Online Calculators and Calculation Methodologies AIR / ENERGY Sample Environmental Metrics for CARE Projects Healthy homes / Indoor air Home indoor environment evaluations (# of homes) Lead hazards reduced (# of homes) # of homes tested for radon/# that tested positive # of homes with radon reducing features as a result of project work (specify existing vs. new builds if known) Energy Clean energy produced/ purchased (what kind/how much) Energy savings (what kind/how much) Energy / Outdoor air Diesel retrofits (either # and type of vehicle or estimated reductions) Idling reductions (either type of vehicle and time reduced or estimated reductions) Emissions avoided from autobody shops Air Quality Calculators The Office of Air and Radiation maintains a list of online calculators available on their website. This page has links to calculators for pollution prevention at small businesses (including autobody shops, dry cleaners, electroplating, lodging, metal operations, and painting and coating operations), lawnmower and gas can exchange programs, as well as more advanced air quality models. http://www.epa.gov/air/community/calculators.html http://www.epa.gov/dfe/pubs/projects/auto/ Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Emissions Calculator The Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Emissions Calculator compares the anticipated carbon dioxide (CO 2), sulfur dioxide (SO 2), and nitrogen oxide (NO x) emissions from a CHP system to those of a separate heat and power system. The calculator also presents estimated emissions reductions as metric tons of carbon equivalent, acres of trees planted, and emissions from cars, as shown below. http://www.epa.gov/chp/basic/calculator.html www.epa.gov/care 1
Diesel Emissions Quantifier The Diesel Emissions Quantifier can help track reductions in NOx, PM, HC, CO and CO2 due to technology improvements or fuel changes in diesel engines. To use this calculator, the user must be able to input the approximate number and types of vehicles affected, the volume and type of fuel used, the vehicle miles traveled, and the idling hours. The quantifier can be found at http://cfpub.epa.gov/quantifier/view/index.cfm. Anti-Idling Calculator Clean School Bus USA has an online tool that can calculate fuel savings for a given number of school buses and minutes of idling avoided. http://www.epa.gov/oms/schoolbus/idle_fuel_calc.htm Carbon Dioxide Emissions There are a number of websites that can calculate household or business CO 2 emissions. The EPA website hosts an emissions calculator at http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/ind_calculator.html Smartway Savings Calculator This calculator helps truck owners compare costs and estimate the fuel savings associated with various efficiency technologies. http://www.epa.gov/smartway/calculator/loancalc.htm Best Workplaces for Commuters calculator This calculator helps employers estimate the financial, environmental, and traffic benefits of joining the Best Workplaces for Commuters program. http://www.bestworkplaces.org/calculat/calc508.html PM Calculator This EPA calculator can estimate PM emissions reductions for point-source control technologies. http://www.epa.gov/ttn/chief/software/pmcalc/ Lawnmower and Gas Can Exchange Program Calculators http://www.epa.gov/air/community/mowerexchange_calculator.html http://www.epa.gov/air/community/gascan_calculator.html CLIMATE / GREENHOUSE GAS / CARBON EPA Greenhouse Gas Calculator This calculator converts greenhouse gas-related savings estimates, typically presented in "million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents," into familiar terms such as the greenhouse gas emissions that would result from: Driving a particular number of cars for a year, Using a particular amount of gasoline or barrels of oil, www.epa.gov/care 2
Using a particular number of tanker trucks' worth of gasoline, Providing energy to a particular number of homes for a year, Growing trees across a particular number of acres for a year, Recycling a particular quantity of waste instead of sending it to the landfill, or Generating electricity from a particular number of coal fired power plants for a year. Users can enter savings in emissions, electricity consumption, gallons of gasoline, or number of vehicles into the calculator and determine up to 13 different ways to express the magnitude of the savings. The calculator uses the latest emission factors, approaches and statistics available through 2007. As an example, if a typical household switched all its incandescent light bulbs to Energy Star qualified compact fluorescent light bulbs, it would save about 75 percent of the lighting electricity use, or about 1,463 kwh a year. After five years, these energy savings are equivalent to: Saving about 10,289 pounds of CO2 emissions, Conserving 530 gallons of gasoline, Saving 11 barrels of oil, Planting 120 tree seedlings, or Recycling 1.6 tons of waste. Information on the calculator: http://www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/energyresources/calculator.html Environmental Benefits of Planting Trees 2006 Level II grantee Sonora Environmental Research Institute (SERI) has developed a way to measure the environmental benefits of planting trees. Project Officer Periann Wood (wood.periann@epa.gov) can help answer your questions about how this formula was developed. Estimated Annual Benefits For Residential Tree Opposite The West-Facing Wall for 260 trees Amount per tree Total Units Electricity savings 167 43,420 kwh Natural gas savings 2 520 kbtu Carbon dioxide 198 51,480 lb Ozone 0.17 44.2 lb NO2 0.31 80.60 lb SO2 0.2 52 lb PM10 0.36 93.6 lb www.epa.gov/care 3
