BRISTOL – Roger Williams University has unveiled the school’s newly converted, eco-friendly, canola oil-powered shuttle bus.
Once a run-of-the-mill Ford F-350 that guzzled diesel fuel, the shuttle now runs on 100 percent canola oil recycled from the university’s Dining Commons.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
“To our knowledge, RWU is the only university in Rhode Island – and one of just a handful in the U.S. – to power a passenger vehicle with straight canola oil,” said Scott Yonan, staff co-chair of the university’s student/staff Recycling and Sustainability Committee.
In order to create a greener campus and promote eco-friendly practices, the committee teamed this summer with AltEnergy Oasis consultant Mark Howards to install a conversion kit on the shuttle, which transports students around campus and to local destinations.
The university expects to use about 2,290 fewer gallons of diesel during the current academic year than in previous year because of the conversion. •
Hattie Bryant invites you to
watch a one- to four-minute video tip each day about best business practices from
the weekly television show, Small Business School.
