seen from driver behaviour change that could not be quantified in dollars. |
Project Summary
In 2010, Saanich’s Official Community Plan set a corporate GHG emissions reduction goal of 50% by 2020 based on 2007 levels, including a 50% reduction in fuel related emissions. A key component of Saanich’s Climate Action Plan has been the integration of electric vehicles (EVs) into the municipal fleet. The purchase of fuel efficient vehicles has had an immediate and measurable impact on emissions reductions.
Efforts began in 2007 when the Municipality’s fleet manager signed up Saanich to participate in the E3 Fleet Program, Canada’s first green rating system for fleets, managed by the Fraser Basin Council. Saanich completed an Action Plan based on the E3 Fleet review which provided a clear set of performance indicators used to achieve fuel consumption reductions. Saanich made commitments to increase fuel efficiency, reduce harmful emissions, and incorporate new technologies and fuel sources into operations. Saanich is the first local government in North America to commit to the Pacific Coast Collaborative (PCC) pledge to purchase at least 10% zero-emission vehicles for all new purchases.
Much of the fleet changes focused on vehicle right-sizing, which involves utilizing the most fuel efficient vehicles to complete tasks. Steps were also taken to target fleet conversions from gas to high efficiency diesel. Fleet management incorporated full life-cycle costs of new vehicle purchases and the Carbon Fund was used to help pay for new hybrid and electric vehicles. Saanich now uses four EV Nissan Leafs in its municipal operations and is scheduled to have four more EVs by the start of 2016. The police department also has a Mitsubishi EV for court liaison purposes, making it the first police department in Canada to incorporate an EV into its fleet. Behavioural changes were initiated through staff engagement on fuel efficient driving techniques and efficient route planning which helped reduce unnecessary fuel consumption.
Saanich was recognized for its success in 2014 by garnering an honourable mention at the annual Community Energy Association (CEA) awards. In 2013, Saanich was awarded top honours by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) Partners for Climate Protection (PCP) program for achieving the 5th and final milestone of PCP, a level achieved by only eight communities in Canada at that time. Saanich has committed to gradually expand its EV fleet pool and to seek opportunities for EV use in other municipal departments. Effort has continued into 2014 including continued purchase of additional EVs, utilization of new efficient waste fleet vehicles, municipal pooled fleet vehicles and a fuel data management and tracking system. It is hoped these initiatives will propel Saanich towards reducing their corporate emissions by 50% by 2020.
Community-scale energy and emissions modelling (CEEM) is a tool that allows local governments to assess the impact of projected land use changes on future energy use and GHG emissions through 
