Volvo IT's Commute Greener Appointed as This Year's Sustainable Project

FYI: Volvo Buyer's Guide

Sweden: December 9, 2011: Regulatory News:

“Significant environmental effects can be achieved when economical and environmental objectives go hand in hand”

Commute Greener serves as a personal CO2 calculator where you are encouraged to reduce your environmental impact by commuting to and from work. To increase motivation, the results can be published on Facebook and you can also form groups to, in a friendly way, challenge each other.

"By setting targets for reducing the carbon emissions, encouraging each individual is motivated to choose cleaner transports, such as bus, trains or bicycle. Those that are depending on the automobile for their transportation, can still reduce emissions by carpooling," says Magnus Kuschel, one of the initiators of the service, which is developed by Volvo IT.

It all started as an idea among some employees who wanted to develop an IT solution that helped to improve the environment. Commute Greener is used in cities such as Gothenburg, San Francisco and Mexico City. The results in Mexico City have created the conditions for integration of an environmental management system that includes 300 000 people.

For urban management in cities Commute Greener is very interesting as changing travel habits of residents gives a direct effect in terms of better air, less congestion and higher utilization of public transports. One can also obtain a statistical basis for improved traffic management. At an individual level, there are economic benefits and a feeling of being able to contribute in a concrete way.

"Significant environmental effects can be achieved when economical and environmental objectives go hand in hand," concludes Magnus Kuschel.

The jury said:

This year's sustainable projects show how smart technology, properly used, can create changes in behavior. By pairing mobile solutions, social media and people's natural desire to both compete and do well, Commute Greener succeeds in affecting individuals' choice of transport modes, which has made an effective contribution to reducing carbon emissions in both Gothenburg (Sweden) and Mexico City.

2011-12-09

Web pages:

Commute Greener: Commute Greener

Youtube demo on Ride Share: Commute Greener on Youtube

Volvo IT: Volvo IT

Images. Please type Commute Greener in the search box: Commute Greener

Volvo Information Technology AB is a wholly owned subsidiary of AB Volvo (STO:VOLVA), (STO:VOLVB). With its roots in the automotive industry, the company today delivers IT solutions and services for all types of companies and organisations. Its customers include AB Volvo, Ford Motor Company, Volvo Car Corporation, SCA, Assa Abloy, the City of Stockholm, the City of Göteborg and other large operations across multiple industries, including the public sector. In 2010, Volvo IT's global operations generated a turnover of SEK 7.5 billion and the company had more than 5,000 employees at more than 35 locations in Europe, North America, South America and Asia.