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Transportation

Transportation to and from campus and around campus is an important issue. U Sustain is striving to make transport around Union and the greater community easier.

Proposals Under consideration:

The purchase of hybrid vehicle(s) instead of conventional vehicles.
  • The College owns almost 100 vehicles in use by Facilities, Security and individual departments or offices.
  • Vehicle use by Campus Security (with a lot of stop and go driving and frequent idling to maintain a “presence” on campus) would be a particularly efficient use of hybrid technology.
  • Currently on the table is a plan to acquire a Ford Escape hybrid (34 mpg city) for use as a Security vehicle Security currently uses 4 or 6 cylinder conventional Ford Escapes that are much less efficient (4 cylinder engine – 19 mpg, 6 cylinder 17 mpg).
  • The hybrids cost approximately $6,300 more than the conventional engine Escape and we are investigating possible funding sources for this premium.
    • Once purchased, data would be collected on relative efficiency of the three types of vehicle (hybrid, 4 and 6 cylinder) in the form of miles per gallon, gallons per hour of use, maintenance costs, etc. This would be an excellent student project and would receive full cooperation from Campus Security.
    • The savings (in dollar amounts and pounds of CO2) could be reported (possibly in the form of a counter) on the Union College webpage.
    • Enabling the purchase of a hybrid instead of a conventional engine would be a good gift opportunity for groups or individuals who want to have an impact on improving the sustainability of Union’s campus.
  • We are also discussing the purchase of Toyota Prius for use by Campus Security and other Campus departments (this vehicle is less expensive to purchase than the Escape)
  • Prius gas efficiency: 48 mpg (city) 45 (highway)

    Oil Filter Program:
  • We are currently in conversation with SOMS Technologies to use their oil filter technology to vastly reduce the College’s use of engine oil.
  • The SOMS technology allows up to 30,000 on a single oil change, reducing the negative impact of waste oil disposal.

    Campus Shuttle:
  • Improvements have already been implemented to the campus shuttle schedule to discourage short distance drives by students
  • Shuttle service to more off-campus locations including downtown Schenectady is under final consideration. This should additionally reduce student driving.

    Other projects under consideration:
  • Increasing Shuttle Use
  • Better advertising of campus shuttle schedule
  • Investigate whether there is a way to make the shuttle schedule more transparent
  • Investigate the possibility of having the shuttle schedule available somehow via cellphone or text messaging.
  • Carpooling:
    • We are investigating a carpooling service, such as iCarpool to connect students and faculty/staff with carpooling opportunities.
    • In this service, we will establish a “Community” to which only Union College faculty, staff and students can belong. People can then register for regular carpooling opportunities or for single event carpools by using the service. It is also interfaced with Facebook.
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    U Sustain seeks to promote sustainability initiatives and educate the campus community about ways to live, work, and enjoy Union in the most environmentally friendly and sustainable ways possible.

     

    Academics
    In an age of pressing environmental concerns, the government, businesses, and universities need graduates that understand basic environmental concerns and solutions. By incorporating environmental and sustainability education, we empower our students to participate in and strengthen our changing society.

    Recycling
    Everything we purchase, use, throw away, or recycle has an impact. U Sustain seeks to help you diminish or eliminate that impact as much as possible through recycling, reduction, and reuse.

    Energy
    Energy is an important component of sustainability and encompasses the electricity that keeps the lights on and the gas that keeps us warm in the blustery Schenectady winter. Knowledge about reducing our energy, and, in turn, our carbon footprint, can enable us all to make a difference.

    Food
    One way we can all make a difference is by being conscious of what we eat and how we eat it. U Sustain seeks to help us all lower our environmental impact by eating local and organic, buying fair trade, using less packaging, and making vegetarian options appealing.

    Financial Resources
    Union College is a large economic power - what the college invests in and purchases can make an important statement. U Sustain strives to help the college make the best economic statements possible.

    Transportation
    Union is a residential, walkable campus, but U Sustain is working on ways to help you get around Union and the greater Schenectady area comfortably, while keeping the environment in mind.