LOS ANGELES, CALIF. | Today at the
National Business Travel Association (NBTA) annual convention, EmpireCLS, a
leading global chauffeured transportation company, announced the details of the
company's aggressive environmental sustainability program designed to reduce
the environmental footprint of all aspects of their business. Leveraging Carbon
Accounting(tm) principles and proven carbon-reduction programs, a primary goal
of this program is to provide chauffeured ground transportation that is neutral
in its overall impact on the environment. EmpireCLS' corporate-wide program,
administered under the guidance of Green Ride Global, is specifically designed
to create a 20 percent reduction in the company's greenhouse gas emissions over
the next five years.
"EmpireCLS is determined to
become the leader in environmental stewardship for the travel industry,"
said David Seelinger, chairman and CEO of EmpireCLS. "We appreciate
that it is our responsibility to mitigate the impacts of fossil fuel use as
well as the negative effects associated with the other activities of business
operations, such as waste disposal, electricity use, supply chain management
and employee travel."
Green Ride Global oversees
EmpireCLS' ISO-14001 compliant environmental management system. This will
also qualify EmpireCLS for recognition as a US EPA Climate Leader. While
many companies tout their own environmental record with no third-party to
validate it, Green Ride Global measures, audits and reports on the reductions of
greenhouse gas emissions for EmpireCLS.
"We're excited to work with
EmpireCLS to achieve their goals to cut emissions and achieve
sustainability," said Justin Raymond, President and CEO of Green
Ride Global. "By instituting this extremely aggressive program, EmpireCLS
finds itself in good company with corporate clients and partners who have
already instituted their own carbon-reduction programs -- and the growing
numbers of consumers who care about ecological stewardship."
Nitrogen Tire Filling Stations and
"Green Tire" Program for Law Enforcement
By constructing tire filling
stations that replace air in the fleet's tires with pure nitrogen, EmpireCLS
has already implemented the company's first large-scale tactic to reduce carbon
emissions. Nitrogen-filled tires can improve mileage (and reduce vehicle carbon
emissions) by up to 15 percent.
"Because EmpireCLS is committed
to helping the communities where we do business, our company is also inviting
local police departments to have their tires refilled for free with nitrogen at
the company's tire filling stations," Seelinger said. The EmpireCLS
"Green Tire" program for law enforcement will begin August 1, 2008 in
Secaucus, N.J., El Segundo, Calif. and San Francisco, Calif.
Other Eco-Friendly Corporate Initiatives
EmpireCLS is committed to
systemically improve fuel efficiency to reduce greenhouse gas emissions over
the entire range of fleet and business operations, including employee commute
and travel. Highlighted initiatives and commitments in the EmpireCLS program
are as follows:
- EmpireCLS will ensure that that the company's
affiliated network companies follow environmental policies that have the
same intent and effect in their geographic areas as the EmpireCLS policy.
In addition, the company's purchasing decisions will strive to encourage
suppliers to adopt and follow environmental best practices.
- The company is implementing mandatory procedures in all
office and garage locations, which are expected to reduce electricity
usage and lower demand for grid-electricity generation.
- EmpireCLS has identified areas where heating and
cooling energy is inefficiently consumed and is taking steps to conserve
more energy in the workplace.
- The company is also implementing a waste management
program to reduce the consumption of disposable items, reuse supplies, and
recycle appropriate materials. The company has committed to disposing of
waste in a responsible and safe manner.
- Currently, 5 percent of the EmpireCLS fleet is
comprised of hybrid vehicles, and the company plans to continue to test
the latest hybrid and alternative fuel vehicles to increase this
percentage in the future.
- Employees are urged to make sure that decisions made in
their day-to-day business activities take into consideration the possible
effect on the environment and take reasonable actions to avoid any
negative environmental consequences.
"Our company's environmental
management program has real-world benefits not only for EmpireCLS, but also for
our corporate clients," Seelinger said. "As we succeed in reducing
our greenhouse gas emissions at the source, our clients will also realize
tangible emissions reduction results, just by traveling with us."
About Green Ride Global
Green Ride Global (GRG) creates and implements third-party verified
environmental sustainability programs for the transportation industry, with a
focus on chauffeured ground transportation companies. Their programs cause real
and measurable reductions in their clients' greenhouse gas emissions and
environmental footprints. GRG's team provides tailored environmental solutions,
strategic sales and marketing tools, and auditable reports showing progress
toward environmental sustainability. For more information visit www.greenrideglobal.com.
About EmpireCLS
EmpireCLS is one of the largest chauffeured transportation companies, operating
in more than 650 cities around the globe. More than transportation from point A
to point B, EmpireCLS has built a reputation for providing a luxurious and
comfortable transportation experience beyond the ride. This experience
encompasses not only the physical transportation, but also the myriad tools and
services that make your interaction with EmpireCLS simple, effortless, secure,
comfortable and consistent. For more information you can visit our new website
at www.EmpireCLS.com.