The following article was recently published in Food Shed Planet.
Jay Holgate considers himself to have been just a regular guy who went about his business. However, his business is a van-based courier service, and when he saw what happened with gas prices after Hurrican Katrina, he had an "aha" moment at the gas pump.
"I was angry at what the gas companies were doing," he told me recently, "and I was shocked to realize how fragile our society really is."
Jay, the father of two children, also discovered that Atlanta is number one in the nation in childhood asthma. The city had 47 days of smog alert last year, which means the air quality exceeded both state and federal air quality standards. Yet more and more cars pile onto Atlanta's roads each and every day. Jay was concerned about being part of the problem.
"I decided right then and there that we were going to change the way we did business," he said. "I believe we gotta' do the right thing."
So Jay's company did a complete overhaul, purchased $100,000 worth of hybrid vehicles and emerged in January 2007 as Green Express, the first courier company in the nation to use hybrid vehicles in its fleet. Since then, Jay has aquired 135 new customers, mostly businesses that have made environmental commitments as well. He has converted 92% of his clients to e-billing, reducing his company's paper use by 82%. He has reduced carbon by 34 tons so far this year. And Green Express was just presented with the PACE Innovator Award by the Clean Air Campaign.
But Jay Holgate is not stopping there.
"We are using the daily routes our drivers already cover to transport recyclables from our clients' offices to recycling locations," Jay explained. "And we are about to launch a healthy snack program for breakrooms where we will set up, stock and replenish alternatives to high-fat, high-sugar snacks. In short, we have expanded our borders for a traditional courier company."
And so, I asked Jay how I can use his services. He told me that many of his clients are teleworkers like me and Green Express picks up packages and documents to deliver to home offices and clients every day. What's more, Green Express delivers personal packages as well, for an average cost of about $25 (you can probably get that down to $15 if you can give him a few hours). Need a holiday gift picked up from a store at the mall? Save gas, save time and save your sanity by letting Green Express get it for you, especially during that last week of holiday shopping when UPS doesn't guarantee delivery and you just need that one last gift from the overcrowded, nowhere-to-park mall.
I asked Jay if he felt as if he had changed as a result of his Green Express epiphany. He told me, "We started being more conscious of the products we use on our bodies and in the environment. I eat a lot better now. I really care about improving Atlanta's air quality. Once you get aware of these things, then you just continue to grow."
Jay's "aha" moment reminds me of 9/12/2001, when I stood there at Publix supermarket, picking out toasted oat cereal and powdered milk for my emergency food kit and wondering about the security of our nation's food supply. And in that moment, I decided to plant my garden, which has since fed my family something every single day for five years now.
Jay's "aha" moment reminds me of the surreal conversations we're having here in Atlanta now about this drought situation--there are those who think it's nothing (the majority of people to whom I talk, unfortunately), and those on the other extreme who think Atlanta is going to dry up and become a ghost town and we need to start thinking about hightailing it out of here.
Consider that it rained the other night and the level of our main reservoir, Lake Lanier, was down the next morning rather than up (one little rain and my rainbarrel is full again, by the way). I've read reports that say that we need three solid years of above average rainfall to get our water level back to normal. I've read that this winter and next spring are predicted to be dryer and warmer than usual, and that by next summer we will be in a truly catastrophic situation.
Federal and state authorities announced yesterday that we have 79 days drinking water left in Lake Lanier. 79 days, folks. This is not a little issue. If my calculations are correct, that takes us to exactly Ground Hog Day--or should I say Ground Dry Day. And that would be precisely when farmers in Georgia would be planting their spring crops. Theoretically.
And I want to tell you out there--Atlanta is a lush city in the eastern part of the United States, at the foothills of mountains. If we are having a water crisis, it could happen anywhere. The burning question, of course, is what are we going to do about it? How can we use this as an opportunity to showcase the very best of humanity with innovative solutions that truly work?
Click here to find out more about Green Express and the Clean Air Campaign. By the way, I have located only three other couriers that use hybrid vehicles--one in Portland, Oregon; one in Ontario; and one in London. If you know of any others, tell us about them!
As for the drought, we're not done with that one yet.
For full story, go to http://www.foodshedplanet.com/search/label/Green%20Express
Showing posts with label green vendors. Show all posts
Showing posts with label green vendors. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Friday, September 7, 2007
Earth Share of Georgia announces Partnership with Atlanta’s Only Earth Friendly Courier
ATLANTA, GA – Earth Share of Georgia joins forces with Green Express, the first courier in the country to switch to hybrid cars. For every new account that mentions Earth Share of Georgia, Green Express will donate one dollar to Earth Share on each delivery.
According to Madeline Reamy, Executive Director of Earth Share, “Our partnership with Green Express is a perfect fit. We work closely with Atlanta businesses who look to us for new ways to ‘green’ their workplaces. Here’s an easy way to reduce air pollution and save fuel.” Earth Share of Georgia is the state’s only dedicated environmental fund, and raises money for 61 leading environmental groups through employee giving campaigns and Earth Day events.
