Going green is paying off at the New Westminster Police Department.
In April, the department announced its green initiatives have helped save the department more than $30,000 in fuel costs.
Last year, the department started replacing aging patrol cars with vehicles equipped with dual-fuel technology. The new vehicles use gasoline to ignite the engine but then switch to propane to power the vehicle while it’s being used, according to the department’s 2015 annual report, released last week.
The department started with four dual-fuel patrol vehicles and has since replaced two more patrol vehicles with the new, greener models. The intention is to, over time, replace all 16 patrol cars with vehicles equipped with dual-fuel technology.
New patrol cars are also being outfitted with a dual-battery system that allows the electronic equipment inside the vehicle to be used, even when the car is shut off. This initiative is part of the department’s new anti-idling policy that requires officers to shut off their vehicles when not being driven.
In 2015, the “green fleet” plus the department’s new anti-idling initiative saved the department $32,927 in fuel costs. It also led to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of more than 24 per cent.
Since the annual report was prepared, two more dual-fuel patrol vehicles have hit the streets of New Westminster. Only 10 remain and those will be replaced when needed.
