Green machines: Low-emission Christiana Care shuttles take to the streets

To promote security and safety and improve customer service, all Christiana Care interhospital shuttle riders will be required to present appropriate identification. Shuttle runs from 9 p.m. - midnight (last run of the day) will be restricted to employees only.

August 4, 2014

As part of Christiana Care’s commitment to environmental stewardship, the health system is now harnessing the power of compressed natural gas.

Christiana Care has purchased two new shuttle buses that are powered by compressed natural gas, a low-carbon, clean-burning fuel. One of the shuttle buses seats up to 26 passengers and transports patients between the Christiana Hospital campus and the Wilmington Hospital campus. The other shuttle bus seats up to 14 passengers and transports patients throughout the Christiana Hospital campus.

Albert Rizzo, M.D., FACP, FACCP, section chief of pulmonary and critical care medicine at Christiana Care, said carbon dioxide emissions released into the atmosphere are cut down by as much a 30 percent from the use of natural gas over diesel or unleaded gasoline.

One of Christiana Care's two low-emission shuttle buses passes by the compressed natural gas fueling station on the Christiana Hospital campus. The buses are one part of Christiana Care's commitment to environmental stewardship. — One of Christiana Care’s two low-emission shuttle buses passes by the compressed natural gas fueling station on the Christiana Hospital campus. The buses are one part of Christiana Care’s commitment to environmental stewardship.

“Christiana Care’s decision to use cleaner fuels sends a positive message to patients that we are committed both to decreasing pollution in our air quality and to creating a safer and cleaner environment where they inhabit,” said Dr. Rizzo, also a past chair of the American Lung Association.

As part of this environmental initiative, a new filling station also was installed behind Medical Arts Pavilion 2 at the Christiana Hospital campus. The station compresses piped-in natural gas provided by gas companies to 3,600 pounds per square inch. Because the natural gas can be compressed on campus through the filling station, Christiana Care can buy the fuel at about $1.20 per gallon, less than one-third the price of diesel gasoline.

“This investment in clean natural gas through our use of shuttle buses and our filling station directly supports Christiana Care’s commitment to environmental stewardship,” said Jeff Donovan, director of transportation at Christiana Care.

The low-emission shuttle buses transport patients and visitors between Christiana Care's two hospital campuses throughout the Christiana campus, which includes the hospital, Surgicenter, medical arts pavilions and the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute. — The low-emission shuttle buses transport patients and visitors between Christiana Care’s two hospital campuses and throughout the Christiana campus, which includes the hospital, Surgicenter, medical arts pavilions and the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute.