FM Fleet honored in nationwide and statewide contests
May 2, 2024
The team was recently recognized in the 2024 Governor’s Environmental Excellence Awards and the 100 Best Fleets awards
The UVA Facilities Management Fleet recently received multiple awards for its ongoing efforts to support safety and sustainability.
The team received an honorable mention in the 2024 Governor’s Environmental Excellence Awards for its Safe and Sustainable Driver Training Program and was recognized as No. 78 in the 100 Best Public Fleets in North America awards presented by the National Association of Fleet Administrators (NAFA). Additionally, Transportation Operations and Fleet Manager Mike Duffy was one of five finalists for NAFA’s “Fleet Professional of the Year.”
”The Governor’s Environmental Excellence Awards recognize Virginia’s environmental leaders,” Governor Glenn Youngkin said of the statewide honor that was presented at the April 9 Virginia Military Institute’s Environment Virginia Symposium to Duffy and UVA Professor Brian Park. “The programs and projects implemented by those recognized demonstrate that balanced economic development and the protection of our environment go hand in hand.“
The program was recognized in the “Environmental & Sustainability Project” category which recognizes activities directed at a single goal to improve the environment beyond what is required by regulation. Projects in this category are expected to reduce the environmental footprints of the group as well as address quantifiable results in varying environmental areas, such as air, energy, and transportation impacts.
The collaboration between Duffy and Park on the Safe and Sustainable Driver Training Program resulted in the development of the “Mindful Driver Training,” which focuses on improving transportation safety habits and reducing fossil fuel dependency. The training addresses the categories of air emission, solid waste and materials use reductions. The FM Fleet has reduced carbon emissions by 15% since 2017, partially due to a decrease in idling vehicles through the training program. Solid waste and materials use have been reduced through the donation of old vehicles and new, soybean-based tires on some vehicles instead of the usual petroleum-based tires.
Since Duffy joined FM in 2016, he has worked to replace aging vehicles with smaller or electric vehicles to support UVA’s sustainability goals. He also decided to target driver behavior to go beyond traditional fleet management sustainability practices.
In 2019, Duffy connected with UVA Professor Brian Park to create a Capstone project for fourth year engineering students to allow them to gain real-world experience while also reducing FM vehicles’ energy consumption. Their collaboration over the past four consecutive years led to their receipt of this recognition.
The honorable mention recognizes the program and FM Fleet as an environmental leader in Virginia through their work to develop a program not only applicable at UVA, but for fleets across the nation as well.
Afia Paracha
Communications assistant student worker
UVA Facilities Management
hcx2td@virginia.edu