Green Efforts Galore: Businesses share earth-friendly projects

Wil Fischer Cos.

Springfield Budweiser distributor Wil Fischer Cos. has taken green to the streets.

In 1984, the company began converting a portion of its delivery fleet to run on propane – though company President Jeffrey Gower said the decision wasn’t initially based on being environmentally friendly.

“At the time, the advantage was durability; the propane burns so clean that the engine wear is very minimal,” Gower said. “We get about 200,000 miles out of those propane vans.” The current price differential between propane and unleaded or diesel fuel has only served to increase the savings, Gower said, adding that federal rebate programs for propane vehicles sweetens the deal even further. At press time, propane on average sold for about half the price of unleaded gasoline.

Wil Fischer was honored for its propane vehicles by the Alternative Vehicle and Fuel Institute, which presented Wil Fischer with an award May 13 during its annual conference in Las Vegas. Previous winners include General Motors, American Honda and the city of Kansas City.

Beyond propane, Wil Fischer recycles cardboard, plastic shrink wrap and aluminum from its 3539 W. FR 142 facility.

Creative Ink Architects

Bob Stockdale, principal of Springfield-based Creative Ink Architects LLC, believes his company’s move toward environmental friendliness could be a nationwide model.

Stockdale made the decision earlier this year to move from a five-day week to four days; Creative Ink’s office is now officially closed on Fridays, though Stockdale said some employees who need to do extra work still come in to the office at 4064 S. Lone Pine Ave.

While the decision has been popular with the firm’s 15 employees, Stockdale said the move was made to help the environment.

“If the country as a whole went to a four-day work week, we’d save 20 percent of the cost associated with fuel each week – we’d be commuting four times instead of five,” Stockdale said, noting the system also would reduce the amount of wear on vehicles and roads. “It’s really simple math.”

He said the move also reduces the amount of energy used at the office; by only opening the office four days a week, less energy is needed to bring the temperature up or down to appropriate levels.

Con-way Truckload

For Joplin-based Con-way Truckload, the path to reduced environmental impact and fuel usage is a slower one.

The company announced May 7 that it has reduced the maximum speed of its 2,700-tractor fleet to 65 mph from 70 mph, as part of an effort by California-based parent company Con-way Inc.

Con-Way Truckload expects to save 2.8 million gallons of diesel fuel per year and reduce annual carbon emissions by about 62 million pounds, the equivalent of removing 6,300 passenger cars from the highways.

“We’re always looking for new ways to reduce carbon emissions and our impact on the environment, while maintaining profitability for our stakeholders and the same top-notch service our customers expect,” said Con-way Truckload President Herb Schmidt in a news release.

Con-way is also a member of the Environmental Protection Agency’s SmartWay Transport Partnership, a voluntary partnership between the EPA and freight businesses aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and fuel consumption. The EPA expects to cut carbon dioxide emissions by up to 66 million metric tons and nitrogen oxide emissions by up to 200,000 tons by the year 2012, while saving 150 million barrels of oil annually.

Environmental Works

Springfield-based Environmental Works Inc. is taking an educational tack to thinking green. The environmental consulting company sponsored the Raising the Bar on Environmental Awareness grant through the Foundation for Springfield Public Schools.

The $1,128 grant will help 125 seventh-grade students at Cherokee Middle School take field trips to several locations including Valley Water Mill educational area, the Northwest Sewage Treatment Plant and the Franklin Recycling Center to teach the students about local environmental issues.

Students will help assess the water quality of a stream feeding into Springfield’s water supply by performing various tests and chemical analysis, as well as learning how they can be a part of environmental stewardship in the area.

American Green Holdings

Crane-based American Green Holdings is taking its green efforts online.

The renewable energy firm and logistics company on May 7 launched the online green auction component of its Web site, www.bidforgreen.com.

Bids for biodiesel fuel can be made on the site, and only pre-qualified companies will be able to offer the fuel for sale.

“We have a large network of qualified partners,” CEO Dale Wiley said in a news release, noting that the process includes pre-qualification, monitoring and site visits to potential sellers.

American Green Holdings has developed a way to more efficiently burn ethanol fuel. The company’s Web site also features blog content from several notable names including singer Willie Nelson and TV star Larry Hagman.

Paycom

Oklahoma City-based Internet payroll company Paycom, which has offices in nine cities including Springfield, is trying to remove the paper from its customers’ payroll processes.

The company is helping its customers with the transition to paperless payroll and human resources processes by digitally storing applicant information, background check results, benefit enrollment information, pay and position changes, payroll tax reports and deposit statements, timesheets, and custom reports as well as pertinent HR data.

“When you stop and think of the tons of paper used for payroll checks, vouchers, envelopes, timesheets and reports, our nation’s payroll departments are having a huge environmental impact,” President Chad Richison said in a news release. “By switching to a paperless system, that impact can be a positive one.”[[In-content Ad]]