Temple U Introduces Electric Car Charging Stations
(U.S.): Students danced the "Electric Slide" as two hybrid-electric cars were introduced to campus recently as part of the PhillyCarShare program. The university has also unveiled two new electric car charging stations for use by the campus community. The electric cars and stations are part of the university's goal of reducing energy consumption by 25 percent in two years.
Bellevue College Implements Ride Share Program
The college has received a grant of $21,000 from King County Metro and $26,500 from the Washington State Department of Transportation to offer rideshare incentives to students and employees, and provide fare subsidies for commuter vanpools. The grants will also fund the launch of BC RideMatch, a website that will allow students, faculty and staff to connect with carpoolers.
Berklee College of Music Creates Bike Pavilion
Features include parking for 75 bikes and charging stations for five electric scooters, as well as a repair station with an air pump and various tools. The facility is an attempt to protect the bikes from theft and to encourage alternative forms of transportation.
CSU East Bay to Offer Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
Two new charging stations will be installed as part of California State University, East Bay’s master plan to transition to more sustainable technologies. The university will also replace outdated parking lot pole units with more energy-efficient plasma lighting systems. The projects will receive funding through renewable energy grants.
Florida Gulf Coast U Brings Car Sharing Program to Campus
The university has partnered with WeCar by Enterprise to offer an on-campus car sharing program for faculty, staff and students. The initiative will kick off with two vehicles and, if successful, the university plans to add additional cars to the program.
McMaster U Wins Clean Air Commute
The university avoided the emission of 6.89 tons of pollutants during the week-long Clean Air Commute, taking the top spot for its size category among 180 workplaces in the challenge. Taking place across Ontario, the challenge encouraged the use of sustainable modes of transportation to work or school.
Southwestern Illinois College Starts Green Transportation Program
In partnership with St. Clair County Transit District, the college will work to better incorporate the College MetroLink Station into the campus and surrounding community for improved alternative transportation options. A MetroBikeLink, a trail adjacent to the light rail tracks, will also be expanded and include a pedestrian bridge. The project is expected to be complete by the end of 2013.
U Louisville Launches Earn-A-Bike Program
Students, faculty and staff who agree to forfeit a parking pass as part of the university's new Earn-A-Bike program will receive a $400 voucher toward a new bike, helmet, U-lock or other bike-related products and services.
U Utah to Introduce Electric Transit Bus
The university has ordered an electric bus to transport students across campus. The bus will charge its batteries wirelessly through a pioneering recharge-station technology developed by Utah State University. Funding was provided by a federal grant.
U Louisville to Launch Car Sharing Program
The university has partnered with Enterprise Rent-A-Car to offer an on-campus car-sharing program for faculty, staff and students beginning this fall. Rental costs for the WeCar by Enterprise program range from $8 per hour to $56 per day including fuel, 200 free miles, insurance for basic physical damage to the vehicle, and state-required liability protection.
Arkansas State U Pilots Biodiesel Blend in Campus Trucks
The Renewable Energy Technology program has increased the production of biodiesel to compare its emissions levels with vehicles that run entirely on petroleum diesel. If the biodiesel proves more economically and environmentally friendly, students in the program will advocate for producing enough biodiesel for all campus trucks.
U Buffalo Introduces New Fleet of Eco-Friendly Buses
To meet the demand of increased ridership among the campus community, the university has purchased a new fleet of environmentally friendly buses that use cleaner fuel with a mixture of biodiesel. The buses are equipped with bike racks, and riders will be able to track the fleet using a mobile app and website.
U Arizona Launches Social Network for Ridesharing
The Zimride platform uses Facebook integration for the campus community to share commutes or one-time rides. The university aims to reduce campus traffic and parking difficulties, and provide a cost-saving transportation alternative.
NY Times Covers Rise of Hybrid Vehicle Curriculum Programs
"As automakers increase their efforts to design vehicles that are more fuel-efficient and friendlier to the environment, engineering programs are likewise adapting their curriculums, preparing students to build vehicles increasingly powered by batteries and managed by computers," reports a recent New York Times article. Because of the growing complexity of hybrid vehicles, automakers are "eager to work closely with universities" by expanding internships and other partnerships to find students capable of creating vehicles that use alternative powertrains. The article profiles curriculums at Ohio State University, Purdue University (Indiana) and the University of Michigan, which has added new courses on energy systems and modified automotive engineering courses to include the electrification of the vehicle.
Palo Alto College Starts Bike Sharing Program
Designed to boost athleticism and environmentally friendly travel by encouraging students to ditch their cars, the recently launched program includes 12 refurbished bikes stationed at green bike racks across campus. Additional bikes are currently being repaired for the program.
