ERA to release a more comprehensive and easier to use Equipment CO2 Calculator

Following the successful launch and subsequent update of the ERA Equipment CO2 Calculator in 2021, and, based on extensive feedback from ERA members and other equipment stakeholders, ERA has started working on a version 2.0 of the Calculator.

The new version of the Calculator will include an expanded scope, enhanced functionality and improved navigation to provide a more comprehensive, easier to use and more practical tool for equipment stakeholders, including rental companies, contractors, OEMs, public authorities and other equipment users.

3 Calculators in 1: In order to expand the scope of the Calculator, the new version will effectively become three calculators in one. In addition to the equipment calculator in the current version, there will also be calculators for handheld tools and modular space, with the calculations tailored to each category of equipment across the parameters of production, transportation, lifetime and utilisation, energy consumption, maintenance and end-of-life.

Single equipment and group calculations: The new version of the Calculator will retain the current calculation of the carbon footprint of a single piece of equipment in a specific use scenario, which will be expanded to include handheld tools and modular space, as well as the comparison function. In addition to this, version 2.0 will enable users to group calculations for a specific project, task or jobsite, or calculate the carbon footprint of an entire equipment fleet. Users will be able to group all categories of equipment into a single calculation and, to make it simpler and easier to use, it will be possible to input the data in bulk from a standard template. The results will show the total carbon footprint for all the equipment, with a breakdown of the impact of equipment from different categories.

Improved navigation: In order to navigate to the correct calculator, users will simply have to select the equipment type from 5 categories – ‘construction machines and equipment’, ‘powered access, forklifts and telehandlers’, ‘power and temperature control’, ‘modular and sanitary space’ and ‘smaller equipment and tools’. This will provide an easy and straightforward navigation and better user experience.

Version 2.0 of the ERA Equipment CO2 Calculator will remain an independent and free-to-use tool for all equipment stakeholders to make more sustainable choices when using equipment. It is expected to be released in the second half of 2022. A preliminary version will be presented at the ERA Convention on 15 and 16 June in Riga, Latvia, which will address the topic of decarbonisation and sustainability as part of rental in transition.

The ERA Equipment CO2 Calculator was first released in January 2021 and enabled equipment stakeholders to determine the carbon footprint of construction equipment over its entire lifecycle, with the results providing an estimate of the CO2e emissions per hour of use. It was updated in March 2021 to enable comparisons between different user scenarios and include alternative fuel choices.

The calculations are provided by the independent research consultancy CE Delft, who first developed the tool for the ‘Carbon Footprint of Construction Equipment’ study released in 2019, and the online tool was built by Alias2k, a digital services provider.

Try the current version of the Calculator here: https://equipmentcalculator.org/en

For more information about the ERA Equipment CO2 Calculator, please contact the ERA Secretariat at [email protected].

This article was first published in the International Rental News (January-February 2022).