VOCs 0.03 7.8 lb BVOCs* -1-260 lb Total lbs 95,438 Reference: Desert Southwest Community Tree Guide: "Benefits, Costs and Strategic Planning", McPherson, Simpson, Peper, Maco, Xiao and Mulrean, July 2004 *BVOCs- biogenic volatile organic compounds Benefits were calculated with numerical models and input data from both regional (e.g., pollutant emission factors for avoided emissions due to energy savings) and local sources (e.g., Phoenix climate data for energy effects). Regional electricity and natural gas prices were used in this study to quantify energy savings. WATER Sample Environmental Metrics for CARE Projects Water Point-source toxics reductions (what/how much) Non-point source toxics reductions (what/how much) Point-source nutrient reductions (what/how much) Non-point-source nutrient reductions (what/how much) Source water protection activities (what/how much) Reduced water usage (how much) Improvements to drinking water quality (what/how much) Other improvements to water quality (what/how much) GreenValues Stormwater Calculator This calculator can help quantify reductions in stormwater discharge for landscape interventions such as native plant landscaping, green roofs, and increased tree cover. http://greenvalues.cnt.org/calculator Volunteer Estuary Monitoring: A Methods Manual - Methods for volunteer monitoring of estuarine waters. http://www.epa.gov/owow/estuaries/monitor/ Volunteer Lake Monitoring: A Methods Manual - Methods for volunteer monitoring of lakes. http://www.epa.gov/volunteer/lake/lakevolman.pdf Volunteer Stream Monitoring: A Methods Manual - Methods for volunteer monitoring of streams. http://www.epa.gov/owow/monitoring/volunteer/stream/ www.epa.gov/care 4
Volunteer Wetland Monitoring: An Introduction and Resource Guide This resource guide describes a selection of handbooks and manuals that offer detailed information on volunteer wetland monitoring. http://www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/monitor/volmonitor.pdf Erosion Control Calculator The Excel Erosion Control Calculator is designed to help landscaping and construction companies estimate the cost of using environmentally beneficial compost filter berms or compost filter socks for erosion control, rather than conventional silt fences. The Cost Calculator demonstrates that environmentally preferable erosion control methods are very cost competitive for all project sizes and durations, and that they offer significant savings for projects that run for more than a few months. Sub-Surface Drip Irrigation Cost Calculator The Sub-Surface Drip Irrigation Cost Calculator compares the cost of landscaping irrigation with a water-saving sub-surface drip irrigation system to the cost of irrigation with a conventional sprinkler system. To use the calculator, simply answer a few questions about your local climate, the irrigation area, and your water bill. The calculator will display estimates of high and low costs for sub-surface drip and conventional sprinkler irrigation, facilitating a comparison of initial, annual, and life span costs. In addition, you have the option of inputting your own cost information if you have it. The calculator demonstrates that environmentally preferable sub-surface drip irrigation methods are very cost competitive compared with conventional sprinkler methods. WASTE Sample Environmental Metrics for CARE Projects Solid Waste Disposal improvement by type of waste (what/how much) Recycling amounts (lbs or tons a year) Waste minimization by type of waste (either hazardous or solid) Waste Reduction Model (WARM) Calculator This calculator estimates the greenhouse gas emissions reductions and energy savings from several different waste management practices. http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/wycd/waste/calculators/warm_form.html National Recycling Coalition Environmental Benefits Calculator www.epa.gov/care 5
The NRC Environmental Benefits Calculator helps determines the GHG and energy benefits of current waste disposal practices. Users enter data on the amount of various waste materials they landfill, recycle, and incinerate, and the tool calculates how that waste disposal scenario compares with one in which all waste is land filled. The tool reports the benefits in terms of GHGs and other air emissions, energy use, quantity of oil and gas consumed waterborne wastes, and other metrics. Results are also displayed according to economic sector and life-cycle stage, and automatically-generated charts and graphs provide an illustrated view of the results. This versatile tool can be used by businesses, universities, and government agencies, and may be useful in demonstrating the benefits of recycling programs. http://www.nrcrecycle.org/theconversionator/shell.html Recycling and Reusing Landscape Waste Cost Calculator: This Cost Calculator is designed to help landscaping companies and landscape managers estimate the cost savings associated with recycling and reusing hardscapes and green waste. Green waste includes yard trimmings, leaves, plants, grass and other organic waste. The specific hardscape materials addressed in this tool include: lumber, brick, and concrete and asphalt. The Cost Calculator demonstrates that recycling and reusing hardscapes and landscape waste can offer significant savings compared to disposal, depending on a facility's material needs and proximity to recycling facilities. Resource Conserving Landscaping Cost Calculator The Excel Resource Conserving Landscaping Cost Calculator compares the cost of converting conventional landscapes to landscapes that require less irrigation and produce less waste by replacing trees, turf, shrubs, and flowers that require more irrigation and grow faster with varieties that require less irrigation and grow slower. To use the calculator, you will need to fill out a short questionnaire about your current landscape and the planned