Environment

Even more ecological public transport

Using public transport is making the right statement in favour of the environment. Compared to the same journey done by car, travelling with STIB decreases the CO2 emissions by 75%.

Metros and trams use 100% green electricity and don’t locally eject polluting emissions.

With the purchase of new electrical and hybrid buses, the STIB starts its energetic transition. Thanks to this change in the bus fleet, travelling by public transport will be even more ecological !

An eco-friendly company

Goal achieved! STIB has obtained the ISO 14001 certification for all its activities.This certification aims to encourage companies to control the impact of their activities on the environment. They should demonstrate the effectiveness of both the management systems and the continuous improvement of their environmental procedures, in a way that respects the law and takes into account the context and stakeholders.

Calculating the CO2 quantity

STIB applies the following mathematical formula in order to know the average quantity of CO2 emissions (in grams) of a journey by public transport: the journey's length in kilometres is multiplied by the average emission factor per passenger and per kilometre of the STIB vehicles.

The average emission factors of the STIB vehicles are the following:

• Metro: 20 gr CO2 /(km*passenger)
• Tram: 30 gr CO2 /(km*passenger)
• Bus: 110 gr CO2 /(km*passenger)
• Train (SNCB): 26 gr CO2 /(km*passenger)

The result is then compared to the emissions of the same journey by car. The journey's length in kilometres is multiplied by the average emission factor per passenger and per kilometre of a car.

The average emission factors of a car is 158 gr CO2 /(km*passenger)

Carbon and Energy Strategy

STIB has committed itself to enhance its transport offer while reducing CO2 emissions and energy consumption, by applying a carbon and energy strategy.

By 2030 STIB strives to reduce the emission of direct and indirect greenhouse gases, caused by the journeys on its network, by 40% per place-kilometre. In order to achieve that goal, no less than fifty actions have been identified. They concern rolling stock as well as buildings, acquisitions, a mobility plan for its workers, waste and production of renewable energy.

Hence, STIB actively participates to the Brussels' target to reduce the Region’s emissions caused by public transport. Not forgetting the other advantages such as a decrease in traffic congestion and the improvement of air quality that this action plan will bring about.

Energy

 STIB is one of the largest energy consumers in Belgium. In order to reduce consumption and the associated impact on the environment, STIB works on two fronts at the same time, namely a change in behaviour and the use of advanced technology.

Energetic performance

The energetic indicator represents the evolution of STIB’s energetic performance in comparison with the situation of 2010. The energetic performance is calculated in 5 domains: bus, tram, metro, electricity and fuel for the infrastructure. The global performance of the STIB is calculated by additioning the gains in every particular domain, pro rato its share in the total consumption. Between 2010 and 2018, STIB’s energetic performance has grown by 14%.

The following projects illustrate STIB’s engagement:

• Bus: STIB has installed on-board indicators in the buses. The box informs the driver about his driving, warns when he starts to fast, if he takes his turns too sharply or brakes too abruptly or if he leaves his engine running to long at a standstill. This system is linked to a "coaching". The purpose of the Secure Drive project is threefold: reduce the polluting emissions, lower the fuel burn and offer more comfort to the travellers. What's more, since 2008, STIB has integrated the principles of "eco-friendly driving" into its drivers' training.
• Metro: STIB has introduced a more eco-friendly driving mode based on reducing the maximum authorised speed. The results are spectacular: the electricity consumption has dropped by nearly 13% without any significant lengthening of the travel times. Moreover, this improves the comfort of the passengers.
• Metro braking energy recovery: When metros brake, the mechanical braking energy is transformed into electric power that can be transmitted to another accelerating vehicle. STIB wishes to go further by recovering the energy from a train entering a station to power other infrastructure such as escalators, elevators, waiting time indicators, etc.
• Cogeneration : A cogeneration unit was installed in the Delta complex. Cogeneration is recovering the heat from an electric generator to heat a building. This production combining heating and electricity delivers much higher overall yields. -
• Eliptic: STIB has engaged along with other public transport operators, private companies, universities and research centres. This cooperation is based on the exchange of best practices and studies to see whether the energy recovery rate from the tram brakes can be increased by re-injecting the energy on the network (to reuse it for other infrastructure) or by using storage technologies. The Eliptic project also aims to exchange best practices regarding the transition of public transport towards operating electric buses.

