Hybrid Truck Delivers to UAlbany Campus
By KC Orcutt, UAS
In continuing sustainability efforts, both UAlbany
and Coca-Cola Refreshed have been working to find ways to reduce harm
to the environment in UAlbany's community of 20,000 plus members and
their day-to-day routine. Part of that includes, Coca-Cola Refreshed,
the beverage distributing company on campus. The company has been
focusing on the major goal of reducing waste in complimenting UAlbany's
Green Scene's mission on campus to promote sustainability. Coca-Cola
Refreshed has implemented several tactics towards reducing
environmental harm, including most recently, the use of hybrid delivery trucks.
Coca-Cola Refreshed has been using a hybrid
delivery truck since the fall semester 2010. There are currently 240
trucks in New York State and New York City, Coca-Cola Refreshed is
testing delivery trucks that run on 100% electricity. Currently, the hybrid
delivery truck is the most beneficial in reducing waste emissions in
Albany. The hybrid delivery truck, which looks on the surface like an
average 18-wheeler, is the largest truck of its kind in the nation and
the specific vehicle is patented by Coca-Cola Refreshed.
The company also designed and currently executes a
unique delivery system that optimizes delivery with minimal stops or
idling, fuel usage and packing of products.
"We have a state of the art delivery system,"
explained Jeff Blanchard, the Sales Center Manager, "in addition to the
truck being designed to our specifications. We load the truck by
stop, which saves both time and energy. The trucks also have electric
powered tailgates."
Coca-Cola Refreshed delivers to UAlbany's campus 3
times per week, delivering to all the retail and food service
locations, including Outtakes and Barnes & Noble. The truck is 30%
more fuel-efficient than regular tractor trailers, and produces
one-third less emissions, both while idling, stopped in traffic and
during overall use. The hybrid electric system that this specific
truck also offers includes fuel savings of up to 35 percent, reduced
maintenance, up to 87 percent reduction in idle times, quieter
operations and better acceleration, making it what Coca-Cola Refreshed
calls it, "a breath of fresh air in the commercial vehicle industry."
The Coca-Cola Refreshed Company also supplies
beverages, such as Coca-Cola®, Diet Coke®, Sprite®, vitaminwater,
POWERADE® and Minute Maid®, to energy efficient vending machines on our
campus, made by GIII vending. The machines are built exclusively for
Coca-Cola products and are Energy Star Tier 2 compliant. With
UAlbany’s implementation of a Reverse Vending Machine on campus this
Spring Semester, students can recycle in the Campus Center for a
on-the-spot bottle deposit.
Each day, efforts and actions of efficiency, no matter
how small or large, are not going unnoticed by members of UAlbany’s
campus.