The U.S Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy created Clean Cities Tools, a group of resources consumers can use to calculate and inform themselves about ways to lower emissions, spend less money, and consume less petroleum. With the Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy’s data center, publications, and case studies, it’s easy for consumers to introduce themselves to more sustainable and efficient practices and learn how to apply them.
In a guide created to show some of the available Web-based and mobile tools, the Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy categorized the tools into four main groups: Vehicle and Emissions Tools, Fuel and Station Tools, Information Tools, and Apps and Mobile Tools. With this set of varied and informative tools, fuel providers, fleet managers, and others involved in transportation have new resources to make knowledgeable decisions about how to decrease their usage of petroleum.
Examples of some of the vehicle and emissions tools include a Vehicle Cost Calculator, Petroleum Reduction Planning Tool, and GREET Fleet Footprint Calculator. These tools allow consumers to compare the overall cost of ownership and emissions production in most models based on their driving habits; to determine the best way to decrease their usage of conventional fuel and emissions on corporate and personal levels; and to calculate a fleet’s footprint of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and petroleum use and assess future vehicle purchases’ potential effects, respectively. Other tools include the Alternative Fueling Station Locator, which provides directions to charging stations and places to get alternative fuel, and State Information Search, which allows consumers to learn what advanced vehicles, alternative fuels, efficient and renewable energy laws, and Clean Cities coalitions are in a particular state.
Since 1993, the Energy Department’s Clean Cities program has supported community-led efforts to help fleets and consumers find the alternative fuel or fuel-efficient solutions that meet their needs. Clean Cities’ nearly 100 local coalitions across the country work to reduce petroleum consumption, limit pollution, and save money. 20 Clean Cities coalitions are house by regional councils and NARC is currently working with several coalitions on an aggregated procurement initiative for alternative fuel vehicles – Fleets for the Future.
Written by: Taylor Markwith