DURHAM, N.H., Oct. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- The University of New Hampshire (UNH) and Zipcar, the world's largest car-sharing service, today announced the launch of Zipcar's program on campus. The service, designed to help decrease the number of vehicles on campus, is another demonstration of the university's commitment to sustainability, including climate education, transportation and energy initiatives.

Beginning today, a mix of six self-service hybrid and fuel efficient Zipcars will be available for use 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The vehicles are located in reserved spaces at the Dairy Bar, Thompson Hall and Quad Way in Lower Campus, and are available to all faculty, staff and students ages 18 and older. Durham residents ages 21 and older will also be able to join. Gas, insurance, 180 free miles, reserved parking and roadside assistance are included in low hourly and daily rates.

Faculty, staff, and students can join Zipcar for $35 and can drive for as little as $8 per hour or $66 per day weekdays and $9 per hour or $72 per day on weekends. These members also will receive $35 in free driving credit as part of the program when they sign up. In addition to personal use of the vehicles, UNH also has set up codes to allow members to use Zipcar for official University business, enabling the university to gradually reduce the number of fleet vehicles it currently owns and operates. UNH departments will be encouraged to create Zipcar accounts.

Local residents ages 21 and older can join for $75 ($25 one-time application fee and $50 annual fee). All members 21 and over will have access to Zipcar's network of more than 6,500 vehicles throughout the UK and North America.

UNH is committed to being a Climate Protection Campus that pursues a sustainable energy future through emissions reduction policies, practices, research, and education. Zipcar is a perfect fit for this initiative, given that its programs have been proven to reduce emissions, decrease miles travelled, and increase the use of public transit, walking and biking. More than 50 percent of Zipcar members report selling or avoiding buying a car.

"In addition to our free Wildcat Transit and frequent intercity rail and bus connections, Zipcar provides another way to be car-free at UNH," said Dick Cannon, UNH vice president for finance and administration. "It offers students, faculty and staff a convenient and cost effective alternative to owning a car, while minimizing the impact on the environment. As a Sustainable Learning Community, we look for innovative ways to solve environmental issues, and we believe Zipcar does just that."

Zipcar, which has been offering campus car sharing since 2002, now has programs at more than 140 colleges and universities across the country. Among the dozens of colleges that have partnered with Zipcar to reduce traffic, noise and parking demands are MIT, Columbia, Georgetown, Arizona State University, University of Michigan, Harvard, USC, University of Minnesota, University of Toronto, University of North Carolina, The University of Chicago, and UCLA.

"When it comes to sustainability, very few universities 'walk the walk' more than UNH, and we're proud to be a part of their initiatives," said Matt Malloy, vice president of Global University Operations. "Together, we can make it easier for faculty, staff and students to reduce their carbon footprint and save money without sacrificing their mobility.

UNH has earned many accolades for its sustainability initiatives, including awards and recognition from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, Sustainable Endowments Institute, Sierra Club, Princeton Review, and Business NH Magazine. Highlights of its sustainability commitment include EcoLine, an innovative landfill gas-to-energy project that will provide up to 85 percent of the university's energy needs; having the largest transit system in the state; being the first in the nation to receive an EPA Energy Star building rating for residence halls; a new EcoGastronomy dual major; and innovative research and engagement efforts like Carbon Solutions New England and the NH Farm to School program.

More information, including how to join, or learn more about Zipcar at, is available at www.zipcar.com/unh.

About Zipcar

Zipcar is the world's leading car-sharing service with 325,000 members and 6,500 vehicles in urban areas and college campuses throughout 28 North American states and provinces as well as in London, England. As a leader in urban transportation, Zipcar offers more than 30 makes and models of self-service vehicles by the hour or day to savvy city residents and businesses looking for an alternative to the high costs and hassles of owning a car in the city. More information is available at www.zipcar.com.

About UNH

The University of New Hampshire, founded in 1866, is a world-class public research university with the feel of a New England liberal arts college. A land, sea, and space-grant university, UNH is the state's flagship public institution, enrolling more than 12,200 undergraduate and 2,200 graduate students.

SOURCE Zipcar