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