The Office of Sustainability and Parking and Transportation Services launched our new hybrid electric buses with fall festivities! You will see three of the hybrid electric buses around campus currently, with five more coming this winter. We are always working to lower emissions as part of our Climate Action Plan. 🔋🔌 These buses are about three to four times more efficient overall than the standard campus buses. They use EV mode in more congested areas on campus and they recharge with regenerative braking between Minneapolis and St. Paul campuses and in less congested areas. Take a ride to see for yourself! 🚌
Fun facts about the buses:
- 🔋 GILLIG Hybrids are up to 90% cleaner* than the 12-year-old diesel buses they replace. With the option to leverage the 'battery-only' mode up to 50% of the time, our campus can enjoy zero-emission operation with the ease and reliability of traditional fueling.
- 🔧 Engineered for ease of maintenance and equipped with electrical accessories that reduce engine wear-and-tear, reliability isn't just promised-it's built-in, ensuring optimized and enduring performance.
- ⚡ Engineered to turn the stop-and-go traffic of our routes into a source of power, GILLIG Hybrids harness the power of regenerative braking, not only extending brake life but also producing clean energy to power our campus' cleaner commute.
- 📉 Hybrids allow us to reap the rewards of fewer carbon emissions, reduced fuel consumption, and lowered operating costs all with no new infrastructure needed. GILLIG Hybrid buses are eligible for federal incentives, making them not only kinder to the planet but also the University's budget.
*Results may vary based on application and configuration.
Wording adapted from GILLIG 2023 Product Brochure.
From fleet electrification and changing the way we power buildings to everyday choices like taking the bus or creating less waste, it all adds up. Take a ride!
Undergraduate students: Share about your learning experiences at the University. The Twin Cities Sustainability Committee is looking for focus group participants to discuss how and what you have learned about sustainability during your time at the University. No previous experience with or interest in sustainability required. Participants will receive a $25 gift card.
Join a focus group
Questions/concerns? Contact the focus group coordinator, Nicki May.
Join us this spring for three Sustainability Coffee Chats featuring new campus facilities, plans, and clean energy projects shaping the University of Minnesota’s sustainable future.
- ☕ Flipping into the Future: NEW Gymnastics Performance Facility
Wednesday, February 11, 2026, 9:30-10:30 a.m. (watch recording) - ☕ NEW UMN Zero Waste Plan (in person!) (Register)
Wednesday, March 18, 2026, 9:30-11:00 a.m., RecWell Multipurpose Room 7 - ☕ NEW On-Campus Solar (Register)
Wednesday, April 8, 2026 | 9:00-10:00 a.m. (virtual)
Do you have input regarding the University of Minnesota Twin Cities' Stormwater Pollution Prevention Program? Submit your feedback using this public comment form, open year-round. Learn more about the U of M stormwater program.
The Office of Sustainability and Parking and Transportation Services launched our new hybrid electric buses with fall festivities! You will see three of the hybrid electric buses around campus currently, with five more coming this winter. We are always working to lower emissions as part of our Climate Action Plan. 🔋🔌 These buses are about three to four times more efficient overall than the standard campus buses. They use EV mode in more congested areas on campus and they recharge with regenerative braking between Minneapolis and St. Paul campuses and in less congested areas. Take a ride to see for yourself! 🚌 Click to read more details
Two Spring Break study abroad programs are now open for students interested in sustainability and global health. Spend March 6–15, 2026 exploring Green Chemistry in Guatemala or The Intersection of Health and the Environment in Ecuador. Both programs connect to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and include an on-campus course. Apply by December 1, 2025, with a $1,000 fee reduction for the first 10 confirmed students per program. Click to read the full article
We’re hiring a Student Sustainability Communications Assistant! Open to undergrads passionate about sustainability, social media, writing, and graphic design. Help advance campus sustainability and engagement through communications! 👉 Apply: Search Job ID: 370820 in the Student Job section.
The Office of Sustainability is rethinking how we engage our campus—and we need your perspective. Spend 2 minutes on this quick survey to help us create impactful events and programs that reflect what you care about. Take the survey.
Join us on Wednesday, November 5 for the official launch of our new hybrid electric campus buses! Stop by on Church St. outside Morrill Hall from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. for games, prizes, and cider. Take a guided tour of one of the new buses and learn about University of Minnesota sustainability initiatives, the Climate Action Plan, and campus bus routes. See you there! 🍁🎉🔋🔌🚌
For the first time, the University of Minnesota's Huntington Bank Stadium achieved zero waste–recovering an incredible 90% of waste (46,000 pounds) generated during the Farm Aid 40 concert. Learn about Gopher Athletics sustainability efforts
Join us for conversations on campus sustainability and climate action! This fall, we’ll explore two timely topics:
- Electrifying our Fleet – Wed, Oct 15 · 10–11am
Hear from UMN experts about recent progress and future plans for electrifying campus vehicles. - Net Zero Buildings – Tue, Nov 11 · 9–10am
Learn from UMN leaders and Darcy Solutions about designing and building net zero facilities, including the new Collections Facility powered by solar and a geothermal Darcy Well.
Free and open to the public on Zoom. More info