La Trobe U Introduces Online Carpool Match System
(Australia): The new initiative coordinates carpooling among staff, students and the wider La Trobe community. The online system allows users to register their travel details and organize carpooling options based on multiple matches along multiple routes.
Utah State U to Launch Idle-Free Initiative
The initiative is designed to encourage drivers to turn of their engines while not moving in an effort to cut down on carbon emissions. The university's Sustainability Council will train students, faculty and staff to inform drivers of the initiative and provide information on the benefits of having an idle-free campus.
Duke U Adds Diesel-Electric Buses to Campus Fleet
The university has added five new hybrid diesel-electric buses to its free Bull City Connector fleet. The $3 million addition, funded by the Federal Transit Administration and North Carolina Department of Transportation, is expected to save the university about 27 percent on daily fuel usage compared to traditional diesel buses.
League of American Bicyclists Names New Bike Friendly Campuses
Nine new institutions have been recognized for their efforts to help bicycling thrive on campus including president-led bicycling classes and rides at the Georgia Institute of Technology and a new Cycle Learning Center at Boise State University (Idaho). To date, the program has grown to 35 campuses in 21 states.
West Michigan U Students Win National Green Vehicle Competition
A group of West Michigan University engineering technology students recently won the Human Assisted Green Energy Vehicle design competition. The competition calls on teams of up to five undergraduate and graduate students to design a vehicle that transfers the rider's manual power to the driving wheel through the use of a hydraulic fluid rather than a chain or other direct-drive mechanism. The four-member team's BroncoBike entry captured five first places in reliability and safety; workmanship; cost analysis; design report; and endurance race on its way to winning the overall event.
Clark U Debuts Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
The university joined fellow Worcester, Ma.-based institutions Worcester Polytechnic Institute and Quinsigamond Community College to debut new charging stations for the campus community and city. The Institute for Energy & Sustainability, a nonprofit housed at the university, received a Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources grant to install 10 charging stations in central Massachusetts.
Towson U Rolls Out Free Bike Rental Program
The pilot program is starting with 25 bicycles that students have the opportunity to rent free of charge for the entire semester. The program was developed to offer an alternative mode of transportation that is affordable and promotes a healthy lifestyle.
U California Los Angeles Traffic Drops to 1990 Levels
After focusing on lowering the number of drive-alone commuters, vehicle counts are at the lowest level since 1990, when the university first began measuring. Nearly 53 percent of employees currently drive to work alone and 25 percent of students drive alone. The university is also working to increase the number of employees that use alternative transportation methods as part of its Climate Action Plan.
Adrian College to Launch Bike Share Program
The plan, which calls for college-owned yellow bicycles to be available for shared use by students, faculty and staff, is a result of a contest in which the campus community was invited to submit creative ideas for improving the campus. The winning idea received $10,000 for implementation.
Kirkwood CC Offers Electric Vehicle Charging on Campus
Anyone who owns an electric vehicle can rent a parking stall in the community college's Hotel at Kirkwood Center to charge up. The charging station was partially funded by a $12,000 Energy Efficiency & Conservation Block Grant from the City of Cedar Rapids. The college, which owns four hybrid vehicles for training students, is developing curriculum for diagnosing and repairing hybrid and electric vehicles.
U Colorado Boulder Appoints First Senior Transportation Fellow
The University of Colorado Boulder's Environmental Center has named planning and design professor Kevin J. Krizek as its first senior transportation fellow to help with a vision and plan toward an advanced sustainable transportation system. Krizek will work to synergize local and regional transportation issues, mentor students and assist faculty and staff in developing expertise and innovation related to transportation demand management.
Staffordshire U Adopts Car Share Program
(U.K.): A partnership with Hertz On Demand now offers students and faculty a free membership that allows them to reserve a vehicle via phone or on the website. The pay-as-you-go system provides members 24-hour access to vehicles located on campus.
U Queensland Sees 70% Increase in Bike, Pedestrian Commuters
(Australia): A recent report has revealed a significant rise in bus, bike and pedestrian commuters to the University of Queensland's St Lucia campus. Bus commuters have doubled since the last survey in 2002 and the number of people traveling by bike or foot increased 70 percent. The university has worked to improve its green transportation infrastructure by capping campus car parking spots and working with the Brisbane City Council to develop direct access via public transportation to campus.
Clemson U Debuts Car Share, Electric Car Charging Station
Clemson University (South Carolina) has unveiled its first electric vehicle charging station and a new car sharing program. WeCar, a membership-based car sharing program, allows students, faculty and staff to rent vehicles by the hour. The charging station will be used to charge a Chevrolet Volt that is part of the WeCar vehicle fleet.