Jay Holgate, managing partner of Green Express courier knew it was time for a change when gas hit $3 a gallon last year. “Affordable gas is the lifeblood of any courier company,” Holgate explains. “With gas prices at an all-time high, our hybrids are delivering significant savings.” He sensed that Atlanta companies would share his commitment to reducing their own use of imported oil, as well as their desire for cleaner air. The response has been tremendous. After all, every time a courier is used, that’s one less car on Atlanta’s roads. And now through Green Express, people will support Earth Share of Georgia.
Green Express estimates the hybrid cars use 46% less gas than traditional cars. Their drivers travel at least 2,500 miles every day delivering packages throughout metro Atlanta in 16 counties. Green Express hybrids average 47 miles per gallon, while their traditional cars get just 25 miles per gallon.
Plus, the hybrids are zero-emission vehicles while idling or going below 30 miles an hour. At higher speeds, they put out one ton of greenhouse gases to every 3.4 tons spewing from conventional cars.
Holgate and his team all have young children which was another motivator to go green. He notes, “with Atlanta’s frequent smog alerts, we have more cases of childhood asthma than almost any city in the country. Reducing air pollution matters. It matters to our kids. And it matters to our customers.”
Once Green Express took the leap of faith going green, it became a crusade – a kind of challenging game – to filter every process through an environmental microscope. To boost efficiencies even further, the most advanced GPS mapping technology is used to reroute drivers to alternate roads to avoid the worst traffic – another way to save fuel. One wrong turn can waste a gallon of gas every day times 10 cars; that’s at least 2,200 gallons a year.
Holgate encourages his customers to rethink how often they use their own cars for trips Green Express can easily handle. “We are already on the road using the most efficient routes driving zero-emission cars,” Holgate remarks. “It makes sense to let us run personal errands as well as business deliveries to save gas and people’s precious time.” Learn more at www.greendelivers.com.
Earth Share of Georgia offers citizens one smart and simple way to care for our air, land and water. As Georgia’s only dedicated environmental fund, Earth Share partners with businesses and employees to support 61 leading environmental groups through workplace giving campaigns, Earth Day and other activities. For more information on how you and your company can help carry on the Earth Day message throughout the year, call Earth Share of Georgia at 404-873-3173, or visit www.earthsharega.org.
For photos and to schedule an interview, please contact Elizabeth Patrick at
404-873-3173 or elizabeth@earthsharega.org.
Green Express Partners with Earth Share
According to Madeline Reamy, Executive Director of Earth Share, “Our partnership with Green Express is a perfect fit. We work closely with Atlanta businesses who look to us for new ways to ‘green’ their workplaces. Here’s an easy way to reduce air pollution and save fuel.” Earth Share of Georgia is the state’s only dedicated environmental fund, and raises money for 61 leading environmental groups through employee giving campaigns and Earth Day events.
Jay Holgate, managing partner of Green Express courier knew it was time for a change when gas hit $3 a gallon last year. “Affordable gas is the lifeblood of any courier company,” Holgate explains. “With gas prices at an all-time high, our hybrids are delivering significant savings.” He sensed that Atlanta companies would share his commitment to reducing their own use of imported oil, as well as their desire for cleaner air. The response has been tremendous. After all, every time a courier is used, that’s one less car on Atlanta’s roads. And now through Green Express, people will support Earth Share of Georgia.
Green Express estimates the hybrid cars use 46% less gas than traditional cars. Their drivers travel at least 2,500 miles every day delivering packages throughout metro Atlanta in 16 counties. Green Express hybrids average 47 miles per gallon, while their traditional cars get just 25 miles per gallon.
Plus, the hybrids are zero-emission vehicles while idling or going below 30 miles an hour. At higher speeds, they put out one ton of greenhouse gases to every 3.4 tons spewing from conventional cars.
Holgate and his team all have young children which was another motivator to go green. He notes, “with Atlanta’s frequent smog alerts, we have more cases of childhood asthma than almost any city in the country. Reducing air pollution matters. It matters to our kids. And it matters to our customers.”
Once Green Express took the leap of faith going green, it became a crusade – a kind of challenging game – to filter every process through an environmental microscope. To boost efficiencies even further, the most advanced GPS mapping technology is used to reroute drivers to alternate roads to avoid the worst traffic – another way to save fuel. One wrong turn can waste a gallon of gas every day times 10 cars; that’s at least 2,200 gallons a year.
Holgate encourages his customers to rethink how often they use their own cars for trips Green Express can easily handle. “We are already on the road using the most efficient routes driving zero-emission cars,” Holgate remarks. “It makes sense to let us run personal errands as well as business deliveries to save gas and people’s precious time.” Learn more at www.greendelivers.com.
Earth Share of Georgia offers citizens one smart and simple way to care for our air, land and water. As Georgia’s only dedicated environmental fund, Earth Share partners with businesses and employees to support 61 leading environmental groups through workplace giving campaigns, Earth Day and other activities. For more information on how you and your company can help carry on the Earth Day message throughout the year, call Earth Share of Georgia at 404-873-3173, or visit www.earthsharega.org.
