US Postal Service volunteers petroleum cutbacks
Natural Gas Mail Delivery Vehicles Being Tested
As part of its ongoing commitment to sustainability and environmental leadership, the U.S. Postal Service has on its own initiative conducted an inventory of its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The study establishes the baseline for future, annual evaluations to help determine if the Postal Service is meeting its stated GHG reduction goals. The Postal Service has stated goals to reduce energy use 30 percent by 2015, reduce petroleum fuel use 20 percent by 2015, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions 20 percent by 2020. The agency is exempt from the recent Executive Order establishing energy guidelines, but has set targets as a statement of environmental responsibility.
The Postal Service’s direct GHG emissions total 5.3 million tons, only 1 twentieth of 1 percent of the total GHG emissions in America, as stated in its recent press release. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, this is roughly the equivalent of 1 million gasoline cars driving an average of 12,000 miles on the road each year.
“The U.S. Postal Service’s commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, energy use, and petroleum fuel consumption demonstrates that Federal agencies can lead by example,” commented Michelle Moore, the Obama Administration’s Federal Environmental Executive.
Its greenhouse gas study differentiates the agency in the mailing industry and is one of a number of sustainability initiatives and environmental achievements announced in 2009, including increasing alternative fuel use 61 percent since 2005; testing natural gas, electric, and propane mail delivery vehicles; and retiring 10,000 non-energy efficient vehicles from its fleet.
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