Alternative Fuel Vehicles on Campus

In tandem with Geography 360 students, document and map all campus vehicles and their uses; investigate alternatives (biodiesel, electric, hybrid) and contribute to planning for the future.  Mapping vehicle use on campus.  Tie into public transport issue (Sustainability Task Force): OWU Vans, bus rental, Delaware Public Transport, etc.

Public Safety- Acura MDX(15mpg), Hyundai Santa Fe (21 MPG highway)

Building & Grounds- Ford  box truck, 2 Ford E350 Painters Vans, 3? pickup trucks

Residences (student transport vans)-4 Ford Vans

Alternatives

One of the most feasible alternatives which would eliminate fuel costs is the use of biodiesel. Hamwill & Smith dining Halls seem to pride themselves on their ability to deep fry food like its hell’s kitchen. With all of this deep fried food arises the opportunity to recycle the vegetable oil used to fry and reuse it a a fuel for campus vehicles. Not to mention, Sandusky street is littered with fast food establishments which would present the opportunity to have an abundance of fuel, for little or no cost.  The conversion process costs about 2,000 for parts & labor.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28793193/

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2006/07/converting_dies.php

Hybrid Cars are expensive, hybrid golf cart’s, and/or conversion kits are not. There are converters avaliable for hybrid golf carts which cost about $2,000.

http://www.frugaldougalsgolf.com/solarroofpanel

OWU’s campus lacks diesel vehicles, so the best bet is to sell old vehicles that are not in use, and replace them with diesel vehicles to be converted into biodiesel ready engines, for a smooth transition. There are already several PS vehicles out of commission, that when combined,could make enough money to purchase OWU’s first biodiesel vehicle.

Delaware’s public transportation system is the Delaware Area Transit Agency, which transports within Delaware County as well as a limit to 15 miles outside. These buses use diesel, and like other diesel engines have the ability to be converted to be operated by biodiesel. With such an abundance of fast food establishments operating out of Columbus it shouldn’t be a problem to find vegetable oil.

In order to accomplish the transition to environmentally friendly fuel on campus i will need to do the following. . . .

-Contact Residential Life, B & G, & Public Safety

- Document Routes and how often each cars tanks are filled

-Document each car, their gas mileage.

-document the cost, and how to go about retrieving vegetable oil from fast food establishments as well as campus dining hall’s and food proprietors.

-Find out at what cost, if any, it would take to get used vegetable oil from OWU dining establishments as well as Delaware fast food restaurants

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