Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory for Chapel Hill Street Lights, Traffic Signals,

and Fleet Vehicles

Caitlin Cox, Bradley Lynn, Eric Maltbie, Shelley Stevens

Street Lights

• Chapel Hill operates over 3000 street lights

Street Lights 2005 2006 2007 2008

Total Lights ? ? 3112 3141

High Pressure Sodium ? ? 2127 68% 2202 70%

Mercury Vapor ? ? 941 30% 903 29%

Unclassified ? ? 44 1% 36 1%

Lights by Wattage

100 W ? ? 1378 44% 1412 45%

150 W ? ? 37 1% 37 1%

175 W ? ? 910 29% 872 28%

250 W ? ? 655 21% 696 22%

400 W ? ? 85 3% 88 3%

There was no street light bulb data for 2005 or 2006 available at the time of this report.

http://wwwcache.wral.com/asset/business/local_tech_wire/wire/2009/04/20/4987382/cree_street_lights-220x146.jpg

Traffic Lights

• Chapel Hill operates traffic signals at only 13 intersections, most of which are downtown

• The remainder of the Chapel Hill signals are operated by the State DOT

http://wwwcache.wral.com/asset/news/local/2007/09/17/1826939/1190074508_light-220x165.jpg

The Town of Chapel Hill’s Green Fleets Policy

• Commitments:

– Energy consumption

– Dependence on foreign oil

– Improve air quality

http://3dplants.0catch.com/Carrara%20Leaf%202.jpg

Chapel Hill’s Fleet

• Chapel Hill’s Fleet consists of departmental vehicles and off-road vehicles.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cb/Ford-Crown-Victoria-police.jpg

Methodology: Lighting Stock

Methodology: Motor Fleet

Results

Overall 4% increase in CO2 emissions for the fleet

Simultaneous increase in fleet by 12%

11% Increase in use of cars that get 25 MPG or more

Increase in 88% in the number of vehicle miles driven with E85 from 2005-2008

2005 2006 2007 2008

1550

1600

1650

1700

1750

1800

Total Fleet CO2

Year

M. T

on

s C

O2

Total CO2 in metric tons released by the fleet of ChapelHill for the years 2005-2008.

• Emissions of each of the 5 largest consuming

departments, in metric tons of CO2.

Police Sanitation Landscape Fire Streets Others

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

CO2 Emissions by Department

2005

2006

2007

2008

Departm ent

M. T

on

s C

O2

Total CO2 Emissions by Department

2005

Police

Sanitation

Landscape

Fire

Streets

Others

• Gallons of fuel consumed by fuel type for 2008

and 2005, including diesel, unleaded, and E85.

Gallons of Fuel by Fuel Type

2005

Diesel

Unleaded

Gallons of Fuel by Fuel Type

2008

Diesel

Unleaded

E85

• Average VMT by department for each of the major departments, and a

category including all of the other departments for 2005-2008, by average

miles.

2005 2006 2007 2008

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

14000

Average VMT by Department

Police

Sanitation

Landscape

Fire

Streets

Others

Year

VM

T

• Overall emissions per VMT by the 5 major

departments for 2005-2008, in metric tons of CO2 released per mile driven

2005 2006 2007 2008

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Emissions per VMT by Department

Police

Sanitation

Landscape

Fire

Streets

Year

kg

CO

2/a

vg

VM

T

Emissions Breakdown per Vehicle

-The average emissions per vehicle was highest for the Sanitation department, with 11.08-12.63 metric tons of CO2

-The lowest emitting department per vehicle was the Police

department, followed by the landscape department.

-The percent change from 2005 to 2008 was highest in the Police

department with a 25% change, followed by the Sanitation

department with an overall 12% change.

VMT per Vehicle

Largest for the streets department with an average VMT of 442.16,

followed closely by the fire department with 461.58 VMT

Fleet Conclusions

Increase in emission from 2005-2008 has a lot do with the increase in fleet size, a 12% increase versus only a 4% increase in CO2 emissions

The total increase in CO2 released from 2005 to 2007 was 136 metric tons CO2, while the total increase from 2006-2007 was only 7 metric tons

The decrease in emissions despite the increase in the number of vehicles from 2007 to 2008 could be because of the increase in vehicles which get 20 or more MPG and those that use E85.

2005 2006 2007 2008

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

Total CO2 Emissions for Street Lights and Traffic Signals

2005-2008

Total eCO2 (tonnes)

Street Lights

Traffic Signals

Year

To

nn

es

CO

2

2005 2006 2007 2008

1300

1320

1340

1360

1380

1400

1420

1440

Total CO2 Emitted by Traffic Signals and Street Lights

2005-2008

Year

To

nn

es

CO

2

Savings of kWh

• street signals that were switched to LED had a 56-

80% savings of kWh

Policy Recomendations

http://gis.esri.com/esripress/shared/images/155/DecisionSupport_cvr_lrg.jpg

LEDs

• May Save 40 – 55% of Street Lighting Energy and Emissions

• Currently under trial on Franklin St

http://www.ci.chapel-hill.nc.us/images/pages/n1/LEDinstallation.jpg

Roundabouts

• Eliminate the need for traffic signals

• Cause vehicles to consume 28% less fuel than traffic signals

• Improve traffic flow and safety

Smart Grids

• Potentially save 40% of street light emissions

Fleet Recommendations

• Biofuel

– Town acquisition

– Can be used in diesel engines without conversion

– Lower emissions

– Minor engine modifications necessary for B100

Fleet Recommendations

• 85% Ethanol

– Town saw CO2 emissions reduction with the use of E85 in its fleet

– Can make ethanol from waste products that contain cellulous

Fleet Recommendations

• Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)

– Methane only considerable greenhouse gas contribution

– Chapel Hill has a few CNG-fueled vehicles

http://images-partners-tbn.google.com/images?q=tbn:1akmmNDBDYQvdM:www.teensthinkgreen.com/images/traffic-sign-cng-un-10_5b1_5d_05.jpg

Fleet Recommendations

• Downsizing

– Police department

– Creative incentives

– Chicago Bike Plan

http://www.metaefficient.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/bike-sharing-program-dc.jpg

Fleet Recommendations

• Electric Vehicles

– Richmond, California

– Standard electric outlets

http://www.softsailor.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/electric-car.jpg

Fleet Recommendations

• Analyze departments for vehicle need

– Remove little-used vehicles

– No-idling policy

– Incentives

– Emissions caps

http://media.canada.com/b17a5268-e809-4db2-a84b-06fc4c00d03e/m1x00058_carbontax.jpg

Fleet Recommendations

• Education and Awareness

– campaigns around Town and at UNC

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1205/705911521_927fd56642.jpg?v=0

http://www.cs.unc.edu/~alok/OldWell.JPG

Fleet Recommendations

• Campaigning

– “Green” or “progressive area”

– Competition between cities

– Asheville, North Carolina

http://www.unc.edu/news/pics/event/exhibit/ChapelHill.jpghttp://www.the2buds.com/pc/nc/NC_0227.jpg

Streamlining Data Analysis

Creating a streamlined system is useful, just as much if not more so than a future projection.

•Notes from data technicians

•Dynamic file type export

•Metadata system

Future Research Recommendations

•Emissions from off-road vehicles

•Refrigerants

•Scope 3 emissions

•Analyze spatial growth of lighting