Clemson University’s Parking and Transportation Services was named as a 2017 recipient of the Spare the Air award South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC).

Under the category of “Outstanding College or University,” Clemson was recognized as part of DHEC’s ongoing efforts to promote a healthier environment through air quality initiatives that are sustainable and replicable.

The Clemson University Commuter Choice Program was the driving force behind the 2017 Spare the Air award. The program was designed and marketed to demonstrate that driving a single-occupant vehicle is not the only way a person can commute to campus. Under the initiative, Clemson has promoted the Tiger Transit system and introduced a CarShare program and preferred parking for low-emission and electric vehicles, as well as the new BikeShare program.

“We are humbled by this award,” said Parking and Transportation Services Director Dan Hofmann, who estimated more than 5,000 faculty, staff, and students have been impacted by the Commuter Choice Program. “It’s a testimony to the hard work our staff has done to put transportation demand management programs in place and to be recognized for those efforts. We’re building such an array of programs, which is creating options and transforming how people get to campus and travel around. At the same time, our initiatives have helped promote reduced emissions and clean air by encouraging less traffic on campus, as evidenced by the recently launched BikeShare program.”