So far we’ve had a great response to the Clear the Air Challenge. It’s great to see that so many people are excited about improving our air quality. We’ve received some questions regarding the Challenge and wanted to clear up them up. We hope that the following information is helpful. Thanks for the enthusiasm and keep up the good work!
What’s the difference between a team/network and a company?
Unlike past years, there is no difference between a team and a company. Employees of a company make up the company’s team/network. At the end of the Challenge, the top teams will be recognized for the following at the awards event:
- Most pounds of emissions saved
- Most trips saved
- Most participants
- Corporate role model
How do I create a new team/network?
Email info@cleartheairchallenge.org to create a new team. Include the team administrator’s name and email address. The team administrator must already be registered.
How do I create a sub-team?
Sub-teams can be created for the Challenge. For example, Team A can have Team A-1 and Team A-2 reside under it. This helps to create competition among different subsets of a team. Once the main team is set up, Team A in this example, then the team administrator can set up and manage the sub-teams.
How do I join a team if I’m already registered for the challenge?
- Log into your Tracker.
- Select the Edit Profile button on the left-hand side.
- Select My Networks.
- Use the drop-down menu to find your team/network or email info@cleartheairchallenge.org to create a new team.
Is there a mobile website for the Clear the Air Challenge tracking tool?
Yes. The TravelWise Tracker, the tool used to track trips and miles saved during the Challenge, is a mobile responsive website.
What browsers and versions of browsers are supported?
Only modern browsers are officially supported. Supported browsers include Chrome, Firefox, Safari, IE10 and IE11, but we are working on support for IE8 and IE9. Due to our utilization of newer technologies and web practices such as HTML5, CSS3 and AngularJS, older browsers tend not to function properly as they have not been updated to today’s standards. It takes a significant amount of development to facilitate for out of date browser technology.
How are the results for the Challenge calculated?
Trips saved is a total of all trips saved by participants.
Miles saved is a total of all miles saved by participants.
Dollars saved is calculated by $0.566 x the number of miles saved. Figures come from AAA Exchange at the cost per mile of 56.6 cents based on a mid-sized sedan and traveling 15,000 miles per year. This figure includes all costs of driving (costs of ownership, maintenance, gas, etc.).
Calories burned are based off a report published by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services titled, Your Guide to Physical Activity and Your Heart, published in June 2006.
The emissions saved formula takes into consideration the emissions, specifically CO2, per person, per mile from the alternative transportation source and subtracts it from the emissions produced if driving alone.
Alternative | C02 Per Mile | Emissions Saved |
Drive Alone | 378 g | If I drive alone I don’t save any C02 |
Transit | 254.5 g | If I use transit I save 123.5 g C02 (378 minus 254.5) |
Bike | 0 g | If I bike I save 378 g C02 (378 minus 0) |
Figures from a 2008 American Bus Association Foundation study titled, Updated Comparison of Energy Use & CO2 Emissions From Different Transportation Modes were used for the Tracker calculations. For public transit methods, the available options of “Light Rail” and “Transit Bus” are combined for an average of 254.5 g CO2 per passenger, per mile. For private vehicle transportation, cars, SUVs and motorcycles, the “Car – 1 Person” figure equates to 378 g CO2 per passenger, per mile.
In depth formula calculations can be found here. For information on formulas used from 2009 through 2013, please contact the Challenge administrator.
How does the Challenge ensure accurate results?
The Clear the Air Challenge is as accurate as the data entered by participants. Therefore, entries are diligently monitored to ensure that Challenge results are accurate. If there is an entry in question, the participant is contacted and the entry is verified.
What is a trip?
A single-occupant vehicle trip is any trip you may take from point A to point B. A trip from point B back to point A is considered a second trip. Ask yourself: How many trips would I normally have taken? How many trips did I take? The difference between the questions is your trips saved.
- If you decide to ride your bike somewhere, you’ve saved 2 trips.
- If you carpool to your kids’ soccer game, everyone in the car saved 2 trips. (Note:The emissions calculation takes the driver into consideration.)
- If you telework from home one day, you’ve saved 2 trips.
- If you walk to an event, you’ve saved 2 trips.
- If you telework for a Utah based meeting instead of driving to meet, you’ve saved 2 trips.
What can be counted as “trip chaining?”
The basic theory behind trip chaining is that it is more efficient, uses fewer miles and causes less air pollution to chain trips into one outing with sequential stops, rather than take many there-and-back trips.
- If you drive from home to the library, from the library to the post office, from the post office to the grocery store and finally back home, you have saved 2 trips. The 2 trips account for the trips saved by not driving back home between errands.
How do you calculate “approximate miles?”
Approximate miles are calculated by totaling all of the miles you have saved throughout the day by eliminating trips.
- If you ride a bike to an event that is two miles from your home and then ride back home, you have saved 2 trips and 4 miles.
Do teleworking meetings instead of face-to-face meetings when the meeting is out of state count?
Teleworking to meetings out of state do not count as trips saved. Although you are doing your part for nationwide sustainability, this Challenge is geared specifically to Utah. Therefore, only trips saved in Utah are counted.
Do trips saved on work time count?
Yes. All employees can serve as a model of how to drive less while still getting all their work done.
Do trips saved on personal time count?
Yes. All eliminated trips/saved miles count and should be tracked on the website during the challenge, to help us reach the goal of eliminating 300,000 trips, saving 2 million miles, and reducing 3.4 million lbs. of emissions.
What if I already drive less and drive smarter?
Every eliminated trip and saved mile counts, whether or not you already travel that way today. Individuals who already travel wisely are encouraged to challenge themselves during the period to do even more.
If I know someone who hasn’t signed up yet, can he or she still register for the Challenge?
Yes. Anyone can register for the Clear the Air Challenge anytime during the challenge.
If you use a fuel efficient or electric vehicle, do your trips count?
Electric vehicles count, however hybrids are not included in this distinction.
What TravelWise strategy do you check if you decide to take your lunch to work instead of going out to lunch?
Count the 2 trips you saved by not going out to lunch and the approximate miles associated with those trips under “Skip the Trip.”
Do you count trips saved if you drive your vehicle to a public transportation outlet or to a carpooling meeting spot?
Yes. Even though you are still driving to a destination, you are saving additional miles you would have driven. If you drive to a carpool meeting spot or a public transportation outlet, you can count two trips saved.
Can I edit my log for trips I saved yesterday?
You can edit your trip diary as far back as your registration date.