[Article] Luas 'eco calculator' launched

[Colm Moore]

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2010/1103/breaking63.htmlLuas 'eco calculator' launched

A new online tool will allow Dublin residents to calculate the carbon emissions saving they will make by using the Luas instead of taking the car.

Minister of State for Transport Ciarán Cuffe launched the Luas Eco Calculator at the tram terminus on St Stephen’s Green today.

The tool measures the CO2 performance of the Luas light rail system.

It calculates for each single tram stop to another the CO2 released by the tram and also and the emissions that would be released if passengers did the same trip by car.

The Railway Procurement Agency and Veolia Transport said the tool would “inform people on the sustainability of Luas as a travel option and its role in the solution to challenges raised in the transport area by climate change”.

Some 3,500 people have visited the online tool so far.

[Colm Moore]

Calculator: http://www.luas.ie/be-green-with-luas/

http://www.rpa.ie/en/news/Pages/LaunchofNewLuasEcoCalculator.aspxHome > English > News > Launch of New Luas Eco Calculator

Launch of New Luas Eco Calculator

Transport Minister of State Ciaran Cuffe T.D. launched today (3rd November 2010) the new Luas Eco Calculator at the Luas Terminus in Saint Stephen’s Green.

The Luas Eco Calculator Tool measures the CO2 performance of the Luas light rail system.

It calculates for each single Luas stop to another the CO2 released by Luas and the CO2 that would be released if passengers did the same trip by private car.

It is really simple and customer friendly, passengers just need to enter their departure and arrival Luas stops to have information about the CO2 they release by riding Luas versus driving a car. In only one click you will have increased awareness on CO2 emissions related to transport.

This calculator is modelled on the Eco Efficient Travel Indicator conceived by Veolia Transport.

RPA and Veolia wish to use it to inform people on the sustainability of Luas as a travel option and its role in the solution to challenges raised in the transport area by climate change.

Already 3,500 people have made the click to see what they are contributing to protecting the environment by opting for Luas http://www.luas.ie/be-green-with-luas/


http://www.luas.ie/detailed-information.html
Home | Luas and You | Measure the carbon footprint of your journey | Luas Eco Calculator - Detail Info
Luas Eco Calculator - Detail Info
Background

Sustainability is a key driver of Irish government strategy with environmental and sustainable development objectives set out clearly in a number of strategy documents, such as the National Climate Change Strategy 2007-2012, ‘Making Ireland’s Development Sustainable’ and the European Union Sustainable Development Strategy.

Over the past 20 years there has been a growing global realisation that we as a civilisation are living beyond our means. From loss of biodiversity (felling rainforests to over fishing), to the negative effects our consumption patterns are having on the environment and climate, our way of life is placing an increasing burden on the planet

To this end, it is clear that there is a global need to become more sustainable. This means maximising the environmental, social and economic benefits of our activities, while minimising the negative impacts, as far as possible. Luas offers a sustainable transport option for the City of Dublin.

At Veolia, we recognise the importance of making sustainability central to the way we live and work. We have developed a Luas Eco Calculator which allows Luas passengers to calculate the carbon footprint associated with their Luas journey and compare it with the same trip made by car.

Reduce your CO2 emissions, help combat climate change, choose Luas - the sustainable choice!


How does it work?

The Luas Eco-Calculator Tool has been developed from the Veolia Transport Group Eco-Efficient Travel Assessment Methodology. This methodology is independently audited every year by Ernst & Young. We have assumed that a passenger travelling with Luas could travel by car as an alternative and we estimated the CO2 emissions for both transport options.


1. Data Sources
Data Unit Origin
Luas average occupancy 65.1 Passengers RPA / Veolia Transport
Emission factor for Irish
electricity generation 534 CO2 g/kwh Department of Transport, Common Appraisal Framework (CAF)
Emission factor for Luas 44.9 CO2 g/passenger km RPA / Veolia Transport
Emission factor for car* 246.38 g/km Department of Transport, Common Appraisal Framework (CAF)/ RPA / Veolia Transport

*The emission factor for car is taken from the Department of Transport’s Common Appraisal Framework (CAF). The emission factor has been adjusted to reflect well-to-wheel (WTW) emissions, i.e. inclusive of emissions associated with the upstream processes of refinery, extraction, transportation etc. An average urban highway speed of 20kph has been assumed.


2. Distance between Stops – particular cases

Distances between Connolly and the Docklands Stops are calculated as if the passenger was travelling from Connolly to Busáras and then from Busáras to the Docklands Luas Stop selected.

Distances for journeys between both Luas Lines are calculated as if the passenger was interchanging between the two lines at Abbey Street and at St. Stephen's Green Stops. There is 1.4km between these two Stops, and it has been assumed that Luas passengers either walk or use the dublinbikes scheme to make this journey. This distance is not taken into account in comparing the environmental performance of Luas to car.


3. CO2 emissions per Luas passenger

CO2 from Luas = ((emission factor for electricity generation × annual kwh consumed by Luas)/annual Luas passenger kilometres)) × journey length by Luas


4. CO2 emissions per Car Driver

CO2 from cars = emission factor for average car × journey length by car