Zipcars on campus at Hobart and William Smith Colleges

Posted at: 09/22/2011 5:03 PM | Updated at: 09/22/2011 11:30 PM
By: Ted Fioraliso | WHEC.com

Students at Hobart and William Smith Colleges now have a new way to get around town. But it's not just for convenience -- it's also about helping the environment.

The colleges are now home to Zipcar -- a car-sharing service. Zipcar launched at Hobart and William Smith at the end of August -- just as students were starting up a new semester.

There are two cars on campus -- one is a hybrid -- the other is a fuel-efficient compact sedan.

Caroline Spruill is a senior at William Smith College. She pushed to bring Zipcar to campus. “We introduced it in student government and then had a lot of opportunity for student feedback and made sure everyone knew what it would mean for us and our campus.”

Zipcar isn't just about allowing students to take a joyride around town -- there's a serious side to it.

“We aim to hit a target of zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2025.” Jamie Landi is Hobart and William Smith's sustainability coordinator. It's his job to help the campus physically reduce its impact on the environment and develop a sustainable culture that students and faculty can follow. “You now have the flexibility if you don't have a car to be able to get around town but you don't necessarily need your own personal vehicle here all the time.” Landi believes that will help reduce the colleges' carbon footprint but it's not the only thing they're doing.

Since President Mark Gearan signed the "American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment" in 2007, the colleges have swapped out incandescent light bulbs for compact fluorescent ones, they've made their own biodiesel for the building and grounds fleet and they even offer bicycle rentals.

But it doesn't end there. Hobart and William Smith wants to be LEED certified with all its new building construction. That includes a new performing arts center that's still just in the planning stages.

For more information about Zipcar, click here.

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