The Buildings Industry Transportation Electricity Scenarios (BITES) tool is a scenario-based tool for analyzing how changes in energy demand and supply by economic sector can impact carbon dioxide emissions. Using ‘what-if’ scenarios, users are able to adjust inputs to the electricity generation, buildings, industry and transportation sectors in order to compare outcomes to baseline reference cases.

BITES permits the rapid screening and exploration of energy options and technologies that can lead to major reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and reductions in oil dependence.  Specifically, the tool allows the user to control up to 300 inputs as well as modify key assumptions such as emissions factors to explore the impact on emissions, energy, and petroleum use.

Key questions addressed:

• What is the impact of building efficiency measures on GHG emissions?
• If a greater percentage of energy comes from renewable sources, what would the United States observe in energy consumption savings?

Sample data inputs:

• Building efficiency improvements
• Industry efficiency improvements
• Low carbon fuel mix
• Biomass feedstock
• Vehicle efficiency
• Vehicle miles traveled
• Biofuel use
• Electricity generation by fuel type

Sample quantitative outputs:

• Emissions reduction by 2050
• Energy use reduction by 2050
• Oil use reduction by 2050
• Total emissions by sector
• Delivered energy
• Oil consumption
• Electricity demand

Access the Buildings Industry Transportation Electricity Scenarios (BITES) tool.

Resources:

Model Flow Diagram by NREL.

You can also see featured scenarios on the BITES website.