Allows Business Travellers to Monitor and Adjust their Carbon Footprint
WebExpenses, a leading supplier of web-based expenses management solutions, is today launching a system for tracking the carbon footprint of different types of transport, including cars, buses, trains and planes. The new system enables business travellers to calculate their carbon footprint using up-to-date, government-approved carbon and environmental data.
Unlike other carbon tracking systems currently on the market, the WebExpenses software works in real time, whereas others produce the results only at reporting stage. This means that business travellers can plan their route in advance to minimise their carbon footprint.
The software has been developed in conjunction with AMEE, a US and UK-based company that has built the largest engine for calculating greenhouse gas emissions. AMEE specialises in finding, verifying, and making accessible the best carbon-related data possible including emissions factors and the algorithms for using them.
Users key their travel plan details into the system, and, using built-in assumptions, the software calculates the probable emissions. The results are instantly available, enabling travellers not only to see what their carbon footprint has been as they input their expenses following a trip, but also to amend their proposed travel plans to ensure their carbon footprint is minimised for the future.
"Many people - including governments - want to help conserve our planet but don't know the best way to go about it," said Sanjay Parekh, Managing Director, WebExpenses. "With this new product, business travellers who are conscious of the impact travel has on the environment can take real steps to understand the carbon footprint implications of various modes of transport and of different routes, and are now empowered to reduce the environmental impact of their travel."
The system is available integrated into the WebExpenses expense claim software or as an additional module.
Further details on how the WebExpenses can be found below and more information and screenshots also at the following link:
http://www.webexpenses.com/public_html/webexpenses_carbon_tracking_broch...
Flights
This category allows users to calculate greenhouse gas emissions from aeroplane travel using the latest Defra data and advice. The calculation is based on a given emission factor, dependent on the users drill-down choices, and the distance flown. The distance can be calculated by specifying departure and destination locations. The returned value represents CO2 equivalent emissions (CO2e) attributable to the journey specified, which includes contributions from carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide.
Trains
This category contains data on the per passenger CO2 emissions associated with train travel in the UK. The most recent Defra data and methodology for UK rail transport (inclusive of CO2, CH4 and N2O emissions) is used.
Routing is calculated to be the normally travelled route.
Cars
This category contains data associated with the greenhouse gas emissions of representative car types, e.g. 'small, diesel' or 'large, petrol' cars, sourced from DEFRA, and the VCA in the UK. This category measures CO2 emissions only, and is used by the UK Government Act On CO2 website.
Provenance:
http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/business/reporting/conversion-factor...
Further details on how these emissions are calculated for all categories is available from WebExpenses or from the following website:
http://explorer.amee.com/
About WebExpenses
WebExpenses is a provider of award-winning web-based expenses management solutions. The company's solutions allow for unparalleled flexibility in configuration and ease of use, allowing organisations to quickly reduce
travel and entertainment spending and the costs of processing expense claims.
Customers include a broad range of corporate, public sector and small and mid-sized organisations including BT, EMI Music, JCB, Merck Pharmaceuticals, Pernod Ricard and Teletext. WebExpenses is at www.webexpenses.com
About AMEE
AMEE helps companies, governments and consumers calculate their carbon footprint consistent with the best science and international standards. The AMEE API provides access to the most up-to-date carbon and environmental data. Applications and solutions that are "powered by AMEE" help ensure compliance with authoritative international standards.
WebExpenses is at www.webexpenses.com