The CFISD transportation department earned two awards for its efforts to mitigate air pollution at the Houston-Galveston Area Council (HGAC) 2014 Clean Air Action “Best In Motion” Leadership Awards Program on Sept. 11 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Houston-Greenway Plaza.

The event, honoring the region’s clean air champions, featured KHOU 11 news chief meteorologist David Paul as master of ceremonies and Harris County Judge Ed Emmett as keynote speaker.

CFISD received two awards: the 2014 Clean Air Champion and 2014 Air Quality Leadership Award-Public Sector.

“I am proud to receive these awards from the Houston-Galveston Area Council on behalf of the CFISD Transportation Department,” said director of transportation Bill Powell. “To achieve these accomplishments takes everyone’s efforts and hard work, and it doesn’t happen overnight. For years, we have strived to be safe and efficient stewards for our community to transport our students, and I am thankful that everyone’s hard work has been recognized.”

Several environmentally responsible practices led to the transportation department’s HGAC honors:

accelerating its route fleet turnover rate to 15 years with the approval of the Board of Trustees and community support;

retrofitting 611 school buses with Closed Crankcase Ventilation Systems (CCVs) and Diesel Oxidation Catalyst Systems (DOCs) to reduce emissions;

performing regular vehicle maintenance, resulting in decreased emissions (e.g. keeping vehicle engines well-maintained, using manufacturer recommended motor oil, regularly changing filters and servicing the air conditioning);

maintaining clean fleet policies for on-road vehicles;

reducing fleet emissions and/or minimizing vehicle miles by being more efficient and utilizing a three-tier routing/bell-schedule program that has enabled CFISD to travel fewer miles and transport more students than any other school district in Texas; and

removing more than 46,000 vehicles every morning and every afternoon from roadways and around its schools, based on American School Bus Council estimates.

via Transportation Department wins awards for reducing air pollution – Your Houston News: Living.