United States Department of Transportation
i
Commuter behavior and greenhouse gas emissions at the University of Rhode Island.
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2006-05-01
[PDF-1.15 MB]
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Abstract:The purpose of this research was to study commuter habits and to measure commuter greenhouse emissions at the University of Rhode Island (URI) Kingston campus. In April 2006, an online survey was e-mailed to students, faculty, and staff to collect data regarding travel habits. Visual surveys were conducted in student and faculty/staff campus parking lots and on Upper College Road. Results showed that URI student commuters currently drive an estimated 30 million miles per year and consume over one million gallons of gasoline at a total cost of about $3.5 million dollars. All URI commuters (students, faculty and staff) collectively emit over 45 million pounds of carbon dioxide per year, almost 4,000 pounds of CO2 per commuter. Eighty percent of students and 69% of faculty and staff drive cars; the rest drive SUV's, trucks, and vans. Average reported student fuel efficiency was 26.32 miles per gallon, and average faculty/staff fuel efficiency was 26.74 miles per gallon. Observations from URI parking lots showed that 89% of students and 90% of faculty and staff drive alone. Collected data were also entered into the Clean Air-Cool Planet emissions calculator and incorporated into a comprehensive campus greenhouse gas inventory. In addition to presenting URI commuter and emissions data, this study makes some preliminary recommendations for reducing commuter greenhouse emissions (and fuel use) at URI.
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