The Central Services Division, which oversees facilities and fleet management, is taking a proactive management to saving energy and creating a greener fleet.

Facilities Division

The Facilities Division staff provides comprehensive management of more than 75 county buildings and has implemented the following green initiatives:

• County facilities have been retrofitted with T8 fluorescent light bulbs. These bulbs reduce energy consumption by 25 percent (estimated to save more than $8,700 annually after two years). They also run cooler than the T12 bulbs they often replace, reducing cooling costs.
• Building control automation has been installed in the Historic Courthouse, the Thomas C. Kelly Administration Center, Volusia County Courthouse, Information Technology facility, and the Volusia County Branch Jail and Corrections facility. Additional automation has been installed in the courtrooms at the Volusia County Courthouse Annexes in Daytona Beach and New Smyrna Beach.
• Florida Power and Light, in partnership with Volusia County’s performance contract, installed energy-efficient lighting and water-saving I-com flush valves throughout the corrections facilities. This project, now in its third year, cost $3.2 million with payback in seven years.
• Facilities employees have completed the re-commissioning of the 400,000-gallon chill-water tank to provide off-peak chill water at the Volusia County Branch Jail. This project was funded by Florida Power and Light.
• The division plans to replace 32 air-handling units for the Volusia County Branch Jail, shedding 190 tons of heating, ventilating and air conditioning. This will reduce fuel emissions and is calculated to save $50,000 to $75,000 in energy costs.
• Through an internal swap program, employees can advertise equipment that is no longer needed in one area. Equipment that is no longer needed is auctioned off.

Fleet Management

Fleet Management employees are actively engaged in planning and creating a greener fleet. The green fleet initiative includes:

• Hybrid-electric vehicles: These vehicles achieve 40 - 50 percent better fuel economy than their conventional counterparts and are more environmentally friendly. They are super-ultra-low emission vehicle (SULEV) certified and use regenerative braking to charge the battery pack.
• Ultra-low sulphur diesel fuel: This new diesel fuel reduces emissions by 95 percent as compared to high-sulphur diesel. This new fuel was mandated in 2008 by the Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy. Volusia County began the conversion six months before the deadline.  Biodiesel is being purchased for the landfill site.
• Higher-mileage vehicles: By purchasing Impala sedans instead of Crown Victoria sedans for sheriff’s deputy cruiser, we have improved gas mileage by 3 mpg.
• Hybrid-electric diesel trucks: These trucks are in the pilot program test phase with Florida Power and Light. Hybrid-electric diesels get 40 percent better fuel economy and are ultra-low emission vehicle (ULEV) emission certified. An added bonus is that the truck can become a 15kw generator at the job site.
• Ethanol E-85 flex-fuel vehicle: Volusia County has over 120 ethanol flex-fuel-capable vehicles in the fleet. They regularly use unleaded gasoline because ethanol in this region is not yet prolific. Once ethanol plants are built in Tampa and Jacksonville, a state infrastructure and distribution system will make this fuel readily available. Then, Volusia County will be able to acquire an ethanol fueling station. Ethanol vehicles burn cleaner than gasoline and are ULEV emission certified. Ethanol is a domestically produced renewable energy made from corn, wheat or sugar cane.
• Programmable thermostats: New thermostats were installed in fleet management offices and maintenance shops last year, saving $15,000 in electric and natural gas bills.
• Natural gas-powered vehicles: Volusia County plans to purchase natural-gas-powered vehicles. These vehicles are SULEV emission certified. Because a natural gas fueling station would have to be built, fleet management staff is collaborating with other local governmental agencies regarding future joint venture fuel sites.