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Sustainable Transportation Certification

David Kestenbaum Outreach Professional Senior, University of Vermont Extension

Lisa Chase, Ph.D.Natural Resources Specialist, University of Vermont Extension

Director, Vermont Tourism Data Center

Laura Anderson, Ph.D.Post Doctoral Associate, University of Vermont Rubenstein School

A certification, education and labeling program for the passenger transportation

sector

(from flip-flops & bicycles to trains & planes)

Climate Change/Global Warming

"warming of the climate system is unequivocal,"

It is predicted that if warming persists, climate change will have a number of negative effects on our planet's physical and biological systems. This, in turn, may put the physical health and safely of billions at risk (IPCC, 2007).

Atmospheric Carbon• Pre- 1750 around 280 PPM• 1960 315 PPM• Today 392.5 PPM

Pre 1750 1960 Today250

270

290

310

330

350

370

390

410

US GHG Emissions

• ‘The US must reduce emissions at least 80% below year 2000 levels by 2050)(Union of Concerned Scientists, 2007)

U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions• U.S., 5% of the worlds population and in

2006 was responsible for 21% of global emissions

• GHG emissions from the U.S. transportation sector represents over 5% of global GHG emissions

• Transportation GHG emissions account for 29% of total US GHG Emissions

USDOT, 2010

U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions• In 2006 passenger transport generated

73% of transportation GHG emissions.• Transportation has been the highest end-

sector emitter of CO2 since 1999 • Lifecycle costs increase emissions by up

to 50%.

(USDOT, 2010)

US GHG Emissions

• ‘The US must reduce emissions at least 80% below year 2000 levels by 2050)(Union of Concerned Scientists, 2007)

Strategies to Reduce Transportation GHG Emissions• Low carbon fuels• Increasing vehicle fuel economy• Improve system efficiency• Reduce carbon intensity of travel

activity• Reduce need for travel

USDOT, 2010

Consumer Transportation Choice

• Price• Safety • Convenience• Customer Service• Quality

Eco-Labeling• Eco-labels provide more complete information, can provoke environmental consideration in an immediate decision and create better environmental practices through competition.

GCC Pilot Program (no frills)

Project Objectives• Assessing the impacts of a pilot

green certification program on the attitudes and behaviors of motorcoach operators

• Studying the impacts of a pilot green certification program on consumer interest and demand for motorcoach travel

GCC Pilot ProgramISEAL Standard Setting Process

B-1

Identify Potential

Stakeholders

B-2 Make Stakeholders

Aware of Process

A-1

Define Clear

Objectives

A-2

Define Structure and

Process

A-3

Build a Technical

Committee

C-1

Draft

Standards

D1

Field Testing

B-3 Consultation

on Draft Standards

C-2

Revise

the Standards

E-1

Publication of the

Standards

Stakeholders

Source: International Social and Environmental Accreditation and Labeling Alliance

GCC Pilot ProgramCertification Criteria

1. Meeting or exceeding the industry average of 148 passenger miles per gallon.

2. Running an EPA 2007 compliant engine.3. Running an EPA 2010 compliant engine.4. Offsetting carbon emissions by 80 percent through an

endorsed carbon-trading program.5. Running on an alternative fuel such as a blend of

biodiesel.6. Having a strict, documented, and verifiable energy

conservation and recycling program.7. Incorporating other emerging environmental technologies

as prescribed by the GCC.

GCC Pilot Program

GCC Pilot Program

Sustainable Transportation Certification Program

A certification, education and labeling program for the passenger transportation

sector

MissionBuild awareness and promote the use of transportation options that:

– Reduce greenhouse gas and other harmful emissions

– Increase energy efficiency– Utilize alternative fuels and new

technologies

Methods• Recognition of passenger transportation

systems, fleets and/or individual vehicles that demonstrate compliance with the program’s certification criteria

• Support of certified operators through public relations, marketing programs, educational programming, and access to labels

Scoring and Certification•  Level 1 = 100 to 149

• Level 2 = 150 to 199• Level 3 = 200 to 299• Level 4 = 300 or greater

Certification Criteria• Greenhouse gas emissions per passenger

mile• Emissions Technologies (criteria pollutants)• Alternative fuels • Purchase of carbon offset • Training programs and idle policies• Waste management

GHG Emission Per Passenger Mile • Total miles traveled• Total fuel consumed• Fuel type (e.g., diesel, electric,

compressed natural gas)• Vehicle type• Average passenger load

BA C FD

X<.0253 Kg CO2 EQ PPM

.X>.0253 Kg CO2 EQ PPM or <.0506 Kg EQ PPM

X>.0506 Kg CO2 EQ PPM or <.1265 Kg EQ PPM

X>.1265 Kg CO2 EQ PPM or <.253 Kg EQ PPM

X>.253 Kg CO2 EQ PPM

“Sustainable Zone”

GHG Emissions Per Passenger

75 - 200 Points

Criteria Pollutants Emission Technologies Points

Diesel engine meeting EPA 2007 certification 15

Diesel engine retrofitted to meet 2007 standards 15

Any vehicle that meets the California Air Resource Board Certification for Partial Zero-Emissions

