Sat nav technology crucial in cutting global carbon levels
Garmin, the global leader in personal satellite navigation, has been working as a member of TechAmerica Europe to boost the role of high-tech companies in providing solutions for the reduction of global carbon emissions.
TechAmerica Europe has delivered a Whitepaper at the Copenhagen COP15 Climate Change Conference, urging delegates to formally acknowledge the vital role of high technology in climate change reduction policy.
Cliff Pemble, Garmin’s President and Chief Operating Officer said: “As the number of vehicles on the road continues to increase, we need to reduce the impact of greenhouse gases and fuel consumption in order to safeguard the environment.
“One of the ways Garmin has tackled this issue is by offering drivers a powerful tool they can use to evaluate their driving habits called ecoRoute™. ecoRoute facilitates behaviour-modification, letting drivers make informed decisions and helps them to choose more fuel efficient routes, which can help drivers save fuel and money.”
The Whitepaper included a case study of Garmin’s ecoRoute™ fuel-saver software, which references a recently commissioned statistical analysis for digital map data provider NAVTEQ, conducted by independent social science specialist NuStats .
Garmin’s ecoRoute software rates driving style in terms of economy and carbon footprint, as well as providing tips on driving efficiency and calculating fuel-efficient routes.
The NAVTEQ/NuStats study found that drivers using a sat nav achieved, on average, a 12 percent improvement in fuel efficiency compared to drivers without a navigation device.
According to the study, drivers who used a navigation device not only increased their fuel efficiency and saved money, but also reduced equivalent CO2 emissions by 24 percent because of increased fuel efficiency – which equates to nearly one metric ton of pollutants per year.
The NAVTEQ Navigation Benefits study indicated that if all 241 million drivers in the US began to use satellite navigation, it is estimated that 18 billion gallons of fuel per year could be saved, leading to 200 million tons of reduced CO2 emissions – the equivalent of removing over 40 million vehicles from the roads
As part of Garmin’s pledge to continue to innovate and pioneer forward-thinking technologies, ecoRoute™ is a standard feature on all new Garmin devices and is also available as a free download to compatible Garmin navigation devices. To find out more about ecoRoute visit www.garmin.co.uk/ecoroute
For more information on the COP15 Whitepaper – “High-tech solutions to climate change: What the evidence tells us about the potential for reduced greenhouse gas emissions and the larger productivity benefits” visit www.techamerica.org/climatechange.
About Garmin
The global leader in satellite navigation, Garmin Ltd. and its subsidiaries have designed, manufactured, marketed and sold navigation, communication and information devices and applications since 1989 – most of which are enabled by GPS technology. Garmin’s products serve automotive, mobile, wireless, outdoor recreation, marine, aviation, and OEM applications. Garmin Ltd. is incorporated in the Cayman Islands, and its principal subsidiaries are located in the United States, Taiwan and the United Kingdom. For more information visit Garmin's media centre at www.garmin.co.uk/mediacentre. Garmin and nüvi are registered trademarks and ecoRoute is a trademark of Garmin Ltd. or its subsidiaries. All other brands, product names, company names, trademarks and service marks are the properties of their respective owners. All rights reserved.
About TechAmerica Europe
TechAmerica Europe (formerly AeA Europe) is a not-for-profit association of high tech companies of American parentage doing business of more than € 100 billion in Europe. Established in 1990 in Brussels, TechAmerica Europe focuses on managing issues surrounding environment, regulatory standards, security policy and the impact of EU policies on transatlantic trade, investments, jobs, research, education and community affairs throughout Europe. Members employ over 500,000 people in Europe, active throughout the high technology spectrum, from software, semiconductors and computers to Internet technology, advanced electronics and telecommunications systems and services. Learn more at www.techamerica.org/europe.
Notice on forward-looking statements:
This release includes forward-looking statements regarding Garmin Ltd. and its business. All statements regarding the company’s future product introductions are forward-looking statements. Such statements are based on management's current expectations. The forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this release may not occur and actual results could differ materially as a result of known and unknown risk factors and uncertainties affecting Garmin, including, but not limited to, the risk factors listed in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 29, 2007 filed by Garmin with the Securities and Exchange Commission (Commission file number 000-31983). A copy of Garmin’s Form 10-K can be downloaded at www.garmin.com/aboutGarmin/invRelations/finReports.html. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and Garmin undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
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