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The two memos, issued earlier this year, required that agencies request reconditioned, previously used, and/or remanufactured automotive parts whenever possible, as well as us re-refined or synthetic motor oil and lubricants and that light-duty vehicles must be ordered in solar-reflective colours.

According to Michael Liang, assistant deputy director, Office of Public Affairs, DGS, the main driving factor behind using reconditioned parts is reduction in repair costs. The Department of General Services identified the use of reconditioned, used, remanufactured auto parts as a current best practice being employed by some agencies to save costs. It was decided to make this informal practice a formal policy in order to extend the practice across more agencies and thereby save the State additional costs, Liang wrote.

Most state agencies outsource some or all their fleet maintenance, and fleet managers can decide on the use of used parts on a case-by-case basis, depending on availability, cost, vehicle age, etc.

The State requires agencies to reduce their fleets consumption of petroleum products, and use of synthetic lubricants is one way to achieve this.

Solar-reflective vehicles are expected to reduce fuel consumption through reduced use of vehicles air conditioning systems. This stems from a solar-reflective vehicle colour study the DGS conducted with Lawrence Berkley National Laboratory. The study found that solar reflective coatings for opaque surfaces of the vehicle shell can decrease the soak temperature of the air in the cabin of a vehicle parked in the sun, potentially reducing the vehicles ancillary load and improving its fuel economy by permitting the use of a smaller air conditioner.

Liang said the results of the study prompted the State to incorporate solar-reflective vehicle colours in the fleet in 2011. White has been the default colour of the States vehicle contracts, and this mandate makes silver metallic and gold metallic standard colours as well.