Quantifying Energy Savings and Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Reductions
The following resources provide information and tools for quantifying GHG emission reductions from selected GHG reduction measures.
On this page:
Multi-Sector Analyses
EPA Energy Savings and Impacts Scenario Tool (ESIST)
ESIST is a customizable and transparent Excel-based planning tool for analyzing the energy savings and costs from customer-funded energy efficiency programs and their impacts on emissions, public health, and equity. ESIST enables users to develop, explore, and share energy efficiency scenarios between 2010 and 2040. ESIST focuses primarily on energy efficiency savings in the electricity sector. The ESIST: Pilot Gas Version is focused on natural gas savings from energy efficiency or other gas-saving measures in the residential and commercial sectors.
EPA GLIMPSE
GLIMPSE is a decision support modeling tool being developed by EPA that will assist states with energy and environmental planning through the year 2050. Users of GLIMPSE can explore the impacts of energy technologies and policies on the environment. GLIMPSE can assist in developing and analyzing a wide range of mitigation options, including renewable electricity, vehicle electrification, and energy efficiency. GHG and air pollutant emission reduction targets can also be specified, and GLIMPSE can help identify cost-effective strategies for achieving those targets.
EPA AVoided Emissions and geneRation Tool (AVERT)
AVERT evaluates how energy policies and programs such as energy efficiency (EE) and renewable energy (RE) lead to changes in emissions of particulate matter (PM2.5), nitrogen oxides (NOX), sulfur dioxide (SO2), carbon dioxide (CO2), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and ammonia (NH3) from electric power plants at a county, state, or regional level.
EPA Guidebook for Energy Efficiency Evaluation, Measurement and Verification
EPA’s Guidebook for Energy Efficiency Evaluation, Measurement and Verification (EM&V Guidebook) is intended to help state, local, and tribal air and energy officials—as well as key stakeholders such as utility energy efficiency implementers—learn about, establish, and refine their EM&V methods. The guidebook provides basic information, defines terms, and identifies applicable practices for key EM&V topics and methods. The practices described in the EM&V Guidebook provide air and energy officials with a credible basis for determining whether energy efficiency activities are achieving intended levels of energy savings and emissions reductions. The EM&V Guidebook can also help air officials understand the basics of EM&V and engage in discussions with their counterparts in energy agencies.
National Renewable Energy Laboratory State and Local Planning for Energy (SLOPE)
The SLOPE Data Viewer is designed to deliver modeled energy data resolved at state and local jurisdictional levels. Users can explore energy data potential and projections to better understand opportunities and options in energy planning. Population and building area data provide metrics to enable quantifiable goal setting.
Users can prioritize actions using SLOPE's localized data in the following areas:
- Energy Efficiency
- Renewable Energy
- Sustainable Transportation
Non-CO2 Greenhouse Gas Emission Projections & Mitigation Report and Mitigation Assessment Model
The Non-CO2 Greenhouse Gas Emission Projections & Mitigation Report and Mitigation Assessment Model is a technical report series that provides projected estimates of emissions and technical and economic mitigation estimates of non-CO2 GHGs from anthropogenic sources for all 50 states in the U.S.
Transportation Sector
Travel Efficiency Assessment Method
EPA’s Travel Efficiency Assessment Method (TEAM) uses transportation sketch modeling, readily available travel activity data sets, and EPA’s MOVES emissions model to estimate the potential future GHG and criteria air pollutant emission reductions from combinations of travel efficiency strategies, including:
- employer-based transportation management programs,
- transit improvements,
- transportation pricing,
- land use changes, and
- bicycle and pedestrian programs.
EPA’s TEAM User Guide provides a step-by-step guide for using TEAM to assess the potential of on-road travel efficiency strategies to change travel behavior and reduce criteria pollutant and greenhouse gas emissions. This document is intended for use by state, tribal, and local agencies, non-governmental organizations, and other interested in reducing transportation-related emissions. This document explores the process of selecting strategies of interest, estimating changes in vehicle miles traveled (VMT) using a sketch planning tool and off-model tools, and estimating the emissions benefits using EPA’s MOVES model. See EPA’s Travel Efficiency website for additional information on TEAM, supporting materials, and several case studies across the United States.
Green Vehicle Guide and Automotive Trends Report
EPA’s Green Vehicle Guide website contains resources and information on vehicles that are more efficient and less polluting, including the Greenhouse Gas Emissions from a Typical Passenger Vehicle page, which includes information about how to calculate CO2 emissions from a passenger vehicle. Another useful resource is the Automotive Trends Report that provides the public with information about new light-duty vehicle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, fuel economy, technology data, and auto manufacturers' performance in meeting the agency’s GHG emissions standards.
