Student Initiatives

Brit Bikes

In May 2008 Albion College received grant money to purchase 9 Sedona Giant mountain bikes, later to be known as the "Brit Bike Library."

These bikes are available for students and faculty, free of charge, and are checked out at the Kellogg Center front desk using an Albion1Card. The goal of the bike project is to decrease student driving on and around campus. The bikes can be checked out for 24 hours at a time, and can be used for running errands around town or simply for a relaxing afternoon bike ride. Maps are available to suggest areas of interest and bike trails.

Calories to Kilowatts

In 2006-07, a team of eight Albion students developed "Calories to Kilowatts," an educational program on energy consumption and conservation for the campus community. Supported by a $10,000 grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the students designed and installed specially modified bicycles and rowing machines that converted exercisers' expended calories into electrical energy.

The participants received "energy credits" they could use later to power their personal electrical devices. In May 2007, the team traveled to Washington, D.C., to present the results of their project along with teams from the 41 other institutions that received grants that year.