For photos and to schedule an interview, please contact Elizabeth Patrick at
404-873-3173 or elizabeth@earthsharega.org.
Green Express Partners with Earth Share
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
My Story of Why We Converted to Green Express Couriers
By Jay Holgate
Green Express Couriers
In 2005, three major storms collided and it completely changed my life and my perspective on the world. When my heart and mind changed, I made radical changes to my courier business. The reality for all of us is that the world is fine until a problem affects you directly. Then you make changes. This is my story of how I became involved in Atlanta’s environmental world.
Strike One-In August of 2005, Hurricane Katrina hit the northern gulf coast killing almost 2000 people, and destroying 81 billion dollars in homes and businesses. As the people of Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi fled inland to Atlanta they were greeted by gas gougers who had bumped gas prices to over $3.50 per gallon . It disturbed me that as churches were volunteering and making resources available to help families that had lost everything, some unscrupulous businesses were trying to profit in their time of crises.
Strike Two- When the price of gas increased over a dollar a gallon in a short period of time, it created panic in Atlanta. Everybody started buying gas in case we had a shortage. I was leaving to go out of town on a Friday and three gas stations were out of fuel and at the fourth one, I had to wait 15 minutes in a line of cars with highly stressed out people to buy high priced fuel. At that very moment, sitting in that hostile line, I told myself I would do what I could to get my company away from dependence on fuel.
The following week, for my drive home from work, I put down the top on my car on Highway 400. When the traffic went bumper to bumper and stop and go, the fumes from all the cars and trucks were intoxicating. The smell of diesel and idling cars is a terrible smell. It’s hard to enjoy a car, the fresh air and freedom when you’re choking on dirty air.
Strike Three- Not long after my experiences with high priced fuel, gas shortages, and dirty air my wife and I started to seek out other areas for a better quality of life for our family. We soon changed our diet to get away from the preservatives and dairy products. We became a lot more conscious of clean water and clean air. In the process, I decided I was going to change my company. We changed to Green Express with an environmental message reflecting our core belief in doing the right thing. We started buying hybrid Toyota Prius cars; we moved away from paper and started e-billing, and started taking office waste to recycle centers.
Our Progess: So far this year, Green Express has reduced our paper consumption in the office by 75%. Through our hybrid cars, we have reduced consumption of gasoline by 650 gallons saving $1700 in fuel costs. By switching from tradional courier vehicle to hybrids, we have reduced our greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 30 tons. So we have reduced 30 tons of emissions of carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and methane from Atlanta’s air. Atlanta is excited about going green and we have picked up over 60 customers in a couple of months. Green Express is growing and plans on bringing on more hybrids by the end of the year as more new customers come on board.
Green Express Couriers
In 2005, three major storms collided and it completely changed my life and my perspective on the world. When my heart and mind changed, I made radical changes to my courier business. The reality for all of us is that the world is fine until a problem affects you directly. Then you make changes. This is my story of how I became involved in Atlanta’s environmental world.
Strike One-In August of 2005, Hurricane Katrina hit the northern gulf coast killing almost 2000 people, and destroying 81 billion dollars in homes and businesses. As the people of Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi fled inland to Atlanta they were greeted by gas gougers who had bumped gas prices to over $3.50 per gallon . It disturbed me that as churches were volunteering and making resources available to help families that had lost everything, some unscrupulous businesses were trying to profit in their time of crises.
Strike Two- When the price of gas increased over a dollar a gallon in a short period of time, it created panic in Atlanta. Everybody started buying gas in case we had a shortage. I was leaving to go out of town on a Friday and three gas stations were out of fuel and at the fourth one, I had to wait 15 minutes in a line of cars with highly stressed out people to buy high priced fuel. At that very moment, sitting in that hostile line, I told myself I would do what I could to get my company away from dependence on fuel.
The following week, for my drive home from work, I put down the top on my car on Highway 400. When the traffic went bumper to bumper and stop and go, the fumes from all the cars and trucks were intoxicating. The smell of diesel and idling cars is a terrible smell. It’s hard to enjoy a car, the fresh air and freedom when you’re choking on dirty air.
Strike Three- Not long after my experiences with high priced fuel, gas shortages, and dirty air my wife and I started to seek out other areas for a better quality of life for our family. We soon changed our diet to get away from the preservatives and dairy products. We became a lot more conscious of clean water and clean air. In the process, I decided I was going to change my company. We changed to Green Express with an environmental message reflecting our core belief in doing the right thing. We started buying hybrid Toyota Prius cars; we moved away from paper and started e-billing, and started taking office waste to recycle centers.
Our Progess: So far this year, Green Express has reduced our paper consumption in the office by 75%. Through our hybrid cars, we have reduced consumption of gasoline by 650 gallons saving $1700 in fuel costs. By switching from tradional courier vehicle to hybrids, we have reduced our greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 30 tons. So we have reduced 30 tons of emissions of carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and methane from Atlanta’s air. Atlanta is excited about going green and we have picked up over 60 customers in a couple of months. Green Express is growing and plans on bringing on more hybrids by the end of the year as more new customers come on board.
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