2008 Woodie Awards
Physical Plant sprouts 8-10 biodiesel vehicles
Jennifer Larino
Issue date: 4/6/07 Section: News
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UCF on-campus vehicles are gradually going green.
They won't be sent to the paint and body shop, though. They're headed to the gas pump.
The change comes in the form of biodiesel, a clean-burning fuel source that the university has recently decided to use in on-campus vehicles.
The move to convert to biodiesel on campus is one of many efforts to make UCF an environmentally-conscious role model for the Orlando community.
Last month, UCF President John Hitt joined the President's Climate Commitment, an environmental movement currently embraced by 12 major colleges and universities that places an emphasis on eco-friendly practices.
The aim of the commitment is to provide the community around universities with a model for ways to eliminate carbon emissions and reduce energy consumption by first applying those models to the university itself.
Along with a push to reduce electricity use, reduce the environmental impact of university construction and create means for more efficient energy consumption in established university buildings, UCF is putting money toward an alternative fuel vehicle program.
The first shipments of biodiesel, produced from natural, renewable sources like animal fat or vegetable oil, were received in January of 2007.
The fuel significantly reduces carbon emissions and can be mixed with petroleum fuel, which makes it a cost-efficient option for UCF as it begins its alternative fuel vehicle program.
The UCF Physical Plant has already put the biodiesel shipments into use.
"Physical Plant has utilized the fuel source in about eight to 10 vehicles," said Richard Paradise, director of the Physical Plant.
Nearly all of the grounds unit's lawnmowers operate on biodiesel fuel, as well as some carts and larger equipment, he said.
"We really need to be good stewards of energy use," Paradise said.
University officials are looking into other services on campus where biodiesel can be utilized to reduce carbon emissions - such as the campus shuttle service vehicles.
They won't be sent to the paint and body shop, though. They're headed to the gas pump.
The change comes in the form of biodiesel, a clean-burning fuel source that the university has recently decided to use in on-campus vehicles.
The move to convert to biodiesel on campus is one of many efforts to make UCF an environmentally-conscious role model for the Orlando community.
Last month, UCF President John Hitt joined the President's Climate Commitment, an environmental movement currently embraced by 12 major colleges and universities that places an emphasis on eco-friendly practices.
The aim of the commitment is to provide the community around universities with a model for ways to eliminate carbon emissions and reduce energy consumption by first applying those models to the university itself.
Along with a push to reduce electricity use, reduce the environmental impact of university construction and create means for more efficient energy consumption in established university buildings, UCF is putting money toward an alternative fuel vehicle program.
The first shipments of biodiesel, produced from natural, renewable sources like animal fat or vegetable oil, were received in January of 2007.
The fuel significantly reduces carbon emissions and can be mixed with petroleum fuel, which makes it a cost-efficient option for UCF as it begins its alternative fuel vehicle program.
The UCF Physical Plant has already put the biodiesel shipments into use.
"Physical Plant has utilized the fuel source in about eight to 10 vehicles," said Richard Paradise, director of the Physical Plant.
Nearly all of the grounds unit's lawnmowers operate on biodiesel fuel, as well as some carts and larger equipment, he said.
"We really need to be good stewards of energy use," Paradise said.
University officials are looking into other services on campus where biodiesel can be utilized to reduce carbon emissions - such as the campus shuttle service vehicles.