| ||
| Vol. 21, No. 23 |
| December 15, 1999 |
|
May 1980 "Conservation" is a word that is now spelled with a capital "C". During the last few months, activities across the nation have encouraged greater emphasis on energy conservation as an aid in reducing the need for oil imports and in combatting inflation. Energy-conserving transportation programs such as ridesharing and improved driving efficiency have served as a focal point for a variety of newly-launched public awareness programs. One such program spotlighted third-party vanpooling at Texas Medical Center as a workable, energy-conserving project that could be adapted in other high-density employment areas around the country. Jerry Ward, a production coordinator for the Department of Energy, visited the Center on May 1 to film our vanpools and to record a discussion of the program by TMC Transportation Director Richard Sommerville. The spot will be included in a 90-minute news feature which will be distributed nationally to about 600 television stations. The importance of programs such as vanpooling was reviewed on April 29, when President Carter hosted a meeting of leaders in business and industry to request a commitment of participation in launching a major effort to reduce the amount of fuel consumed by cars and trucks - especially during the 1980 summer driving season. Richard Sommerville, who serves on the President's National Task Force on Ridesharing, attended the meeting at the White House. "This conservation effort," Sommerville reported, "will also affect the Texas Medical Center, where transportation programs are already in effect and working very well. Our objective will be to renew and to double our efforts - to encourage participation by twice as many employees as are now involved." In returning from the Washington meeting, Sommerville joined U.S. Secretary of Commerce Philip Klutznick in New Orleans to meet with Mayor Morial and an assembly of top New Orleans business officials to encourage their support for the conservation effort. Sommerville presented a segment of the program describing the purposes for the National Task Force on Ridesharing.
©2006 Texas Medical Center E-Mail: tmc-info@tmc.edu URL: http://www.tmc.edu/tmcnews/12_15_99/page_09.html |