August 2019 – The University of Vermont’s Police Services recently completed outfitting eight of their vehicles with idle reduction technology. The technology, Havis IdleRight 2, has been installed in seven UVM Police cruisers and one Mobile Command Vehicle. Thanks to a collaborative effort between Police Services, UVM Emergency Management, UVM Transportation and Parking Services, and the Vermont Clean Cities Coalition (VTCCC), the UVM agency is believed to be the first in the state to fully outfit every marked fleet cruiser with idle management technology, and are one of a handful of police departments across the country to embrace the technology.
“UVM Police cruisers house equipment that must be kept charged at all times for emergency response. The IdleRight 2 monitors these systems and ensures that they will be functional when needed, while reducing fuel consumption and lessening our global impact,” said Deputy Chief Mandy Wooster.
The funding for the purchase and installation of the IdleRight systems came from the University’s Clean Energy Fund (CEF), which approved a $10,000 budget for the project. According to the CEF proposal made by UVM’s Emergency Manager, Zack Borst, and Sustainable Transportation Coordinator, Abby Bleything, if the IdleRight systems reduce idling of each UVM Police Services vehicle by two hours a day, the department could annually save: 2,760 gallons of fuel, 32 tons of CO2 emissions, and $6,488 of fuel savings plus additional savings from reduced maintenance costs. These numbers were based on a successful pilot program of the IdleRight system conducted by the Vermont Clean Cities Coalition in partnership with the City of Burlington Police Department.
“UVM Police and Emergency Management pursued the IdleRight 2 technology to meet the University’s goal of reducing our carbon footprint,” Borst said. “Reducing our fuel use also makes economic sense and during a disaster extends a resource that can be very limited, as was seen during Superstorm Sandy when gas stations were unable to pump fuel into emergency vehicles.”
VTCCC will work with UVM Police Services to track the number of idle hours saved per vehicle each month. With this data, overall cost and emissions benefits can be calculated and reported to the CEF. “This should be an inspiration and a model for other police departments around Vermont and the country to install this reliable technology in their fleet vehicles,” said VTCCC coordinator, Peggy O’Neill Vivanco. “Departments save on fuel and maintenance costs while ensuring that their police vehicles have adequate power and fuel during natural disasters and emergency situations.”
Want to see another fleet using idle reduction technology? Check out how Idaho County employs idle reduction to their fleet here!
