The transport sector contributes significantly to overall greenhouse gas emissions. Victorian transport accounts for 16.9% of Victorian emissions, compared with 14% across Australia.
About 60% of these emissions are from private vehicles.
VicRoads is working to reduce our direct greenhouse gas emissions, from a range of sources including:
- fleet vehicles
- electricity and gas consumption in buildings
- street lights
- traffic signals
- air travel
We are also investigating a range of technology options to decrease the indirect greenhouse gas emissions associated with road construction.
Renewable energy
Energy efficient traffic signals and street lights
Motor vehicle emissions
Hybrid and low emission vehicles
Low Emission Vehicle (LEV) Automotive Partnership
Public transport and bicycles
Moving towards carbon neutral road construction
Solar panels power some road fixtures, including help phones, monitoring stations, warning signs, variable speed signs and school speed zones.
In an Australian first for freeway lighting, 210 solar panels were installed on noise walls along a 500 metre section of the Tullamarine Calder Interchange. These panels help power freeway lighting. Up to 10% of the lights are now solar-powered (the equivalent of powering three small homes). The solar panels offset the equivalent of half a million black balloons of greenhouse gases every year.
All new traffic signals and variable message signs have energy efficient light emitting diode (LED) technology. This is up to 40% more efficient than older traffic signal technology. Older traffic signals will be retrofitted with LED technology over time.
We are also testing new emerging energy-efficient technologies for street lighting. A series of trials are underway to assess their suitability.
The design of roads can help to reduce vehicle emissions. We plan new roads to minimise wear on vehicles. This means your vehicle doesn’t work as hard, saving fuel and decreasing pollution.
Techniques to reduce vehicle emission impacts include:
- road surface treatments and smoothing techniques
- minimising the effect of road gradient on new roads
- improving traffic flow at intersections
- using Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) such as traffic signals and freeway ramp signals
- installing high occupancy lanes and transit lanes
VicRoads also works with State Road Authorities and Austroads to improve vehicle emission standards.
A low emission vehicle (LEV) is one that emits reduced greenhouse gas emissions compared to similar vehicles. Around half our fleet vehicles are considered low emission (including hybrid, 4-cylinder and gas).
Hybrid vehicles combine an electric motor with an internal combustion engine to help save fuel and reduce emissions. Hybrid vehicles attract a $50 registration discount. As of May 2008, there were over 2,902 hybrid vehicles registered in Victoria.
We actively support the LEV Automotive Partnership, a joint initiative of Future Climate Australia, RACV and EPA Victoria.
The partnership aims to reduce the greenhouse impact of transport by:
- promoting the purchase of LEVs
- providing reliable help on which car to buy
- helping different groups work together on sustainable transport
- raising awareness of new technologies and fuels that lessen the environmental impact
- publishing the Green Wheels Guide, ranking vehicles by their emissions
We have improved roads and facilities to allow a smoother trip for road-based public transport users and cyclists. These improvements include:
We have used the $13.3 million Mickleham Road duplication as a pilot to measure the carbon footprint of road construction and identify ways to potentially reduce and offset carbon emissions from roadworks.
Project generated emissions have been offset with carbon credits sourced from an accredited offset provider, planting around 7,463 trees in the north west of Victoria. This equates to offsetting around 40 million black balloons.
Mickleham Road is the first road construction project within Australia which has offset its construction greenhouse emissions. The learnings from this project have been shared with the road construction industry Australia-wide to help generate a national approach.
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