15

Electric hybrid vehicle 20

Diesel engine meeting EPA 2010 certification 30

Zero-emissions vehicle 40

Alternative FuelsAlternative Fuel Points

Propane 5

E85 ethanol 5

Biodiesel B5 5

Biodiesel B20 15

Compressed natural gas 30

Biodiesel B100 35

Hydrogen 50

All electric 50

100% Human Powered 200

Educational ProgramsTraining / Policy Points

Eco-driving training 20

Idle-free training and formal policy

20

ECO-DRIVER EDUCATION

• Eco-driving is: a set of simple driving habits that result in using less fuel, generating fewer emissions, and increasing safety.

• Eco driving is economical and better for the environment/ecosystem.

• The typical eco driver can increase fuel efficiency 10-30%.

Carbon OffsetsPercentage of Carbon Offsets Purchased Points

0-4.9 05-9.9 110-14.9 215-19.9 320-24.9 425-29.9 530-34.9 635-39.9 740-44.9 845-49.9 950-54.9 1055-59.9 1160-64.9 1265-69.9 1370-74.9 1475-79.9 1580-84.9 1685-89.9 1790-94.9 1895-99.9 19100 -105 20

105-120 21120-140 22140-160 23160-180 24180+ 25

Waste Management – PointsType of waste management Points

Energy reduction and recycling at offices and shops

1-10

Recycling waste left behind by customers 10

Marketing Support• Website• Logoed listings on travel sites• Turnkey materials• Macro level PR initiative with partners• Road-show

Sustainable Transportation Certification Program Launch

WINTER 2012

References• Anderson, L.E., L.C. Chase, D.Kestenbaum, and C. Mastrangelo. “Adopting Sustainable Transportation Practices: The Relationship

Between Environmental Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviors and Support for Green Certification,” International Journal of Sustainable Transportation (in review).

• Black, William R., and Noriyuki Sato. “From Global Warming to Sustainable Transport 1989-2006,” International Journal of Sustainable Transportation, Vol. 1, Issue 2, 2007, pp. 73-89.

• Crist, P. “Transport Demand Management: Insights From Eco-Driving and Corporate Mobility Management,” International Transport Forum, Leipzig, Germany, May 28-30, 2008.

• Luers, Amy L., Michael D. Mastrandrea, Katharine Hayhoe, and Peter C. Frumhoff. “How to Avoid Dangerous Climate Change: A Target for U.S. Emissions Reductions,” Union of Concerned Scientists, 2007, retrieved February 15, 2011 from www.ucsusa.org/assets/documents/global_warming/emissions-target-report.pdf.

• Lumsdon, Les, Paul Downward, and Steven Rhoden. “Transport for Tourism: Can Public Transport Encourage a Modal Shift in the Day Visitor Market?” Journal of Sustainable Tourism, Vol. 14, Issue 2, 2006, pp. 139-156.

• Mastrangelo, C., L.E. Anderson, L.C. Chase, and David Kestenbaum. “Green Transportation for Tourism: Assessing Demand for Ecolabels,” Compendium of papers for the Transportation Research Board 89th annual meeting, 2010, Report 10-3290.

• Nathan Associates Inc. Motorcoach Census Update 2009, 2010, retrieved August 24, 2010 from www.buses.org/files/Motorcoach%20Census%20Update%202009.pdf.

• Potter, Stephen. “Exploring Approaches Towards a Sustainable Transport System,” International Journal of Sustainable Transportation, Vol. 1, Issue 2, 2007, pp. 115-131.

• United States Department of Transportation (USDOT). Transportation’s Role in Reducing U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions Volume 2 Synthesis Report: Report to Congress, 2010, Report 01159301.

• United States Environmental Protection Agency. Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2008, 2010, Report 430-R-10-006.

• United Nations Environmental Program Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Chance (UNEP-IPCC). Working Group I First Assessment Report, 2007.

• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Trends in Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide, retrieved July 18, 2011 from http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/gmd/ccgg/trends/global.html

• National Park Service. Pacific West Region Green Accomplishments from the Past Year, retrieved July 19, 2011 from http://www.nps.gov/climatefriendlyparks/downloads/Green-Voice/GV-Climate-Friendly-Region.pdf

• National Park Service . Climate Friendly Parks Whiskeytown National Recreation Area Action Plan, retrieved July 19, 2011 from http://www.nps.gov/climatefriendlyparks/downloads/Action%20Plans%20and%20Inventories/whis-final-cfp-action-plan.pdf

• National Park Service. Climate Friendly Parks Cape Cod National Seashore Action Plan, retrieved July 19, 2011 from http://www.nps.gov/caco/parkmgmt/climate-friendly-parks-program-at-cape-cod-national-seashore.htm

• National Park Service. Climate Friendly Parks Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Action Plan, retrieved July 19 2011 from http://www.nps.gov/climatefriendlyparks/parks/SEKI.html