CILT (UK) Organisational Partner, First Bus, announced that its sites in York, Leicester, and Norwich are now verified as net zero-emission depots.

This follows the full electrification of their bus fleets and are among the first in the country to reach this milestone, First Bus says.

First Bus achieved this target by investing the necessary additional carbon reduction requirements to claim net zero status.

Isabel McAllister, Chief Sustainability and Compliance Officer for First Bus expressed how proud the company is about achieving this goal, describing it as a ‘huge step’ for First Bus.

“We take our net zero-emission strategy incredibly seriously and look forward to continuing the electrification of our fleets, whilst ensuring we keep delivering on our sustainability promises to the benefit of our people and our customers,” said Isabel.

First Bus claims they went a 'step beyond' merely eliminating tailpipe emissions by enhancing the sustainability of the energy used to power their depots and ancillary vehicles.

According to SBTI to achieve Net-Zero, emissions have to be reduced by more than 90% and the remaining 10% or less emissions must be removed with carbon removal projects (offsetting).

First Bus said these emissions have been offset through supporting the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) carbon removals projects and the purchase of 100% REGO accredited renewable electricity.

The company replaced gas heating systems with electric, installed solar PV panels on the roofs of each building and removed the onsite refuelling tank at York.

Dr Wendy Buckley, Client Director at Carbon Footprint Ltd added: “First Bus is a clear leader in public transport innovation and one of the first to achieve net zero operations across three of its sites – we can’t wait to see further sites achieve this status in the future. Congratulations to the depot teams for the hard work that has gone into achieving this milestone.”

In additional advancements First Bus say they have also placed an order with New Power, a business that converts diesel buses into zero emission electric vehicles.

According to First Bus repowering buses extends the bus lifespan by six to nine years and generates less carbon emissions than manufacturing a new vehicle.

The company explained this will save around 600 tonnes of tailpipe carbon emissions over ten years.

Ed Gillespie, Futurist, Environmental Entrepreneur, Campaigner and Author, said: “It is incredible to see the creative, ingenious and comprehensive approach that First Bus has implemented to radically decarbonise its bus fleet, depots, operations and indirect emissions.

“York, Norwich and Leicester represent an authentically trailblazing attitude to tackling climate change, improving urban air quality and influencing the whole system – from sharing electric vehicle charging facilities to transforming diesel vehicles into EVs.