Minnesota Schools Cutting Carbon

Starting Sept. 1, three self-service Zipcars – two Toyota Matrixes and a Toyota Prius – will be available for use 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The cars are located in three dedicated spots near Kryzsko Commons and Sheehan Hall and are available to all students and employees age 18 and over. Gas, maintenance, insurance and reserved parking are included in the low hourly and daily rates.

To sign up, visit: http://www.zipcar.com/winona

Zipcar benefits the university by helping to reduce demand for parking while offering students, faculty and staff a convenient, economical and environmentally friendly alternative to owning a car. The service provides the freedom of car ownership without the associated cost and hassle, saving members an average of $600/month or $7,200/year when compared with car ownership. Zipcar also benefits faculty and staff who bike, carpool or ride transit to work, by giving them access to a car during the day if they need one.

The partnership with Zipcar is part of the university’s sustainability initiative, launched when WSU President Judith Ramaley signed the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment in 2007. Estimates indicate that every Zipcar takes 15-20 personally-owned vehicles off the road.