On-Line Calculators, Tools, and Resources that Measure, Track, and Evaluate Pollution Prevention Activities
November 12, 2008
The pdf document below briefly describes on-line calculators, tools, and resources that measure, track, and evaluate pollution prevention activites. The 53 listings include websites with multiple resources, stand-alone programs, and simple spreadsheets. These sites have not been fully reviewed for their contents however; the research goal was to seek tools and resources that would benefit pollution prevention measurement and evaluation activities.
Data Collection Tools
October 16, 2008
Measurement of results has achieved a high level of importance for all pollution prevention (P2) programs in government. This is based upon the basic premise that “you can’t improve what you can’t measure.” The first step of measurement is data collection, which looks at the different sources for data, methods of gathering data, quality of data, and data retention. The quality of the data is of special importance since it is the foundation for decision-making. Assuring that the data is of sufficient quality to make sound judgments is a key component of any data collection system. Under this tab will be the NPPR Data Collection Tools “Best Practices” Compendium. The objective of this Compendium is to identify the various data collection methodologies that are being used by state, local and tribal governments in an effort to share them with other state, local and tribal governments. The Compendium will identify:
Timeliness
§ Longevity: How long has the tool/practice been in use?
§ Time critical: Is the data recent?
§ Time period of the data: calendar, fed fiscal, state fiscal, etc.
§ Estimated life: how long are the reductions estimated to persist? (one time, one year, 3-5 years, forever)
§ Seasonality: time period of data collection representative of period reported
Limitations
§ Update: How often is the data updated?
§ Universe: Where does the data come from? Required by law?
§ Amounts: Are the values based on actual amounts or estimates?
Future Plans
§ Partnerships: Are there partnerships established for the use of the tool?
§ Sustainability: Is there a sustainable source of funding for the tool?
Data Quality
§ Actual: Are measurements used (e.g. meter readings, utility bills)?
§ Estimates: Are estimates used (e.g. installation of equipment, mass balance)?
§ Sector/Technology Average: Are averages used (e.g. cost of disposal, technology average)?
§ Normalization: Is the data normalized for economic factors?
Other Factors
§ Ease of use: How easy is it to use this tool?
§ Availability: How available is this tool and is there a cost to obtain it?
§ Interaction with Other Systems: How easy does this tool connect or integrate with other systems (EPA, P2Rx)
NPPR will provide training to state, local and tribal governments on the Compendium in the near future through Webinars, Regional Roundtable meetings, NPPR Workgroup meetings and at the National Environmental Partnership Summit in 2009 in San Francisco.
