The mission of the CLEAN AIR Force of Central Texas is to coordinate air quality planning and conduct educational activities in Central Texas focused on motivating the citizens, businesses, and governments in the five-county region to take actions to reduce air pollution to protect public health. With the help of our Clean Air Partners Program , we encourage Commute Solutions as a means to reduce ozone forming emissions that contribute to unhealthy air. Our Clean Air Partners implement Commute Solutions programs to reduce single-occupant vehicle trips and peak traffic by carpooling, vanpooling, taking bus/rail, bicycling, teleworking, or utilizing compressed work week or flexible work schedules. By reducing the number of single occupant vehicles on our Central Texas roads, this reduces the amount of VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) and NOx (Nitrogen Oxides) in the atmosphere which furthers our organization’s mission of keeping Central Texas air breathable.
Advanced Micro Devices
AMD aims for environmental excellence in all aspects of our business, and we view how our 12,000+ employees get to/from work as an important part of that mission. Our international award-winning commuter program – Go Green – provides significant and measurable benefits for our employees, the communities in which we work, and the natural environment.
The goal of Go Green is to save AMDers money and enhance their quality of life while embodying AMD’s environmental values and improving work productivity. We designed our commuter program by identifying our employees’ barriers and motivators to using alternative transportation, and then providing programs and incentives to make the choice for sustainable transportation as easy as possible. The Go Green weekly newsletter and website promotes a lifestyle approach to sustainability by engaging participants to take action home, in route, and at the workplace.
ACC serves over 40,000 students in Central Texas each semester. Commuting is the single most significant contributor to the Carbon Footprint for ACC, and through partnership with Commute Solutions ACC is able to better serve its students in their pursuit of alternative commuting options.
The overarching goal of the Austin Climate Protection Program is to make Austin the leading city in the nation in the fight against climate change. In February 2007, the City Council passed a resolution that directed the City to begin taking action in a variety of areas. The five main components of the Plan are:
- Municipal Plan – Make all City of Austin facilities, vehicles, and operations carbon-neutral by 2020. Also, in an effort to achieve carbon neutrality, all City departments completed their own climate protection plans.
- Utility Plan – Expand conservation, energy efficiency, and renewable energy programs to reduce Austin Energy’s carbon footprint; cap carbon dioxide emissions from existing power plants; and make any new electricity generation carbon-neutral.
- Homes and Buildings – Update building codes for new buildings to be the most energy-efficient in the nation, pursue energy efficiency upgrades for existing buildings, and enhance Austin Energy’s Green Building program.
- Community Plan – Engage Austin citizens, community groups, and businesses to reduce greenhouse gas emissions throughout the community.
- “Go Neutral” Plan – Provide tools and resources for citizens, businesses, organizations, and visitors to measure and reduce their carbon footprint.
Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization
Because motor vehicle emissions are the most significant part of the MSA’s ozone problem, CAMPO is actively involved in regional air quality planning efforts. CAMPO models regional vehicle emissions and has initiated a bicycle & pedestrian program in partnership with the Texas Transportation Institute and the City of Austin.
Capital Area Council of Governments
CAPCOG promotes sustainable growth and livability of the CAPCOG Region by assisting in the develop of transportation systems integrated with land use patterns that offer residents and travelers choices and convenient access to goods, services, jobs, schools, recreation and civic involvement. CAPCOG staff is responsible for professional activities necessary for the planning and coordination of improvements to the region’s major road network, public transportation, airports, and bicycle and pedestrian facilities.
Capital Metro’s mission is to provide quality public transportation choices for our community that meet the needs of our growing region. Capital Metro serves almost 3,000 bus stops with metro, flyer and express routes and UT Shuttle service. Capital MetroRail is a new commuter rail system between Leander and Downtown Austin. Capital Metro also provides MetroAccess service for passengers with disabilities, van and carpool coordination, freight rail service. For more information, including an online trip planner visit www.capmetro.org or call (512) 474-1200.
Car2go is an innovative mobility service which offers a network of 300 environmentally compatible smart “car2go edition” vehicles for rent. Unlike traditional car sharing programs or car rental companies, car2go is not station-based. car2go vehicles are distributed throughout the city and can be accessed “on-demand”, or reserved for up to 24 hours in advance. Customers are not required to enter into a long-term contract, or be subjected to a minimum spend, deposits or monthly fees. For more information or to register, please visit www.austincar2go.com.
CARTS delivers transportation tailored specifically for each of the one hundred and sixty-nine communities it serves. The service frequency in or to the various locales range from many times a day to once a month.
Clean Cities is Adept. Of Energy supported program designed to advance our nation’s economic, environmental and energy security by promoting the reduction of petroleum consumption. Created by the Energy Policy Act of 1992, Clean Cities carries out its work through a network of more than 90 volunteer coalitions.
These coalitions develop public and private partnerships to promote alternative fuels and vehicles, fuel blends, fuel economy, hybrid vehicles, and idle reduction technologies. These community –centered programs are sponsored by the U.S. DOE’s Vehicle Technologies Program.
Central Texas Clean Cities is composed of 150 stakeholders representing private businesses, state agencies and municipalities in Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays, Travis, Williams Counties, the City of Temple and Ft. Hood Texas. CTCC assists federal, state and fuel provider fleets to comply with the EPAct of 1992 and municipal and private fleets interested in purchasing alternative vehicles.
The mission of the City of Austin Air Quality Program is to: Develop and implement programs that reduce the impact of our business activities on regional air quality; Promote air quality education and outreach to citizens and local businesses; and work with regional partners to promote healthy air in Central Texas.
