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Biodiesel workshop ‘revs up’ Boone |
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Tuesday, 27 March 2007 |
by REBECCA GARDNER
Lifestyles Reporter
Gentlemen, start your engines; a biodiesel workshop is coming to Boone.
The workshop, “How to Make Biodiesel Fuel,” will be open to 12 students Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
 Active Image | Derek DeSha | The Appalachian
Industrial technology master’s candidate Jeremy C. Ferrell examines the biodiesel processor product located in facilities off State Farm Road. A “How to Make Biodiesel Fuel” workshop will be Saturday at 10 a.m.
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“This
is just a really unique program our school has to offer. We have a
separate building, including neat technology powered by solar energy,
that is really interesting,” Chris T. Krezmien, a senior
appropriate technology major and workshop leader, said.
“We are looking for sustainable ways to make fuel in the local area,”
Krezmien said. “We have worked with farmers, community co-ops, and now
even the AppalCART busses are running on B-20, which is a
blend of fuel.”
The Boone Sustainable Transportation Club, an organization on Appalachian State University’s campus, sponsors the workshop.
“We have a biodiesel fuel club and a course in the technology
department,” Krezmien said. “As part of that, about three times a year,
we have done a workshop, and this is our third year.”
The workshop will be at Appalachian State’s Collaborative Biodiesel
Project, which is located at 161 Dale St. off State Farm Road.
“One year, we had a farmer who came to our workshop, then built his own fuel system for his farm,” Krezmien said.
The cost will be $10 for students and $20 for non-students. Registration is available online at www.biodiesel.appstate.edu.
“Biodiesel is an alternative to petroleum-based diesel fuel made from
renewable resources such as vegetable oils or animal fats,” according
to the Web site. “Unlike petro-diesel, biodiesel is non-toxic,
biodegradable, and significantly reduces toxic emissions when burned as a fuel.”
The workshop will be limited to 12 students because of the limited amount of space the Biodiesel
Project has, Krezmien said.
However, it will allow students to be more hands on.
“Biodiesel can be used in its pure form (B100) or mixed/blended with
petroleum; the most common blend, B20, 20 percent biodiesel and 80
percent petroleum diesel, improves emissions and adds lubricity,”
according to the Web site.
“A biodiesel of B2 to B5 is sufficient to replace the engine lubricity
lost from sulfur removal, according to the Web site. “EPA considers B20
an alternative fuel that is helping government fleets to achieve
standards for renewable fuel usage.”
The workshop will cover how to make biodiesel fuel, how it is
environmentally beneficial, and the good and bad sides of biodiesel
fuel.
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