I've checked the ACEEE list and it only includes cars. The main form of transport in Vietnam is a 50cc scooter and it is certainly fuel-efficient. Honda is the most popular brand here and models range from 50mpg-140 mpg averaging in the mid-70s. I will ask the reviewers what they propose but I'm wondering if anyone has experience with listing motorbike mileage or whether any 50cc motorbike was accepted or whether they were all rejected because they're not on the ACEEE list. My previous EBOM project bused everyone from the nearest city so we didn't need to list motorbikes.....
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Kimberly Hosken
LEED Fellowsubcontractor
8 thumbs up
May 16, 2016 - 12:36 pm
I'm sorry I don't have an exact response but the Manufacturers User Group (USGBC) was working on this issue in 2013. Because they have so many international facilities this was a common question. I'm no longer part of the group but suggest you contact GBCI and ask if the MUG published anything on how to deal with scooter's.
Kimberly Schlaepfer
Sustainability Coordinator LEED AP O+M, BD+C75 thumbs up
May 16, 2016 - 1:48 pm
Hi Melissa,
Unfortunately, LEED does not allow motorbikes to contribute toward alternative fuel trips. Therefore all motorbike trips must be counted as single-occupant vehicle trips and may not contribute toward credit achievement. The LEED rationale for this exclusion, I believe relates to the emissions from the motorbikes rather than their fuel-efficiency.
Note if the motorbikes hold more than one building occupant that trip would be considered carpooling, which, only then, would then allow it to contribute toward the alternative transportation trips.
I hope that helps!
Melissa Merryweather
DirectorGreen Consult-Asia
245 thumbs up
May 25, 2016 - 4:52 am
Hi Kimberly, for now at least you are right. They replied to me:
If the motorcycle/scooter is not classified as a zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) by the California Air Resources Board or has not achieved a minimum green score of 40 on the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy annual vehicle-rating guide, then it may not be considered a low-emitting/fuel-efficient vehicle. However, note that if there is more than one occupant traveling to the project building on the motorcycle/scooter, then these commuting trips could be counted as carpool trips as outlined in the LEED-EBOM v2009 Reference Guide. Note that while motorcycles/scooters are often fuel-efficient, they are not always low-emitting.
thanks so much for your replies both. Given the dodgy emissions information from auto manufacturers in the past years I feel a little sad that we can't win on mileage alone but its not exactly unexpected!