A program of the CLEAN AIR Force of Central Texas, the Clean Air Partners Program helps local businesses, governments and organizations to reduce their emissions with a flexible menu of options customizable to each Partner. By becoming a Clean Air Partner, employers pledge to carry out clean air programs and implement clean business practices to reduce emissions that contribute to unhealthy air in our region and to annually report their results via a user-friendly website. Partners receive public recognition for their efforts via events, publications and advertisements. The program is available to any employer in the counties of Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays, Travis and Williamson.
DAA Mission Statement: The Mission of the Downtown Austin Alliance is to preserve and enhance the value and vitality of downtown Austin.
DAA Vision for Downtown: Downtown Austin is the heart and soul of Central Texas. It is:
A welcoming community where our unique past, present and future meet and mingle on every street and corner
A thriving business, government and residential center
An accessible gathering place, easy to reach and enticing to explore for locals and tourists alike
The community’s cultural hub, where art, music and theater dance and play
A place where nature’s beauty beckons — to calm, surprise and delight
A prosperous place, environmentally and economically healthy and sustainable
In 2008, we launched our car sharing business, Connect by Hertz, in London, New York City and Paris. Connect provides urban drivers with environmentally friendly cars parked at convenient locations for hourly rentals. Hertz leap-frogged the competition with in-car technology to speed the rental process. Once the on-line booking process is completed and the rental commences, the customer is instantly connected to a Hertz service center representative who can assist with every aspect of the rental and provide directions and other services. Every Connect vehicle in the U.S. comes equipped with a NeverLost navigation system, and most are equipped with iPod/MP3 adaptors and Bluetooth technology.
Every car sharing vehicle has the potential to eliminate the need for up to 14 privately owned vehicles in urban markets, providing an economically and environmentally sensible alternative to vehicle ownership. Choosing to share rather than own a car eliminates the need for expensive parking, gas, insurance and maintenance/repair costs.
We have already expanded in 6 countries, adding more than fifty universities and corporate campuses worldwide. Because our technology and fleet are fully scalable, we will rapidly expand Connect to many more U.S. and European cities, universities and corporate customers. In October 2010 Hertz signed an agreement to acquire the Australian car sharing company, Flexicar. This is a statement to how dedicated we are to expansion, innovation and bringing Connect by Hertz to people all around the world.
This is our Keep It Parked programs mission statement-
LCRA’s Keep It Parked program is a voluntary trip reduction program designed to improve employees’ quality of life, lessen traffic congestion, and improve air quality by reducing ozone-forming vehicle emissions. The program is designed to enable employees to work more efficiently and cost effectively while providing employees with solutions for a better commute and options to lessen travel during work hours.
Commuters can consider alternatives to their current commute and try carpooling, vanpooling, bicycling, walking, teleworking, using compressed work weeks, flex-time or taking the bus. At-work travelers can consider teleconferencing, videoconferencing and carpooling to LCRA meetings and events. Commuters can also find carpool partners using LCRA’s Commuter Interactive Map and bike partners using the bike-to-work program.
LCRA mission statement-
The mission of the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) is to provide reliable, low-cost utility and public services in partnership with our customers and communities and to use our leadership and environmental authority to ensure the protection and constructive use of the area’s natural resources.
The League of Bicycling Voters is a nonprofit advocacy organization promoting better transportation policy decisions, justice for bicyclists, and more resources to increase the number of bicyclists in the Austin area.
LOBV initiated the city’s Streets Smarts Task Force — a mayoral body that developed comprehensive recommendations to make Austin’s streets safer and more accessible for bicyclists. The organization actively works for new and improved bicycle facilities and for timely and complete implementation of the 2009 City of Austin Bike Plan.
Safe Routes to School (SRTS) programs are sustained efforts by parents, schools, community leaders and local, state, and federal governments to improve the health and well-being of children by enabling and encouraging them to walk and bicycle to school.
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality strives to protect our state’s human and natural resources consistent with sustainable economic development. Our goal is clean air, clean water, and the safe management of waste.
The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) regulates the state’s insurance industry. We also educate consumers to help them make well-informed insurance decisions.
TDI assists consumers with questions and concerns about insurance through its Consumer Help Line, complaint resolution process, and outreach events, such as those for Commute Solutions. At CS events, TDI staff explain the auto insurance cost savings involved with commuting or using public transportation. One of the factors companies may use to determine rates for auto insurance is the vehicle’s primary use. Rates for cars driven solely for pleasure are typically lower than rates for cars driven to and from work or used for business.
Travis County
Travis County works to manage and protect our natural resources for future generations, in part by providing a cost-effective, efficient, and safe transportation system in balance with the social, economic and environmental needs of the community.
In March 2002, we partnered with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to create the Drive Clean Across Texas (DCAT) campaign. This program asks the public to help reduce air pollution by driving less, maintaining their vehicles, avoiding unnecessary idling, buying more energy-efficient vehicles and driving the speed limit.
The Clean Air Plan is our internal effort to take the same kind of action, and go a step further, including using LED lights for new signal lights, using alternative-fuel vehicles for Department business and using green energy providers.
The University of Texas at Austin strongly supports efforts to reduce congestion and curb vehicle pollution in the Austin area. The University has established an active Alternative Transportation Program, entitled UT Share, that encourages members of the UT community to do their SHARE and SHARE the ride to campus. The goal of the UT Share Program is to address and reduce the use of single occupancy vehicles by staff, faculty, students, and visitors.
