SOYBEANS TAKE A SPIN

UC Irvine unveiled its first 100% biodiesel-fueled shuttle bus Tuesday, with more than 200 students, faculty and staff — as well as Irvine Mayor Beth Krom — gathering to celebrate the campus’ move toward sustainability.

One of 10 campus shuttles, the featured vehicle runs entirely on fuel made from soybeans, producing nearly 80% less carbon dioxide emissions than regular diesel fuel, as well as fewer nitrogen oxides and other greenhouse gases, according to Dick Sun, UCI’s environmental manager.

Complying with a system-wide directive for greener campuses, the university is set to convert the remainder of the fleet to biodiesel fuel by the start of fall quarter, and also plans to install more energy-efficient lighting and complete work on its cogeneration facility, which will provide hot water and electricity to the campus.

“We’re all trying to do our part for the environment,” Sun said. “Using biodiesel is just one of many things we can do to be more sustainable.”

— Jessie Brunner