Mac-Gray testing the effectiveness of hybrid SUVs used as service vehicles

As the operator of the second largest fleet of service vehicles in the laundry management industry, we understand that our vehicles have an impact on the environment so we've looked for solutions to lessen our impact for years.  In 2006 we switched from 5.4 liter engines to 4.6 liter engines in our vans, the most efficient option to satisfy our broad needs. This has saved over 50,000 gallons of gas and over one million pounds of CO₂ from entering into our atmosphere over the past two years.

To further reduce our fuel consumption and related emissions, we purchased three Ford Escape Hybrids to test their effectiveness when used as service vehicles at the end of 2008.  We are projecting fuel savings of over 2,600 gallons and about 52,000 pounds of related CO₂ emissions. Once the overall effectiveness of the smaller hybrid vehicles is fully evaluated, we hope to expand our hybrid fleet to further reduce the carbon footprint associated with servicing our customers.

To promote the advancement of environmental sustainability we chose to "wrap" the vehicles with an eye-catching environmentally-themed graphic to generate a "green buzz" in the local community and on the campuses they serve. We hope to build environmental awareness as we do our part to reduce energy consumption.