Monday, November 14, 2016
WASHINGTON (November 14, 2016) – A new video has joined the Propane Education & Research Council’s popular online Straight Talk video series, which highlights schools, organizations, and businesses that have had success using propane to reduce budgets and emissions. The new video showcases Northside Independent School District, in San Antonio, Texas. 
“Northside ISD saves $1.3 million each year on fuel and maintenance costs with their propane buses compared to their diesel bus fleet, which allows the district to keep more of its annual budget where it belongs — in the classroom for student-based programming,” said Mike Taylor, director of autogas business development for PERC. “Northside’s success is a great model for other schools looking for ways to save money, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and increase student and driver safety.”
Almost 50 percent of Northside ISD’s 916 buses are powered by propane instead of diesel fuel, whose exhaust has been identified as a carcinogen by the World Health Organization. Exposure to the exhaust from older diesel engines can have short- and long-term consequences on student and driver health, such as respiratory illnesses and asthma.
The trend of propane bus adoption is picking up steam across the country. Schools in 47 states are operating almost 11,000 propane school buses transporting more than 650,000 students to school each day. Twenty of the top 25 designated market areas and four of the 10 largest school districts in the country are now using them. Since 2012, propane school bus sales have increased by 436 percent.
In addition to the emissions and financial savings propane buses offer a school district, they are quieter than old diesel buses, too. This helps students stay safe because drivers can hear what is going on inside and around the outside of the bus.
Click here to watch the new Northside Independent School District Straight Talk video.
About PERC: The Propane Education & Research Council is a nonprofit established, operated, and funded by the propane industry. PERC leads safety and training efforts and drives technology development to expand the adoption of propane as a clean, domestic, and affordable energy source. PERC programs benefit a variety of markets including transportation, agriculture, and commercial landscaping, residential, and commercial. For more information about propane-powered technologies, equipment incentives, and PERC, visit PropaneCouncil.org.
“Northside ISD saves $1.3 million each year on fuel and maintenance costs with their propane buses compared to their diesel bus fleet, which allows the district to keep more of its annual budget where it belongs — in the classroom for student-based programming,” said Mike Taylor, director of autogas business development for PERC. “Northside’s success is a great model for other schools looking for ways to save money, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and increase student and driver safety.”
Almost 50 percent of Northside ISD’s 916 buses are powered by propane instead of diesel fuel, whose exhaust has been identified as a carcinogen by the World Health Organization. Exposure to the exhaust from older diesel engines can have short- and long-term consequences on student and driver health, such as respiratory illnesses and asthma.
The trend of propane bus adoption is picking up steam across the country. Schools in 47 states are operating almost 11,000 propane school buses transporting more than 650,000 students to school each day. Twenty of the top 25 designated market areas and four of the 10 largest school districts in the country are now using them. Since 2012, propane school bus sales have increased by 436 percent.
In addition to the emissions and financial savings propane buses offer a school district, they are quieter than old diesel buses, too. This helps students stay safe because drivers can hear what is going on inside and around the outside of the bus.
Click here to watch the new Northside Independent School District Straight Talk video.
About PERC: The Propane Education & Research Council is a nonprofit established, operated, and funded by the propane industry. PERC leads safety and training efforts and drives technology development to expand the adoption of propane as a clean, domestic, and affordable energy source. PERC programs benefit a variety of markets including transportation, agriculture, and commercial landscaping, residential, and commercial. For more information about propane-powered technologies, equipment incentives, and PERC, visit PropaneCouncil.org.
