Energy Analysis and Sustainability

Volpe’s Energy Analysis and Sustainability Division evaluates the technical feasibility, environmental sustainability, and safety of advanced vehicle and fuel technologies from a multimodal, system-wide perspective.

We work with transportation leaders to guide policies and regulations that reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions.

Our team specializes in three key areas of expertise:

• Technology evaluation: Researching and evaluating advanced vehicle and fuel technologies with a focus on technical feasibility, environmental sustainability, safety, efficient integration, social benefits, and costs.
• Policy development and implementation: Providing assistance to leaders to help them develop and implement national policies and regulations that promote reductions in transportation energy use and greenhouse gas emissions.
• Safety and sustainability:  Evaluating the risks and benefits of technologies and policies designed to promote environmental sustainability, while maintaining or enhancing transportation system safety.

Capabilities

• Regulatory analysis
• Cost-benefit analysis
• Alternative fuel assessment
• Measurement and modeling
• Risk assessment
• Policy development and implementation support
• Sustainability system application and development (e.g., green rating systems, high performance sustainable building practices)
• Greenhouse gas accounting and reduction system development
• Refined building energy modeling (e.g., DOE’s EnergyPlus)

Sample work

Alternative fuels:

• Led research for the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative (CAAFI).
• Assisted FAA in developing a fuel readiness evaluation tool for new, alternative jet fuel.
• Evaluated the feasibility of transporting alternative jet fuels over the current transportation network.
• Developed a national model for evaluating alternative fuel transport patterns, costs, and impacts.
• Provided research and insight to the DOT Deputy Secretary for the Department’s intermodal alternative fuel road-mapping efforts.

Sustainability:

• Assisted transportation facility operators in making their buildings and operations carbon neutral.
• Helped FAA develop a requirement to implement sustainable buildings for airport and air traffic facilities.
• Partnered with MassDOT on the Carbon Neutral Airport Pilot Program.

Technology and safety: 

• Assisted in developing regulations requiring truck manufacturers to reduce energy use.
• Aided National Park Service in evaluating and procuring advanced technology vehicles for passenger transport and park maintenance.
• Administered pilot tests of alternative fuel vehicles.
• Helped FAA author new regulations for pilot work hours.

Staff

View selected staff biographies.