NEW YORK CITY – The Big Apple is greener than ever and NAFA is proud to be along for the ride. NAFA took part in The City of New York Parks & Recreation’s 20th Annual Vehicle and Equipment Show on May 29 at Flushing Meadows Corona Park. 

The show built upon a renewed relationship between NAFA Fleet Management Association and The City of New York, which rose to the forefront thanks to the impressive environmental record of the City. NAFA recently honored The City of New York Parks & Recreation with the first-ever Green Fleet Award at the 2008 Institute and Expo in Salt Lake City, Utah. 

Judged by a panel of industry experts, award recipients made significant strides to reduce their company’s energy consumption, lower vehicle emissions and increase overall fleet efficiency. "NAFA realizes the importance of going green and how crucial the concept is to our Members and Affiliates," said Phillip E. Russo, CAE, NAFA's Executive Director. "We also recognize that it's not easy to do so and feel the need to distinguish those who are determined the go that extra mile." 

The environment is one of NAFA’s leading concerns as the rising cost of fuel is one of the biggest obstacles fleet managers face today. For years, NAFA has been committed to environmental causes and has been recognized nationally for their efforts. 

In April, NAFA representatives met with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to provide fleet perspectives on EPA's pending regulation for mandatory reporting of greenhouse gases. "This is a crucial turning point in the fleet world," said Doug Weichman, CAFM, Director, Fleet Management Division, Palm Beach County. "This obligation to our environment, combined with government legislation such as EPACT 2005, is making fleet professionals implement more creative and exciting programs to increase fleet efficiency while reducing energy consumption and vehicle emissions." 

New York Parks Department has been committed to greening its fleet since the mid-1990s when the department piloted the first CNG retrofit pickup trucks and installed a CNG dispensing tank in Flushing Meadows Corona Park. For almost 15 years, Parks has been continuing their efforts and now has over 65 percent of their fleet operating on some type of alternative fuel. 

“Parks has successfully made their fleet eco-friendly which is an overwhelming job for an organization of this size,” said Phil Russo, CAE, NAFA’s Executive Director. “We hope to keep a close relationship with Parks and make the future even brighter.” 

NAFA was one of 140 vendors exhibiting around the park’s famous Unisphere, a 12-story high, spherical, stainless steel representation of the Earth that was constructed for the 1964/65 World’s Fair. Vendors showcased their equipment and vehicles from a variety of industries, including cars, trucks, vehicle repair, horticultural equipment, clean energy alternatives, emergency management, and marinas. NAFA staff and members of the New York Chapter provided information about the Association and handed out t-shirts and other memorabilia.