Electric trucks help jump start VCU’s pursuit of a green campus.
Two small trucks mark the beginning of big changes in Virginia Commonwealth University’s pursuit of sustainability.
As part of a pilot program to test emissions and cost effectiveness, VCU recently purchased two electric trucks that reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 99 percent when compared to the diesel-powered Bobcat Toolcats already in use on campus.
“The trucks demonstrate that we’re taking our commitment to improving sustainability seriously,” said Ed Bennett, executive director for VCU Physical Plant and deputy for the VCU Facilities Management Division. “Given costs, we do want to be prudent, but sustainability is good business and we’re going to find a way to continue.”
The trucks place VCU among the 66 percent of universities that reported using hybrid or alternative-energy vehicles in 2008, according to the College Sustainability Report Card.
“Students are choosing universities based on sustainability,” said Jacek Ghosh, VCU director of sustainability. “This may be something as simple as having recycling programs or maybe it’s a fully green university, but it’s clearly part of why students are selecting where they go and how they get involved.”
The trucks also support VCU’s sustainability initiatives as a signatory of the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment. The commitment, which VCU signed in April 2008, is an effort among universities to address global warming by conducting a greenhouse gas inventory and establishing a timeline for achieving carbon neutrality.
“It’s just the way the world is going,” said Roberto Celis, director of green affairs for the Student Government Association and member of Green Unity 4 VCU, a student organization aimed at increasing student action in sustainability. “The facts are out there. We use too much and we can’t sustain it for too much longer, so we need to use the resources we can. VCU is a university that’s doing a lot already.”
Facilities Management uses the electric trucks for collecting trash, recycling and maintaining the grounds on both of VCU’s campuses. In the initial testing phase, they have proven to be smaller, lighter and quieter than standard trucks and are less destructive to sidewalks and grass. Following the test program, Bennett and Ghosh hope to see VCU’s fleet grow to include a mix of standard and electric trucks.
VCU also encourages sustainable practices through the installation of 25 external recycling stations, two BigBelly solar trash compactors that reduce collection frequency, and new bike and scooter racks. In addition, VCU has committed to constructing all new buildings to LEED Silver standards or above.
“Trying to use what VCU is giving us is the most important thing,” Celis said. “We have bins now, we have recycling available, we have the electric trucks and all of these great things, and now the students need to use them. We need to make those little changes.”
Eric Wilkerson (left) and Paul Sandman stand with the Vantage Electric TruckAll truck, a part of VCU’s pursuit of a sustainable campus.
