U of G Takes on Commuter Challenge: The Environment Wins
June 30, 2011 - Campus Bulletin
The University of Guelph has recorded its best-ever participation in the annual Commuter Challenge. More than 200 faculty, staff and students took part in seeking sustainable transportation to and from campus June 5 to 11.
The national, week-long event encourages "green" commuting by reducing the number of single-occupancy vehicles driven to work each day.
“I am very impressed with the University’s showing at this year’s event,” said Gillian Maurice, sustainability co-ordinator. “We were responsible for 58 per cent of the city’s total participation and about 60 per cent of the total kilometres reduced city-wide.”
U of G participants saved 2.45 tonnes of carbon dioxide (enough to fill about 178,000 party balloons) and 13,650 kilometres, equivalent to driving across Canada and back. U of G commuters who walked, ran, biked or found another active way to get to work that week burned more than 228,000 calories.
About 330 participants from 15 Guelph organizations took part, reducing 3.75 metric tonnes of CO2 emissions on average by travelling more than 23,192 km in sustainable ways. Province-wide, 206 organizations and more than 150,000 people participated.
This was U of G's seventh year in the event. Last year, the University received top awards for highest emission reduction and greatest distance travelled using sustainable transportation.
Prizes given by the University to this year’s participants prizes included a monthly Guelph transit pass, a bicycle basket, gift cards and mugs from Hospitality Services, and bottles from Speed River Bicycle.
