The Central Interior Logging Association has spearheaded a program to help loggers and truckers reduce their diesel fuel consumption and carbon footprint.
The association, which represents logging contractors and trucking firms in northern B.C., helped start the Carbon Offset Aggregation Co-operative of B.C.
The co-operative will deliver a program that provides technology and training to reduce fuel consumption. The technology will help track fuel usage and show ways to lower consumption by reducing idling and having more control on heaters, fans and coolers.
For example, one way of reducing idling in the winter is to install cab heaters.
Pacific Carbon Trust CEO Scott MacDonald said transportation emissions, although one of the largest sources of carbon, are challenging to reduce.
"The Carbon Offset Aggregation Co-operative has shown tremendous innovation by taking incremental reductions from numerous sources and transforming them into a viable concept," said MacDonald. "We look forward to seeing this program move forward."
The technology is unobtrusive and the training takes an hour, said George Stedeford, who will run the program as CEO of the co-operative.
The co-op has signed a five-year agreement with Canada's leading carbon manager, Offsetters, to broker sales of carbon offsets created through the program.
Reductions in diesel fuel will be pooled - a 1,000-litre reduction in diesel use is equal to three tonnes of offsets. The sales of the offsets will help offset the cost of the program, but most of the savings will come from the fuel consumption reductions.
A reduction of 1,000 litres of fuel would save a company about $1,000.
The program also includes participation by the Northwest Loggers Association, the Interior Logging Association and the Truck Loggers Association.
Also on board are the B.C. Roadbuilder and Heavy Construction Association and the B.C. Trucking Association.
A number of companies have also shown interest: Lomak, Excel, Tolko Industries and Hampton Affiliates.
The Pacific Carbon Trust, a B.C. Crown agency created to facilitate the reduction of carbon emissions, welcomed the introduction of the co-operative.
