ADVERTISEMENT YELLOW SCHOOL BUSES ARE HEALTHY
As students return to school, the iconic yellow school bus once again winds its way through suburban streets. Familiar as this sight may be, few take the opportunity to consider the amazing impact the yellow bus industry has on health and well-being, for the passengers – aka children! – and the environment. As the U.S.’ largest family-owned and operated school bus
contractor, Cook-Illinois Corporation cares about families and children’s health. It’s at the forefront of everything they do – and a privilege and obligation which sets the standard in transportation. Healthier for students. Recognizing the need to provide
healthy transportation to students, Cook-Illinois Corporation has built a fleet of over 300 propane buses and has more than 1,800 buses running on environmentally friendly biodiesel fuel. CIC is dedicated to the health and well-being of the families it serves. A study commissioned by the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) and West Virginia University’s Center for Alternative Fuels Engines and Emissions (CAFEE) to calculate exhaust emissions revealed how detri- mental standard diesel exhaust, or soot, is to young children. “This study is monumental from an
emissions and health perspective for students, schools and communities across the country,” said Tucker Perkins, president and CEO of PERC. “Children arriving to school in propane buses ar- en’t exposed to harmful NOx emissions; they feel better and are more prepared to learn.”
A clean and quiet ride, propane buses do not emit harmful exhaust gasses, which, according to this same study from WVU, reduce harmful nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions by 96 percent. Along with CO2 emissions, NOx emissions are major air quality concerns across the nation and can be a leading cause of asthma and other breathing related problems. According to the Department of Environmental Protection School Bus Fact Sheet, “[children] are especially affected by soot because their lungs are still developing and they breathe 50 percent more air per pound of body weight than adults.” The fact sheet notes, “[diesel] exhaust worsens asthma, bronchitis and existing allergies and may contribute to decreased lung function, lung cancer and heart disease.” CIC cares about stu- dents, as demonstrated by the extensive care and maintenance for its buses, including state-of-the-art diagnostic software. Most people do not realize that the school bus ride can im-
pact a student’s academic performance. A one-of-a-kind study by Georgia State University was featured in a Wall Street Journal article titled, “The Surprising Academic Impact of Reducing School-Bus Emissions: It can help increase standardized test
scores.” The study found that students who rode to school on alternative fuel buses, like the propane fleet at CIC, scored 6 percent higher on their standardized English test scores com- pared to students who rode to school on standard diesel buses. “While this is only one study, it is significant to note that the bus a student rides may impact a student’s learning,” commented CIC President and COO John Benish. “And that’s what motivates us and drives our company: setting students up for academic success and physical well-being,” he continued. Healthier for the environment. In the 1970s the Environmen-
tal Protection Agency (EPA) established national air quality and vehicle emissions standards, which it updates periodically based on the latest science. Despite the dramatic progress, there is still a long way to go. According to an EPA overview of greenhouse gasses, “[the] impact of 1 pound of N2O on warm- ing the atmosphere is almost 300 times that of 1 pound of carbon dioxide.” Both CO2 and NOx are byproducts of the transportation industry. However, a propane (some- times called an autogas) engine, does not emit NOx, significantly impacting the environ- ment. Propane autogas is the most widely used alternative fuel for school buses and Cook-Illinois Corporation is a leader in propane school bus adoption with over 300 propane-powered vehicles. Propane engines are a strong envi- ronmentally friendly option, according to PERC, which stated that, “in fact, the latest propane autogas engine technology is classified as near-zero emissions and has moved the fuel even closer to achieving net zero emissions levels.” John Benish commented, “near-ze- ro emissions is obviously a win-win all around. It is healthier
for the well-being of students and educators, as well as is better for the environment. We’re proud to be a part of the solution to the communities we serve.” Like many forms of public transportation, the school bus
provides many benefits, not just to the students riding but also to the community as well as the environment. One school bus, according to the National School Bus Council, carries the same number of passengers as about 36 cars. That ubiquitous yellow bus driving through the neighborhood reduces traffic conges- tion and lowers the commute time for others. Plus, fewer cars on the road results in lowered emissions and air pollution. Conclusion. Every student deserves the best opportunity and
Cook-Illinois Corporation along with its fleet of school buses helps to make that possible. Healthy for students, the communi- ty and for the environment, school buses make a difference.
Written by John Benish, COO, Cook Illinois Corporation. Co-written by Robert Johnson
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