Conservation’s siren song
The Harvard University Police Department (HUPD) rolled out six new patrol cars in February. But it wasn’t the flashing lights or fresh paint jobs that were turning heads. It was the 47 mpg, gas-electric, hybrid motor under the hoods. In a sign that environmental consciousness is becoming the norm across campus, HUPD is converting its entire fleet of marked patrol cars to hybrid and electric vehicles, in part to address growing concerns about climate change and public health. The move is expected to cut costs for the department by increasing the fleet’s fuel economy by a factor of 10. The switch also will dramatically reduce the amount of greenhouse gas pollution released into the air by HUPD vehicles. “A core tenet of community policing is to be a responsible community partner, and one way we can do that is by taking steps to reduce our impact on the local environment,” said HUPD...