Diesel Emission Quantifier
EPA’s Diesel Emission Quantifier (DEQ) provides an interactive, web-based tool for users with little or no modeling experience to evaluate clean diesel projects and upgrade options for medium-heavy and heavy-heavy duty diesel engines. The DEQ provides estimates of the baseline emissions, reduced emissions, cost effectiveness for NOx, PM2.5, HC, CO and CO2, and PM-related health benefits.
National Port Strategy Assessment
EPA’s National Port Strategy Assessment examines current and future emissions in port areas; explores available strategies to reduce GHG, criteria air pollutant, and air toxic emissions from port-related trucks, locomotives, cargo handling equipment, harbor craft, and ocean-going vessels port-related vehicles; and provides an assessment tool for state and local governments, ports and port operators, Tribes, communities, and other stakeholders.
Shore Power Technology Assessment at U.S. Ports
EPA’s Shore Power Technology Assessment at U.S. Ports website contains the Shore Power Technology Assessment at U.S. Ports - 2022 Update (pdf) (1,790 KB), an assessment of the technical and operational aspects of shore power systems in the U.S., and the Shore Power Emissions Calculator, a spreadsheet-based tool that can calculate emissions of GHG and criteria air pollutants based on vessel and fuel inputs, and the regional electricity grid mix.
Port Emissions Inventory Guidance
EPA’s Port Emissions Inventory Guidance provides methodologies for developing port-related and goods movement emissions inventories of GHG emissions, criteria air pollutants, mobile source air toxics, and energy consumption. This document describes the latest, state of the science methods for preparing an emissions inventory for the various sources of emissions at a port or other goods movement facility, including ocean-going vessels, harbor craft, recreational marine vehicles, cargo handling equipment, onroad vehicles, and rail. These methods can be used to quantify GHG emission reductions for certain types of transportation GHG reduction measures by, for example, estimating port sector inventories with and without a measure and comparing the results.
Guidance for Estimating Emission Benefits of Replacing Diesel Vehicles and Engines with Electric Versions
This document provides guidance on quantifying and using emission reductions from highway and nonroad diesel vehicles, engines, and equipment that have been retrofitted or replaced with zero-emissions technologies.
The latest version of this guidance can be found at: https://www.epa.gov/state-and-local-transportation/policy-and-technical-guidance-state-and-local-transportation#quantifying.
MOVES
EPA’s MOtor Vehicle Emission Simulator (MOVES) is a state-of-the-science emission modeling system that can be used to estimate current and future GHG and other emissions for mobile sources at the national, county, and project level. MOVES can also estimate energy consumption. MOVES estimates emissions from the transportation sector for onroad mobile sources (i.e., onroad vehicles such as cars, trucks, and buses) and from most nonroad emissions sources as well (with the exceptions of locomotives, marine vessels, and aircraft). MOVES can be used to quantify GHG emission reductions for certain types of transportation GHG reduction measures by, for example, running MOVES with and without the measure and comparing modeling results. MOVES is the foundation for other quantification methods on this page, such as the Travel Efficiency Assessment Method, the Diesel Emissions Quantifier, and the guidance for estimating emission benefits of replacing diesel vehicles and engines with zero-emissions technologies.
- EPA’s MOVES website – download MOVES and find documentation
- EPA’s guidance for using MOVES to estimate state and local inventories of GHG emissions (pdf) (912 KB)
- EPA’s in-depth technical guidance for using MOVES
- EPA’s MOVES training resources
Fuel Economy
www.fueleconomy.gov, a jointly managed DOE/EPA website, provides fuel economy estimates, energy and environmental impact ratings, fuel-savings tips, and other useful information, including:
- MPG ratings for passenger cars, light duty trucks, and SUVs from 1984 to the present
- EPA smog and greenhouse gas ratings
- Links to fuel prices and safety ratings
- Tax incentives for plug-in electric and alternative fuel vehicles
- Calculators and other tools, including the Fuel Savings Calculator, GHG Emissions Calculator, and My Plug-in Hybrid Calculator
Information available at this site can help quantify GHG emission reductions from electric and other alternative fuel vehicles.
Agriculture Sector
Agriculture and Land Use National Greenhouse Gas Inventory Software (ALU): Tool that guides a user through the process of estimating GHG emissions and removals related to agricultural and forestry activities following the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) guidance and includes mitigation module allowing users to quantify potential emissions impacts of changing agriculture and land use practices.