Certification for Sustainable Transportation and Green Coach
Lisa Chase, UVM Extension & Vermont Tourism Data CenterDavid Kestenbaum, UVM Extension & Certification for Sustainable TransportationLaura Anderson, Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources
TRC Brown Bag | August 17, 2012
Sustainable Transportation• Transportation accounts for more than
25% of CO2 emissions in U.S.
• Over 50% of these CO2 emissions come from vehicles driven for personal use
• Focus on mass transit, supply and demand
Source: US EPA 2010
Motorcoach Travel
• Can exceed 300 to 500 passenger mpg and remove 55 to 80 private vehicles from roads per bus, if filled to capacity.
• Carry approximately 750 million passengers per year.
Certifications
TRC Signature Project #3Assess the impacts of a pilot green coach certification program on:1. Behaviors of motorcoach operators,2. Consumer demand for motorcoach
travel.
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 2009-2011
Participating Companies• Academy Coach• Anderson Coach Lines• Archway• Bristol Tours• Brown Coach• Calco Travel• Capital Bus Lines• Coach USA/Megabus• Dattco• Escot• Hammond Transportation
Services• Hampton-Jitney
• Hotard Coaches• Lamoille Valley
Transportation• Paradise Trailways• Peter Pan• Plymouth and Brockton• Premier Coach Lines• Riteway Bus Lines• Royal Celebrity Coach Lines• Time Lines LLC
Research Component2009
(Start of GCC Pilot)2011
(End of GCC Pilot)
Tour operator survey --
Motorcoach operator survey
Motorcoach operator survey
GCC participant survey GCC participant survey
Tour Operator Survey
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Motorcoach Operator Surveys
Nonparticipant Practices
Recycle at HQ
Recycle on Buses
Green Marketing
Environmental Policy
Carbon Footprint
Carbon Offsets
0.00% 100.00%
After GCC Program Before GCC Program
Participant Practices
Recycle at HQIntegrated Environment
Reduce IdlingGreen Marketing
Monitor loadRecycle on Buses
Track MPGCalculate deadhead
Environmental PolicyCarbon Footprint
0.00% 100.00%
After GCC Program Before GCC Program
eRATING.ORG TRC Brown Bag | August 17, 2012