SMU invests in two electric trucks; campus works to lessen environmental impact

WINONA, Minn. — Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota has purchased two electric trucks for use by its Department of Maintenance. Two extended-length SUV Neighborhood Electric Vehicles have recently arrived on the Winona campus.

These vehicles, made by Columbia, can reach 25 miles per hour and run an average of 30-40 miles per charge. At one charge per week, the university is confident these new purchases will save money as well as lessen the university’s impact on the environment. These electric vehicles cost an average of 2 cents per mile, are much quieter, and emit no pollutants. They are replacing a vehicle that cost approximately 20 cents per mile in fuel.

A few other universities have tried electric vehicles and found them economical to operate and environmentally friendly.

John Schollmeier, director of the physical plant, said he has been looking to purchase electric work vehicles for the past few years, but had not been able to find the right vehicle at a local dealer that could maintain and service the vehicles. The Columbia trucks were purchased from Honda Motorwërks in La Crosse, Wis., and cost approximately $12,450 apiece. Funding for this project came from a reallocation of maintenance funds.

“It is my hope to eventually change out all of the current maintenance vehicles for either electric or biodiesel vehicles,” Schollmeier said.

This is just one way that the university is continuing to “go green” in the 2007-08 school year.

With money from the Student Senate, the university will purchase a Flying F Bio-Fuels complete biodiesel production system as early as this spring. This system allows the operator to process, wash and dry raw vegetable oil into quality finished fuel — up to 80 gallons per week. Cooking oil from the university will be reused to create fuel. The cost of this system is estimated at $9,000.

The university — which has been active in the Adopt-a-Highway and Adopt-a-River programs — is also using more compact fluorescent light bulbs, and has recently replaced cooling units and the dining room refrigeration systems with more efficient equipment. Additionally, an Outdoor Leadership Office will be established on the Winona campus this fall, and the university has partnered with the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics, an educational, nonprofit organization dedicated to the responsible enjoyment and active stewardship of the outdoors by all people, worldwide.

Last spring the Student Senate passed a resolution stating the university should be an “ethical leader in the movement for environmental sustainability.” The resolution cited community support for the principles and practice of energy efficiency, waste and consumption reduction, alternative building designs, and use of renewable energy resources.