Queens U Opens Bike Shop
The AMS Bike Shop at Queen's University’s (Ontario), organized by its Commission of the Environment and Sustainability, will provide replacement parts and repair services for students, and sell refurbished bicycles.
Western Michigan U Expands Electric Car Charging Offerings
A year after unveiling four electric car charging stations on its main campus, Western Michigan University has announced that 20 electric vehicle charging stations are now connected to the university’s power grid and available to the public free of charge.
Colorado State U Installs DIY Bike Repair Station
Colorado State University's Police Department has installed a DIY bike repair station to promote bicycling on campus. The station is equipped with an air pump, screwdrivers, various wrenches and a tire lever. Campus bike registrations and bicycle tickets funded the $1,300 project.
San Jose State U Plans Regional Bike Sharing Program
San Jose State University (CA) has received a grant from the Valley Transportation Authority, Metropolitan Transportation Commission and Bay Area Quality Management District to launch a regional bike sharing program this spring. The program will include 400 bicycles and 40 bike share stations.
Stanford U Earns National 'Best Workplaces for Commuters' Honor
Stanford University (CA) has been recognized as one of the Best Workplaces for Commuters by the National Center for Transit Research for the ninth consecutive year. The university also received the "Best Of" award in the Best Workplaces for Commuters 2011 Race to Excellence.
U Albany Encourages Bus Commuting with GPS Convenience
In an effort to encourage bus ridership to campus, the University at Albany (NY) has implemented a new GPS tracking system on their bus fleet. The wireless system allows the university community to see the location of buses via smart phone or monitors placed around campus. The university received a $166,000 grant from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority and the NYS Department of Transportation for the project.
Yale U Adds Electric Van to Delivery Fleet
Over the next year, Yale University (CT) will compare a gas-powered transit van with a new all-electric van with zero emissions to determine if a permanent switch will be beneficial. A new charging station will monitor usage information including the electric van's kilowatt usage.
Calif. State U Sacramento Students Convert Waste Oil to Biodiesel
With $6,000 in grants from the university's Greenovation Fund and Sustainability Steering Committee, mechanical engineering students at California State University, Sacramento are converting waste oil from campus kitchens into biodiesel fuel. The students are aiming to create enough diesel to fuel the grounds maintenance equipment on campus.
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical U Students Develop Biodiesel Fuel
Students at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (FL) have begun developing a biodiesel source to save fuel costs for the university. The biodiesel will be created from recycled oil from campus kitchens and will be used to fuel campus tractors. The university expects to save $3 a gallon and reduce emissions.
New York U Doubles Bike Share Efforts
New York University will more than double the size of its bike share fleet this month, officially moving the program out of its pilot phase. The program has grown "exponentially" since its launch in summer 2010, said the university's bike share coordinator, and has helped inform plans for a New York City bike share.
San Diego State U Unveils Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
San Diego State University (CA) has announced the installation of 14 electric vehicle charging stations across campus that are free for students, faculty and staff. The stations were made available by a grant from the University of California Department of Energy.
U Kentucky Debuts DIY Bicycle Repair Stand
The University of Kentucky's Wildcat Wheels Program has launched a DIY Bicycle Repair Stand in an effort to enhance the services available to campus cyclists. The new stand includes a waterproof dispenser with free, pre-glued patches and instructions on how to patch a flat.
Bowling Green State U Students Initiate Eco-Friendly Bike Racks
Bowling Green State University’s (OH) Undergraduate Student Government and Office of Campus Sustainability have announced plans to purchase 20 new bicycle racks made from recycled plastic. The group hopes that more bicycle racks will result in more bike commuters to campus.
Rhode Island College Introduces Car Sharing Program
Rhode Island College has partnered with Zipcar, Inc. to launch a campus car sharing program for students, faculty and staff. Offering two cars to start, the college aims to reduce traffic congestion and vehicle emissions on campus.
SUNY Cortland Debuts Eco-Friendly Buses
State University of New York at Cortland has purchased a new fleet of environmentally friendly buses that use cleaner fuel. Featuring messages to increase climate issue awareness among the campus community, the propane-fueled vehicles are part of the university's Climate Action Plan toward carbon neutrality by 2050.
Vanderbilt U Partners with Students for Bike Sharing Program
Vanderbilt University (TN) has announced that re{cycle}, the winner of its Vanderbilt Ventures Competition, will receive start-up money, compensation, support and resources from the Dean of Students office to launch a campus bike sharing program. The student-run company will offer access to daily bicycle rentals for $10 a day to undergraduate students at the university.
