Elon University Sustainability and Green Fleet Initiatives

Elaine Durr, Director of Sustainability Keith Dimont, Automotive Services Manager

Elon University Private institution founded in 1889 Liberal Arts and Sciences, Graduate and Professional Programs Engaged Learning Study Abroad, Community Service, Internships, Leadership,

Research Located in the Piedmont region of North Carolina, east of

Greensboro and northwest of Raleigh/Durham 635 acre campus Enrollment Fall 2015:

Undergraduate: 5,903 Graduate: 728 Total: 6,631

Commitment to Sustainability

Environmental Advisory Council Sustainability Policy

Sustainability Master Plan

Climate Action Plan

Elon Commitment

2004-05 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11

Full-time Staff

Green Building Policy

Energy Conservation Policy

Carbon Neutrality by

2037

Commitment to Sustainability

2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17

Education & Outreach Coordinator

STARS Silver Rating

Sustainable Purchasing Guidelines

STARS Silver Rating STARS Silver Rating

Updated Sustainability Master Plan

Long-term Goal: Carbon Neutrality

by 2037

Operations

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4270 4431

4622 4702 4849 4939 4992 4995 5032

5225 5357 5599

5782

1,326.1 1,370.5 1,445.7 1,478.9 1,808.9 1,920.4 1,910.0 1,946.5 2,002.3 2,117.3

2,404.9 2,590.0 2,705.9

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1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

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Energy Utilization Index

BTU / Sq. Ft. End of Year Total - # of Undergraduate Students - Building KSQ

BTU / Sq Ft End of Year Undergraduate # Building K Sq FtBTU - British Thermal Unit

30% BTU/SF

104% SF

35% Students

Operations

Education Course Work, Research, Visions Eco-Reps, Interns Sustainability Leaders Sustainability Faculty Scholars

Solar Farm

Presenter

Presentation Notes

Website is a great resource – video, campus initiatives, highlights & happenings

Green Fleet

Total Fleet • Total fleet consist of 226 vehicles • 83 Alternative Fuel Vehicles (37%)

– 36 Electric Utility Vehicles (16%) – 31 Biodiesel (14%) – 17 Hybrid (7%)

Alternative Fuel Vehicle Plan • Start up in the summer of 2005

– Researching and Testing

First Hybrid purchased in 2005 – Toyota Highlander

Hybrid Vehicles • Today we have 17 (7%) which consist of:

– 7 Mercury Mariners – 5 Toyota Camrys – 3 Toyota Prius – 1 Toyota Avalon – 1 Toyota Highlander

• (2006 Model with 210,000 miles)

Electric Vehicles • First electric utility carts put in service in March 2007 • Today there are a total of 36 (16%) • We brought demos to campus from:

– E-Ride – Columbia Summit – GEM – Clubcar

• We tested their range with different amounts of cargo and then we rated them for our different applications. – Heavy Duty – Medium – Light

Electric Utility Vehicle 7 Year Cost Study

• 2006 – 2013 • 32 vehicles totaling 1641 months of service • 26,226 gallons of gasoline saved

– Avg. vehicle uses 16 gallons per month • Gasoline cost savings of $100,774 • 7 year battery cost $34,639 • Charging cost $15,048

– Avg. vehicle charging cost $9.17 per month • Total cost savings $51,087

From 2006-2013, Elon University saved a total of

257 TONS of CARBON DIOXIDE from the atmosphere from the

use of electric utility carts.

Biodiesel Program • Began researching the use of biodiesel in 2005

– Visited a bio plant where it is produced • Made from:

– soy beans – corn – canola – animal fat (which is run through a process to remove the glycerin

to help make it more combustible) – Department of Energy Website – Talked with diesel experts

• One gallon of B20 biodiesel disburses 17.9 lbs. of CO2 • One gallon of gasoline disburses 19.64 lbs. of CO2 • One gallon of diesel disburses 22.38 lbs. of CO2

Biodiesel Program cont. • We installed a 10,000 gallon biodiesel tank

and pump at our campus fuel depot. • Today 31 biodiesel vehicles on campus • 178,000 gallons used since 2006 • 4.48 lbs. of CO2

saved per gallon over diesel. • 398 tons of total CO2 savings

Start up of Transit • Began with a $1M grant from FTA in 2006. • Began our routes in early 2007.

– (6) 32-passenger buses with wheelchair lifts that operated on 4 routes in Elon

• We added our University Drive Line in late August of 2007. – This route connects our campus with movie theaters and

shopping areas in Burlington. • In September of 2010 we connected our campus to

volunteer agencies in Burlington with our Downtown/East Burlington route. – May Memorial Library, Village Project, Boys and Girls Club,

Cummings High School, Alamance Health Department, Burlington Housing Authority, Allied Churches

Future for BioBus-System • Developing an Elon-ARMC Part Route 4

Connection • Develop connection stops with the new

Burlington Link Transit. We plan to begin these services in late August 2016.

Campus EV Charging Stations

Future Possibilities for the Elon University Green Fleet

• Install LP Fueling Station • Convert service trucks from gasoline engines

to LPG • Electric plug in vehicles • Electric buses

www.elon.edu/sustainability ElonSustainability SustainableElon

Thank You

• Elaine Durr, edurr@elon.edu, 336-278-5229 • Keith Dimont, dimontk@elon.edu, 336-278-5458

org.elon.edu/transit/biobus ElonFacilities ElonUPhysPlant