Together, the top 50 U.S. cities could save 100 million tonnes of CO2 emissions every year.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 27, 2020
(Chicago, IL) The Shared-Use Mobility Center’s Shared Mobility Benefits Calculator has been updated to include electrification and telecommuting. These additions allow users to measure CO2 emissions savings using the widest variety of modes and determine what modal mix is needed to meet emission-reduction goals—in over 300 U.S. cities.
“This is crucial as transportation is the number one cause of climate change in the United States and studies show that traffic has returned to 90% of pre-pandemic levels”, stated SUMC Executive Director Sharon Feigon, “we cannot lose sight of the greater crisis we face.”
These additional features join a range of options users can choose from to quantify the amount of climate change-inducing CO2 reductions in tonnes per year, as well as the decrease in overall Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMTs). Users select their approach, reduction goal, and desired mode or modes to get a benefits report that also includes energy and household emissions and a breakdown of modal use.
“Cities need a baseline to work from when planning how to meet emission-reduction goals, said Al Benedict, Research Manager at SUMC who heads the organization’s Mobility On Demand (MOD) Learning Center. “Now local governments can get solid data on what results may be achieved by every option out there—and what may be right for them.”
The Shared Mobility Benefits Calculator was created by the Shared-Use Mobility Center with financial support from the Hewlett Foundation and the McKnight Foundation. It is available for all to use at https://learn.sharedusemobilitycenter.org/benefitcalculator/
MEDIA CONTACT: Leslie Gray
TECHNICAL CONTACT: Albert Benedict
Shared-Use Mobility Center
(312) 448-8083 Ext. 403
[email protected]