retrofit. The calculator will return all the initial and annual costs associated with both the current landscape and the planned retrofit. In addition, you have the option of inputting your own cost information if you have it. The calculator demonstrates that converting to a water saving landscape is often cost competitive due to savings on water bills and landscaping maintenance, and provides many environmental benefits. Decking Cost Calculator The Excel Decking Cost Calculator compares the cost of building a new deck with environmentally preferable recycled plastic and recycled wood/plastic composite lumber with the cost of building a conventional virgin wood deck. Simply enter the square footage of the deck you are planning to build and the calculator will display high and low estimates for all of the initial, annual and life span costs of the four most common decking materials. In addition, you have the option of inputting your own cost information if you have it. The calculator demonstrates that environmentally preferable decking options are very cost competitive for all project sizes. www.epa.gov/care 6
Durable Goods Calculator EPA created the Durable Goods Calculator (DGC) to help companies and individuals understand the greenhouse gas (GHG) emission implications of various disposal methods for durable goods. GHG emission and energy estimates provided by the Durable Goods Calculator are intended to support voluntary GHG measurement and reporting initiatives as well as provide information regarding the GHG emission implications of waste management decisions. The Calculator estimates GHG emissions benefits in MTCE and energy savings in MMBtu for recycling, land filling and combustion of 14 typical durable goods. http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/wycd/waste/calculators/dgc_home.html Pallets Cost Calculator The Pallets Cost Calculator compares the cost of using environmentally preferable pallets made from recycled wood and recycled plastic with the cost of using conventional pallets manufactured from virgin wood. Simply enter the number of the pallets in your fleet and the trips per pallet per year. The calculator will return all of the relevant costs associated with pallet use over time. In addition, you have the option of inputting your own cost information if you have it. The calculator demonstrates that recycled pallets are extremely cost competitive over time due to savings in replacement and disposal, and provide many environmental benefits. NERC Environmental Benefits Calculator The Northeast Recycling Council's (NERC) Environmental Benefits Calculator is a free tool for states, counties, municipalities, schools, businesses, and institutions to measure the environmental benefits from their recycling efforts. NERC s Calculator measures these benefits in terms of savings in air emissions, energy use, quantity of oil and gas consumed, cars off the road, household energy use, waterborne pollutants and other metrics. In addition, NERC s Calculator measures the energy savings from reusing or recycling computers. NERC also provides Fact Sheets to use with the calculator results for marketing and outreach purposes. http://www.nerc.org/topic_areas/environmental_benefits_calculator.html Recycled Content (ReCon) Tool The ReCon Tool calculates GHG emissions and energy consumption related to purchasing and/or manufacturing activities using analyses of baseline and alternative recycled-content scenarios. For example, the tool will allow the user to estimate the GHG emissions and energy benefits of purchasing office paper with 35 percent recycled content instead of 25 percent recycled content. Emissions and energy impacts are calculated using a life-cycle perspective (i.e., what impacts will this purchasing or manufacturing decision have on emissions and energy use associated with the manufacture and disposal of a given material). http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/wycd/waste/calculators/recon_online.html PESTICIDES AND TOXICS / CROSS-CUTTING Sample Environmental Metrics for CARE Projects www.epa.gov/care 7
Schools Tools for Schools implementation (# of schools/ # of students) IPM work (what/how much/# of schools/ # of students) Toxic chemicals reduced (what/how much/# of schools/ # of students) Pollution Prevention Pharmaceuticals collected and disposed of (what/how much) Mercury reductions (what/how much) Green cleaner utilized Number of agricultural acres treated with reduced-risk pesticides Green Cleaning Calculator The Green Cleaning Pollution Prevention Calculator calculates the projected environmental benefits of purchasing and using "green" janitorial services and products. http://www.ofee.gov/janitor/index.asp Integrated Pest Management for Schools A How-to Manual contains basic information about IPM in schools, details on developing an IPM Program, and IPM strategies for managing common pests in schools. Chapter 2: Monitoring (30K PDF) provides information on tracking/monitoring http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/ipm/schoolipm/index.html Working with Facilities EPA Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance has models for calculating pollution reductions in specific scenarios related to enforcement and compliance. The model examples covered include: Water CWA/NPDES Stormwater Violation for CAFO Stormwater CSO SDWA Pollutant Reduction SDWA Microbial Violation Air NOx Reduction at a Petroleum Refinery under PSD/NSR SO2 and HAP Reduction at a Pulp and Paper Mill under MACT Leak Detection and Repair Asbestos NESHAP Solid/Hazardous Waste Corrective Action RCRA UST www.epa.gov/care 8
Used Oil Management The models can be downloaded in PDF form at: www.epa.gov/compliance/resources/publications/data/tools/ccds.pdf www.epa.gov/care 9