TRAVERSE CITY -- Going green is more than a catch phrase, but an important part of the daily routine for Northern Michigan's largest school district. You'll find something eco-friendly in almost every aspect. The green initiative for Traverse City Area Public Schools transportation starts with the starting of the busses' engines.

"The engines are the most up-to-date, fuel efficient engines that we can get," said Phil Haldaman, Director of Transportation. "Upwards of 10 miles per gallon per engine. We've already saved with those lean, clean engines over 50,000 gallons of diesel fuel every year."

That fuel is ultra low sulfur diesel fuel.

"It's much cleaner than it ever was before. We have diesel oxidation catalysts on each and every bus we own," said Haldaman. "Those DOCs as we call them, take out about 90% of the particulate matter in the exhaust."

All adding up to a difference TCAPS parents and students can see.

"Look at TC West Middle School where we have over 30 buses parked in the morning, all running, that are letting kids off," said Haldaman. "We used to have a cloud practically over the building, diesel exhaust that was hanging over us, so they don't have to breathe that anymore."

Then there's the efforts behind the scenes at the bus maintenance garage. New computer-controlled thermostats keep energy use down, and almost everything here is recycled. From oil, to batteries and scrap metal.

"We'll go through approximately 2,500 gallons of used motor oil annually, said Haldaman. "We generate between 15,000 to 20,000 pounds of scrap steal a year. When prices were quite high, TCAPS made quite a bit of money on that."

Efforts good for the environment and good for the bottom line. Making the budget go farther to, from and during school.

"That can fund textbooks, it can help fund extra programs and things they need to enrich our educational experience for these children," said Haldaman.