EMISSION AND EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENTS FOR DUKE UNIVERSITY’S TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM
Abstract
In the United States, the transportation sector accounts for approximately 1/3 of
energy consumption and 1/3 of total CO2 emissions. In fiscal year 2017, the Duke
University GHG footprint was 258,582 metric tons of CO2e, 27% from transportation-related
sources, 52% of these further originating from employee commuting. In support of
its Climate Action Plan, the university set a goal to reduce the employee single occupancy
vehicle (SOV) commute rate from the 2013 baseline of 73% to a rate of 68% in 2018,
but increased headcount and average employee commute distance have made attaining
this goal difficult. The goal of this project was to consider underlying factors
influencing commuter mode choice, to identify hurdles to adoption of alternative modes
of transit, and to develop recommendations for innovative solutions for helping to
reach the university’s climate goals. This analysis first assessed the current employee
commuting behavior and metrics used to quantify GHG impact. In doing so, it also
considered limitations of our current infrastructure and practices and identified
institutional improvements needed to support effective transportation planning. The
project then considered potential short-term programs for implementation and provided
a sensitivity analysis of the GHG impact, dependent on employee participation in such
programs. Finally, it provided next steps for piloting the recommended programs at
Duke and projections for achieving short and long-term emissions goals.
Type
Master's projectPermalink
https://hdl.handle.net/10161/16534Citation
DeNoia, Michael (2018). EMISSION AND EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENTS FOR DUKE UNIVERSITY’S TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM.
Master's project, Duke University. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/10161/16534.Collections
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