Avis Budget Group Environmental Impact Fact Sheet

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Avis Budget Group Environmental Impact Fact Sheet
As a responsible corporate citizen, Avis Budget Group is committed to practices that
minimize our use of natural resources. We are committed to monitoring, measuring
and managing our environmental impact, and working to reduce it where practicable
on an ongoing basis.
This effort touches every aspect of our business, including procurement policies, our
fleet, operations and headquarters facilities, marketing, maintenance and damage,
operations and finance. The following summarizes just some of the many ways we
help reduce our environmental impact:
Fleet:

Out of a total fleet of more than 400,000 Avis Budget Group vehicles in the
2008 model year, 150,000 have a fuel efficiency rating of 30 miles per gallon or
better (highway). One-fourth of our fleet (approximately 100,000 vehicles) is
rated at 32 miles per gallon (highway) or better.

Avis Budget Group now offers gas / electric hybrid cars for rent in both
compact (Toyota Prius) and full-size (Nissan Altima) car classes. The Altima
Hybrid offers fuel economy estimated at 42 miles per gallon (city) / 36 miles
per gallon (highway) and an “Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emission
Vehicle” rating. The Toyota Prius features an EPA-estimated combined
city/highway 55 miles per gallon and also carries an Advanced Technology
Partial Zero Emission Vehicle rating.

Newer, well-maintained vehicles tend to be more energy-efficient than older
or poorly maintained vehicles. The average age of our car rental fleet is
approximately 5 months. Vehicles are checked periodically to ensure that the
vehicle is in optimal running order. In addition, we conduct regular preventive
maintenance including emissions systems, tire pressure and other measures to
ensure that our fleet is running at maximum fuel efficiency.

Virtually all vehicles in the Avis Budget Group fleet are equipped with vapor
recovery controls that reduce emissions during fueling.

Avis also offers flex fuel cars for rent for those seeking to minimize
environmental impact through use of E-85 ethanol fuel, which is sold at gas
stations primarily in the Midwestern U.S. E85 ethanol, a blend of 85% ethanol
and 15% gasoline, is a mostly renewable fuel that can be made from U.S.-grown
corn. Studies show that on a per-gallon basis, corn ethanol reduces
greenhouse gas emissions by 18% to 29%. Examples of vehicles in the Avis
Budget Group fleet that are designed to be able to run on E-85 (in addition to
regular unleaded gasoline) include the Chevy Suburban, the Chevy Impala, and
the Chevy Monte Carlo.
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Avis Budget Group Environmental Impact Fact Sheet
Operations:

All car washes installed at Avis and Budget facilities recycle and reuse at least
80 percent of their wastewater.

Used motor oil, oil filters, parts and brake cleaner fluids are collected by Avis
Budget Group vendors and recycled at licensed facilities.

All diesel engine shuttle buses used by Avis Budget Group at airports utilize
clean diesel technology. “Clean diesel” refers to diesel fuel with reduced
sulfur content which, combined with advanced engines and effective exhaustcontrol technology, produces fewer emissions than standard diesel fuel and
engines. The newest diesel technology, called “ultra-clean diesel,” is now
being used by Avis Budget Group on shuttle buses in Los Angeles and San Diego.
Ultra-clean diesel vehicles utilize a new fuel that represents more than a 95
percent reduction in sulfur content from current levels.

Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) plans have been developed
to prevent fuel spills from storage and during fuel loading events at Avis Budget
Group locations. Staff receive training in SPCC plans and procedures as well as
the use of spill kits with absorbent pads, which are conspicuously placed by
fueling islands to manage spills. A special spill hotline is staffed 24/7 and
posted at all facilities.

Special technology, equipment and systems are used to prevent petroleum
products from being released from storage tanks:
o
Double wall or secondary containment, overfill protection to prevent
spilling during fueling and corrosion-resistant tank materials;
o
Redundant leak detection methods including automatic line leak
detectors, inventory control and reconciliation procedures and remote
leak detection systems;
o
Vapor recovery controls, under-dispenser pans and inventory controls to
minimize air emissions, which were all installed prior to being required
by law.
Customer Products and Services:

Avis Budget Group offers customers of Avis Rent A Car and Budget Rent A Car
electronic toll collection services for more cars in more cities than any other
company, to allow travelers to skip cash payment lines and use automated toll
collection lanes. In addition to saving our customers time, electronic toll
collection also helps the environment. One study found that:
o
Paying for tolls electronically reduces hydrocarbons and carbon
monoxide emissions by 40-63%, and reduces emissions of nitrogen oxides
by 16%.
o
Paying for tolls electronically significantly reduces fuel consumption due
to reduced queuing at toll plazas.
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Avis Budget Group Environmental Impact Fact Sheet
Around the World

Avis Europe Plc, which operates the Avis and Budget brands in Europe, Africa,
Asia and the Middle East under license from Avis Budget Group, has a longstanding commitment to environmental responsibility. Since 2002 Avis Europe
has offset greenhouse gas emissions through innovative renewable energy and
technology projects as well as via tree planting. In 2006, Avis Europe has offset
just over 18,400 tons of CO2 and since 2000, they have offset some 94,500 tons.
Avis Europe’s European corporate operations and some of its licensees are
“carbon neutral,” meaning that carbon offsets equal or outweigh carbon
emissions.

Avis Europe’s track record in this area was acknowledged in the report for the
UK Government on the Economics of Climate Change in autumn 2006. The
report cited Avis as being a private sector leader in climate change programs.

Avis Europe measures environmental impacts internally and the data are
reviewed and analyzed by the independent Edinburgh Centre for Carbon
Management working with The CarbonNeutral Company. The analysis covers
emissions from electricity, gas, oil, propane, landfill and incinerated waste by
headquarters and rental locations along with business travel by staff.
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