by Irene
I am currently working on calculating CO2 emissions from air travel conducted by students/staff 2009-2010. The most difficult aspect of the task is settling down on a CO2 kg/km emission factor. Even among the UK Universities using the Carbon Trust Management Plan there are varying factors, let alone the large difference between the factor(s) used in UK and those in America. It seems in America the factor is higher because our calculators are accounting for radiative forcing. But Universities here typically accounting for uplift (this takes into account that sometimes flights take an indirect path from Point A to Point B, and also circling and delays) as well as assigning different emissions for short haul versus long haul trips (taking into account that the most fuel is burned for take off and landing).
That settled, I am interested what the data will show. I think for the purposes of the University, at this point, the most important data is figuring out number of miles traveled (long haul and short haul) and then multiplying them by the appropriate GHG emissions factor. But I think in terms of creating an action plan, I think it would also be useful to see when the most trips are taken (which months) and which departments. This is certainly not to point fingers at anyone or any time. But can perhaps lead to opening up more tele-conferencing rooms in those particular months or conducting a finer analysis of the types of trips being taken.
Showing posts with label transportation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label transportation. Show all posts
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Sustainability UK
There are several general tidbits about Cambridge and the UK I've gathered throughout this week that I think are interesting. They don't relate exactly to the University, but here it goes anyway.
Getting Around:
It appears most locals have bicycles in Cambridge. When discussing with folks here who has the right of way, the general consensus is "bicyclists" (who drive like crazy things through these small windy roads). In attempting to join in on the bicycle culture, I will be renting a bicycle from Stationary Cycles. This is an interesting model, in which you put down a deposit, and pay for however long you'd like to have the bike - 1 week, 2, weeks, up to 7 weeks, I believe. I've never seen something like this in the states and find it an interesting way to accommodate visitors. Sure, you can rent a bike for a couple hours at the beach in Santa Monica....but never for weeks at a time at fairly reasonable prices.
Heathrow Airport
David Cameron announced the other day that long standing plans to build a third runway in Heathrow (there are currently only 2, which is rather astonishingly low, considering Heathrow is a sort of gate into Europe and the Middle East) are now canceled in order to cut air travel-related emissions in the UK and to fight a "flying binge." I don't have my own opinion on the matter, but definitely think it's interesting. No airport has ever decided not to expand due to greenhouse gas emission concerns, especially in an economic downturn, which the business sector says will be hurt by this action. Here's the full article: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/02/science/earth/02runway.html?_r=1&hpw
Eurostar
Looking into other modes of transportation, Eurostar, the fast speed rail which one can take from London into Paris, thus traversing the channel, has these friendly words written as it looks up travel times, "Eurostar journeys are now carbon neutral at no extra cost to you." Doing a rather cursory search I didn't find more details, but still, thought it was a rather interesting tid-bit.
Getting Around:
It appears most locals have bicycles in Cambridge. When discussing with folks here who has the right of way, the general consensus is "bicyclists" (who drive like crazy things through these small windy roads). In attempting to join in on the bicycle culture, I will be renting a bicycle from Stationary Cycles. This is an interesting model, in which you put down a deposit, and pay for however long you'd like to have the bike - 1 week, 2, weeks, up to 7 weeks, I believe. I've never seen something like this in the states and find it an interesting way to accommodate visitors. Sure, you can rent a bike for a couple hours at the beach in Santa Monica....but never for weeks at a time at fairly reasonable prices.
Heathrow Airport
David Cameron announced the other day that long standing plans to build a third runway in Heathrow (there are currently only 2, which is rather astonishingly low, considering Heathrow is a sort of gate into Europe and the Middle East) are now canceled in order to cut air travel-related emissions in the UK and to fight a "flying binge." I don't have my own opinion on the matter, but definitely think it's interesting. No airport has ever decided not to expand due to greenhouse gas emission concerns, especially in an economic downturn, which the business sector says will be hurt by this action. Here's the full article: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/02/science/earth/02runway.html?_r=1&hpw
Eurostar
Looking into other modes of transportation, Eurostar, the fast speed rail which one can take from London into Paris, thus traversing the channel, has these friendly words written as it looks up travel times, "Eurostar journeys are now carbon neutral at no extra cost to you." Doing a rather cursory search I didn't find more details, but still, thought it was a rather interesting tid-bit.
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