Oct. 25, 2007 The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has honored Office Depot, Wal-Mart, and IBM, along with 31 other businesses and organizations, for voluntary efforts to reduce fuel consumption and lower greenhouse gas emissions from their vehicle fleets.

Recipients of EPA's SmartWay Excellence Awards have integrated a broad range of fuel-saving technologies into their freight and fleet operations, such as installing of auxiliary power units that eliminate the need to idle an engine all night to heat or cool the cab while a driver sleeps. (This technology may soon be required in some states; Pennsylvania is currently considering legislation to limit truck idling to just five minutes per hour.)

"Through their voluntary participation in the SmartWay Transport Partnership, these companies are supporting EPA in moving the nation forward to a healthier and more secure future," says EPA deputy administrator Marcus Peacock. "Recipients of this year's SmartWay Excellence Awards are showing the financial and environmental values of cutting petroleum use in their transportation operations."

Office Depot reports that in just the past year, the company has reduced its greenhouse gas emissions from the transport of products by nearly 10%.

A complete list of honorees is available online.