If you live in Eau Claire, you’ve undoubtedly seen (or ridden in) the three mural-bedecked buses that have been plying the streets since spring. In addition to being beautiful (the designs are courtesy a trio of UW-Eau Claire students), the buses are Earth-friendly hybrids. And they’ve already saved the city a whole lot of money: $68,000 in reduced fuel costs as of early November, according to Eau Claire Transit Manager Mike Branco’s calculations. The hybrid buses are more expensive than their gas-guzzling counterparts (although they were largely paid for by grant money), but over time their higher fuel economy may offset the price difference.