In 2008/09 we calculated the total amount of CO2 arising from our service vehicle fleet as being 786.6 tonnes. This has been calculated using the methodology prescribed in a new national indicator and includes every source of vehicle fuel (i.e. including some outsourced mileage, plus parks equipment and vehicles refuelling away from the depot) unlike our previous calculation that just related to fuel used from council depots. Comparing just the fuel used in council depots we emitted 683 tonnes of CO2 during 2008/09, compared with 696 tonnes in 2007/08 and 713 tonnes in 2006/07. This demonstrates a further 2% reduction over the last 12 months.
During 2007 all of our freighter drivers received Safer and Fuel Efficient Driver training. This training continued to deliver efficiencies during 2008/09. The waste collection vehicle routes have recently been evaluated to improve efficiency. The exercise aims to reduce vehicle mileage and environmental impact. We expect these efficiency savings to be realised during 2009/2010.
We reported that business mileage in 2007/08 was 289,044. In 2008/09 total mileage was 282,339 (resulting in a 76.1 tonnes of CO2). We have installed video conferencing facilities in our three main offices and will promote the facility to staff to reduce mileage between sites. We intend to extend the scheme to include video conferencing at individual computer terminals, to further reduce the need to travel between sites for meetings. Our telephones have been replaced and are now able to use Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) to provide teleconference facilities.
We aim to make a 3% reduction in CO2 emissions across both business and service vehicle mileage by the end of 2009/2010 compared with the 2008/09 figures.