Helping Employees Into Hybrids (Business 2.0)
Timberland, Google and Hyperion aren't waiting for government tax incentives to promote cleaner commuting. Here's where to start with your company's fuel-saving initiative.
November 07, 2005
Clean transportation is one of the five Energy Priorities for 2005. Outdoor products manufacturer Timberland is taking it seriously.
The company offers employees a $3,000 incentive to buy hybrid cars, according to an article in this month's Business 2.0. The company explains their motivation on their web site:
"At Timberland, we like to head out and enjoy the outdoors, so issues of energy and climate are personal. We're addressing the issue of climate change head on by making a difference in how we consume energy."
Part of a larger plan
It's part of the company's effort to reduce its carbon emissions, together with employee incentives to carpool and a program to develop green freight standards. Timberland isn't new to environmental responsibility. It recently relamped three facilities to reduce lighting energy consumption. Its Netherlands distribution center is powered by 100 percent renewable energy, and Timberland signed up to heat the facility with co-generated steam. In their manufacturing processes, Timberland is reducing their use of harmful chemicals and increasing the amount of sustainable materials.
The Timberland hybrid car incentive program followed similar announcements by tech companies Google and Hyperion Solutions. Google offers $5,000 for buying a hybrid, or half that amount for leasing one.
Hyperion offers an incentive of $5,000 for up to 200 employees per year. The bonus is for the purchase of any car with EPA ratings of 45 MPG or better.
How to launch a fuel-saving initiative
Getting employees to stop driving their cars would be effective from an environmental standpoint, but unfortunately it's impractical in a majority of situations. One practical step is to encourage them to take public transportation to work, perhaps by giving bus passes as employee contest prizes. Some companies provide locker room facilities for employees who bicycle to the office.
Hyperion launched its internal "Drive Clean to Drive Change" employee initiative and related "Companies for Clean Air Consortium" external initiative a year ago this month.
"I recently ordered a hybrid," said Hyperion CEO Godfrey Sullivan. "I hope Hyperion's initiative will spark interest in other companies to create similar programs for their employees."
For companies thinking of launching a similar program for their employees, Hyperion offers a "Best Practices" guide on its web site.