PSNH’s Clean Energy Plan

Strategy #3.   Green PSNH’s Business

Like many other organizations, PSNH is working to reduce the carbon footprint of its everyday business activities.

Cutting Transportation Emissions

PSNH maintains a fleet of 683 vehicles statewide, including light duty trucks for meter readers, and bucket trucks for lineworkers. Starting in 2008, PSNH began piloting B20 biodiesel in 14 of its bucket trucks in the Portsmouth and Rochester areas. This program is now being expanded to include 72 of PSNH’s 101 bucket trucks statewide, reducing carbon emissions by 113 tons for the year.

Starting in 2009, PSNH will begin piloting another emissions-reduction technology to reduce its transportation-related carbon footprint—gas/electric hybrid line trucks. Earlier this year, PSNH was awarded a grant through the Granite State Clean Cities Coalition to cover the additional cost to purchase two hybrid bucket trucks in place of two diesel-only bucket trucks. Today, the price difference is about $75,000 per vehicle. Each hybrid bucket truck replacing a diesel-only bucket truck will reduce PSNH’s carbon dioxide emissions by more than 13 tons a year.

More Efficient Facilities

PSNH’s work facilities are getting more efficient every year. Newer buildings and renovation projects, such as PSNH’s Energy Park and its recently expanded Customer Care Center in Manchester, were designed with efficiency in mind, integrating high-efficiency lighting, heating, and cooling technologies. PSNH’s older buildings and power plants are also being upgraded. In 2007, the company replaced nearly 1,000 lighting fixtures at its Newington Station with energy-efficient lighting, reducing carbon emissions by 800 tons a year. Projects are underway at several PSNH work facilities statewide to help reduce the company’s overall carbon footprint.

Reducing Waste

PSNH has recycled “common items” like plastic bottles and aluminum cans since the early 1980s. We also recycle a number of industry-related items, including scrap metal, electronics, and wood reels. In 2007, PSNH introduced its “Recycle for a Better World” program to step up employees’ recycling efforts and further decrease the amount of waste that PSNH creates through its everyday business activities. Waste prevention and recycling reduce the greenhouse gas emissions associated with the manufacture, distribution, and use of products—as well as management of the resulting waste.

‹‹  2. Advance Renewable Energy

4. Educate & Plan for the Future  ››