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A new online calculator released today makes it easier than ever for fleet managers to measure their greenhouse gas emissions as a first step in creating "greener" vehicle fleets. Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) and NAFA Fleet Management Association (NAFA) created the Fleet Emissions Tool that enables fleets to track their progress in reducing emissions over time.
The Fleet Emissions Tool will be unveiled tomorrow at an opening seminar at the NAFA 2009 Institute & Expo in New Orleans. The seminar, entitled "Carbon Footprint Calculation and Management," will cover data needs and options for quantifying fleet greenhouse gas emissions.
"Fleet managers today face immense pressures from all sides to cut costs – and reducing emissions is one way to do so," said Jason Mathers, Green Fleet project manager for EDF. "Our goal in launching this online calculator is to put fleet managers in the driver's seat when it comes to measurement, efficiency and cost savings."
Recognizing that it is difficult to capture the complete data required by more advanced calculation methods, the Fleet Emissions Tool is designed to minimize data entry needs for fleets while retaining accuracy.
"With environmental goals front and center for so many fleet managers today, they need help calculating and quantifying their successes when it comes to minimizing the carbon footprint of their operations" said Phil Russo, executive director of NAFA. "This new tool combines great data with ease of use and fills a big gap for fleet managers as a result. NAFA will also be using this tool to speak with legislators and regulators to help them understand the kinds of data fleet managers can collect and the impact fleet operations can have on mitigating emissions."
The Fleet Emissions Tool estimates total fleet greenhouse gas emissions from fuel consumption data. This data is directly used to calculate emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), which accounts for about 95% of greenhouse gas from vehicles. Emissions of nitrous oxide (N2O), methane (CH4), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) are estimated based on their prominence among greenhouse gas from transportation source as reported in the Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2006. You can access the tool at the EDF website.
Vehicles are a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for 28% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions*. In the U.S., fleets account for nearly nine million vehicles on the road**. Combined, these vehicles emit millions of metric tons of greenhouse gases annually. Fleet operators, both private and public, are seeking ways to lessen their greenhouse gas footprint. The most effective fleet actions are directly tied to seeking greenhouse gas reductions.
Environmental Defense Fund (edf.org), a leading national nonprofit organization, represents more than 500,000 members. Since 1967, Environmental Defense Fund has linked science, economics, law and innovative private-sector partnerships to create breakthrough solutions to the most serious environmental problems. Environmental Defense Fund has a 20 year track record of success in partnering with business. To maintain its independence and credibility, EDF accepts no money from corporate partners; generous individuals and foundations fund its work.
NAFA Fleet Management Association (nafa.org) is a not-for-profit, individual membership professional society serving the needs of members who manage fleets of sedans, public safety vehicles, trucks, and buses of all types and sizes, and a wide range of military and off-road equipment for organizations across the globe. NAFA is the association for the diverse vehicle fleet management profession regardless of organizational type, geographic location or fleet composition. NAFA's Full and Associate Members are responsible for the specification, acquisition, maintenance and repair, fueling, risk management, and remarketing of more than 3.5 million vehicles including in excess of 1.1 million trucks of which 350 thousand are medium- and heavy-duty trucks.
* U.S. EPA. Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990 – 2007 (draft) Table ES-7
** Bobit Publishing Company, Automotive Fleet Research Department, Automotive Fleet Factbook 2008, Redondo Beach, CA, 2007.
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