Pollution peaks

Our country and the Brussels-Capital Region encounter pollution peaks on a regular basis that can have consequences on our health. Those peaks are due to the accumulation of polluting exhaust gas, to industrial activity and to the heating of households and offices.

Pollution peaks appear when the weather conditions hinder the dispersion of the pollutants in the air: low temperatures, no wind and, above all, the thermal inversion phenomenon (when lower air layers are colder than upper air layers). We then observe a general degradation of the air quality, which can lead to a worsening of the health status of not only fragile people but the whole population. Those peaks can last a few hours up to a few days.

To prevent those effects, the Brussels-Capital Region has set 4 pollutant concentration thresholds, based on which an information is publicly communicated and, in some cases, measures are taken to limit the atmosphere-polluting emissions.

More information on qualitedelair.brussels or https://luchtkwaliteit.brussels

4 levels of emergency measures

It is necessary to apply emergency measures that aim at reducing the polluting emissions so that we can make sure that the peak (foreseen 48 hours in advance) is not reached. There are four levels of intervention depending on the duration and the intensity of the peak that has to be avoided.

	Threshold 0 (information and awareness) : Bruxelles Environnement (also known as IBGE) encourages the citizens to adapt their behaviour so that polluting emissions are limited. The use of public transportation systems is particularly advised.
	Persistence of threshold 0 (information and intervention) : Speed is limited to 50 km/h in the Brussels-Capital Region, STIB-MIVB’s public transports are free, along with the Villo! day ticket.
	Intervention threshold 1 : Speed is limited to 50 km/h in the Brussels-Capital Region, STIB-MIVB’s public transports are free, along with the Villo! day ticket.
	Intervention threshold 2 : Circulation is forbidden for unauthorised vehicles in the Brussels-Capital Region, STIB-MIVB’s public transports are free, along with the Villo! day ticket.

Whether you are an individual or a company, you are a victim of the degradation of the air quality, especially during pollution peaks. You can nevertheless also play a major part in reducing, or even avoiding those peaks.

HERE ARE A FEW PIECES OF ADVICE IN CASe OF A LOW LEVEL POLLUTION PEAK (threshold 0 or persistence of threshold 0)

As an individual:

• Choose public transportation or favour walking and travelling by bike to move around
• Don’t use your car for short distances (25% of the car rides in Brussels are shorter than 1 km)
• If you do use your car, try to drive smoothly, using reduced speed and avoiding abrupt accelerations and hard brakes. This kind of driving can reduce your vehicle consumption and emission by about 20%.
• Lower the temperature of your household or office (1°C equals 8% of consumption)

As a company, school or institution, you can also act :

• Encourage your employees to use a greener travel mode (public transportation, bike, walking, car sharing, etc.)
• Inform your staff, students, parents about the pollution peak, the measures that must be taken and the existing options (via your intranet, newsletter, posters, etc.)
• Implement incentive actions to raise awareness
• Give your employees the opportunity to work in a more flexible way
• Reduce the energy consumption in your work spaces (lower the temperature, organize a “warm sweater” action, etc.)
• Include these measures in your Mobility Plan

STIB’s Partnership & Events department is at your disposal for information and advice about simple and efficient measures for your company, school or institution.

Contact: 02 515 50 68 - b2b@stib-mivb.be

How to improve the air quality?

The emergency measures are meant to face a temporary situation. Their mission is not to structurally improve the air quality. The best way to fight pollution peaks is to adapt your behaviour throughout the year.

More information on qualitedelair.brussels or luchtkwaliteit.brussels