The Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University has introduced an innovative greening project that will see ten staff members commute between north and south campuses on battery operated bicycles.
This, while their cars remain in a parking facility sporting solar panels.
NMMU says the power from the solar panels will be fed into the university's electricity grid.
The university's director of projects and planning, Greg Ducie, says they're excited by the projecdt, particularly the buy-in of key staff members.
He says the "university is already powering various other lecture halls and residences via wind and solar energy thanks to the coordination efforts of its Centre for Energy Research, and has several more innovative and cost-saving efforts in the pipeline."
"If the freewheeling project proves successful it will be further rolled out, and plans will be initiated to introduce solar-powered golf carts for technical staff instead of fuel-hungry vehicles."
Ducie said he was grateful for the support of Innowind, a company that had agreed to supply the panels free of charge.
"We need to focus on sustainable solutions and instill in our students a responsibility towards the natural environment. "Freewheeling also responds to the university's Vision 2020 dream for the kind of university it wishes to be … one that leads the way when it comes to renewable energy solutions," said Ducie.
NMMU says if the freewheeling project proves successful it will be rolled out further on campus.
