This is an excerpt from EERE Network News, a weekly electronic newsletter.

November 28, 2012

Energy Department, NREL Launch Alternative Transportation Web Tools

The Energy Department and its National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) recently launched a new tool to help fleet managers choose from a wide variety of alternative fuels and energy efficiency strategies for reducing petroleum use, vehicle emissions, and operating costs. The Petroleum Reduction Planning Tool is an interactive Web application that allows fleet managers to evaluate the benefits associated with five alternative fuels—biodiesel, electricity, ethanol, natural gas, and propane—along with a variety of efficiency measures, such as idle reduction and fuel economy improvements. The tool is part of the redesigned Alternative Fuels Data Center, recognized as the go-to source for sustainable transportation decision makers. See the Alternative Fuels Data Center website.

Users of the Petroleum Reduction Planning Tool can also explore options for fleet improvements by creating "what-if" scenarios based on solid data. Once a user or fleet manager establishes a set of measurable objectives to meet desired goals, the user can save the plan, make adjustments as needed, or continue to investigate different scenarios. Easy-to-read charts and tables display annual reductions in emissions, petroleum use, and fuel costs. Additionally, each section of the tool links to educational resources that provide background information about each efficiency strategy and alternative fuel. See the NREL press release.