National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Sustainable NREL

Transportation

Sustainable NREL's transportation strategy focuses on the laboratory's fleet and supporting sustainable alternative modes of commuting for employees.

Laboratory Fleet

In FY 2007, NREL achieved 28% reduction of petroleum products; and increased alternative fuel use by 26%. This significantly exceeds the federal government's goal Executive Order 13423, which is to:

1. Reduce fleet petroleum consumption by 2% annually through the end of FY 2015 or 20% by the end of FY 2015 relative to the FY 2005 baseline.

2. Increase fleet alternative fuel consumption by 10% annually.

Alternative-fuel Vehicles

NREL exceeded the federal government's goal by acquiring alternative-fuel vehicles and using alternative fuel in these vehicles. Of NREL's 47 fleet vehicles, 35 or about 75% use alternative fuels. The result was a significant decrease in NREL's fleet petroleum use to 5,581 gallons in FY 2007 for a 28% reduction.

Biobased Fuel Use

Since 1997, NREL has made a major commitment to using bio-based fuels in its fleet. Fifty-five percent, or 26 vehicles of the 47 fleet vehicles, are fueled by E85 (85% ethanol). The fleet used 12,494 gallons of E85 in FY 2007 which is more than 88% of the total fleet usage of 14,187 gasoline gallon equivalents (GGE) of fuel. This increase in alternative fuel use represents an increase of 26% over the previous year. NREL is also actively exploring the use of biodiesel. NREL is piloting B20 (20% biodiesel) fuel use in several of its large, diesel-powered vehicles.

Alternative Modes of Commuting

NREL supports alternative modes of commuting to work and alternatives to air travel. These activities are key to achieving sustainability in transportation:

• A free EcoPass for NREL employees in Colorado allows us to use the Regional Transportation District bus system free of charge.

• Alternative-fuel shuttle vehicles reduce vehicle miles traveled between buildings on NREL's Golden, Colorado campus.

• An alternative work schedule policy reduces vehicle miles traveled by allowing employees to work varying schedules, including four-day workweeks.

• Video conferencing reduces the need for air travel between NREL offices in Golden, Colorado, and Washington, D.C. In FY 2007, the need for 121 domestic air flights totaling 336,300 air miles was eliminated.

NREL also works with The Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG) to provide opportunities for employees to carpool as well to participate in DRCOG's Annual Bike to Work Day event — a statewide campaign promoting bike riding as a viable commuting option.