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What can a buck get you?
These days, not much, certainly not a gallon
of gas, Not a cup of coffee,
Not even a slice of pizza.
But if you collect ONE DOLLAR
from each college student for each credit hour,
well, you've got a pile of money!
That money set Austin Community College
on our way in 2009
to implementing sustainability initiatives.
Being that ACC is a commuter college
with no on-campus housing
and campuses scattered throughout Central
Texas, transportation was identified
as a good place to start.
After all, more traffic equals (cough,
cough),well, you get the picture
ACC's first initiative was
to reduce single occupant vehicle miles.
Encouraging carpooling was a no-brainer,
but increasing mass transit ridership
was important.
So, the green pass was born!
Electric Car Charging Stations are fast
becoming a hit with staff,
students and the public,
as are incentives
for driving fuel-efficient cars.
And, don't forget the solar panels.
ACC now boasts the single largest system
in Central Texas not owned
by a utility company.
Besides producing clean energy,
the panels also serve as instructional tools
for ACC students.
Obviously, that one dollar sustainability fee
funds a lot of initiatives for the college.
BUT, are they working?
Early reports say "Yes".
There's already been a shift
in how people commute to the campuses,
with a greater percentage using alternatives
to single occupant vehicles.
Bus ridership is up,
and indications show a positive impact
on overall greenhouse gas emission.
Our students are helping ACC go green one
dollar at a time.