CoolClimate Policy Tools

The CoolClimate Network's Interactive Policy Tools calculate and compare the GHG reductions provided by various emission reduction policies. These tools can help households, businesses and communities identify the best emission reduction strategies.

1 minute read

August 25, 2022, 8:00 AM PDT

By Todd Litman


The climate crisis is pressing and solutions are urgently needed. The University of California, Berkeley's CoolClimate Network provides smart decision-making tools and programs to accelerate the transition to a clean energy economy. It is developing cutting-edge carbon footprint benchmarking research and combining this with ongoing lessons from behavioral sciences to design tailored climate solutions for specific users and populations.



CoolClimate tools can quickly identify the unique opportunities each individual, business, organization or community holds to reduce greenhouse gas emisions. These tools are incorporated into programs to activate, educate, motivate and empower individuals and organizations to make low-carbon choices. 



These include:

Household Calculator. This calculates the emissions of specific households, taking into account their specific location, housing, transportation and consumption patterns, and ways that these can be reduced.

Business Calculator. This calculates the emissions of specific businesses, taking into account their specific location, housing, transportation and consumption patterns, and ways that these can be reduced.

CoolClimate Maps. These custom heatmaps show household carbon emission rates for specific locations.

CoolClimate SF Map

 

CoolClimate Emissions Map

California Carbon Footprint Planning Tools and Scenarios

California Local Government Climate Policy Tool

 

CoolClimate API allows software developers to create custom Carbon Footprint Calculators.

These tools are useful, interesting and fun to use, and produce beautiful maps. They are based on extensive and ongoing research concerning emission sources and the effectiveness of emission reduction strategies. 

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I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

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