2008 Woodie Awards
SRU graduate demonstrates biodiesel benefits
By Mae Kerr
Rocket Contributor
Issue date: 12/9/05 Section: News
Slippery Rock University recently held educational workshops promoting the use of biodiesel as an alternative fuel source.
Greg Boulos, a May graduate of Slippery Rock University and co-founder of Steel City Biofuels, a Pittsburgh-based company, hosted the events along with his partner Nathaniel Boyno.
"Our goal is to advocate the use of biodiesel in the classroom, in hopes that one day school transportation will accept it as a fuel alternative," Boulous said.
Biodiesel is a biodegradable fuel alternative that can be produced with renewable sources and used by any diesel engine. It is the only diesel fuel that has been approved by the Clean Air Act as a safe alternative whose exhaust has less harmful impact on human health than petroleum diesel fuel.
The workshops consisted of an educational portion, as well as a hands-on component. Boulos gave an hour-long presentation that consisted of the history of biodiesel and its practicalities as a fuel alternative.
Following the presentation, there was a demonstration on how to make diesel fuel, which included an opportunity for those in attendance to take part in the preparation process. Ingredients used in creating the biodiesel included oil, lye and methanol. Once the biodiesel was produced, participants were allowed to take batches home with them.
There was also an opportunity for questions to be answered about the presentation, during the course of the workshop.
The workshops were organized by Robert Burns, a graduate student in SRU's master's in sustainable systems program.
"Initially there was only one workshop planned for Nov. 12, but the positive response and large number of people interested in attending prompted the additional workshop on Dec. 3," Burns said.
Both sessions were held at the Robert A. Macoskey Center for Sustainable Systems Education and Research. The workshop was available at no charge to students as well as the community. There were about 40 participants in each session, which was at capacity. Due to the large response, those who wished to attend the event were asked to make a reservation, some of which were put on a waiting list.
An additional workshop will be held at the Robert A. Macoskey center in April as a part of the Earth Day Festival. Further details for this session will be available next semester.
Greg Boulos, a May graduate of Slippery Rock University and co-founder of Steel City Biofuels, a Pittsburgh-based company, hosted the events along with his partner Nathaniel Boyno.
"Our goal is to advocate the use of biodiesel in the classroom, in hopes that one day school transportation will accept it as a fuel alternative," Boulous said.
Biodiesel is a biodegradable fuel alternative that can be produced with renewable sources and used by any diesel engine. It is the only diesel fuel that has been approved by the Clean Air Act as a safe alternative whose exhaust has less harmful impact on human health than petroleum diesel fuel.
The workshops consisted of an educational portion, as well as a hands-on component. Boulos gave an hour-long presentation that consisted of the history of biodiesel and its practicalities as a fuel alternative.
Following the presentation, there was a demonstration on how to make diesel fuel, which included an opportunity for those in attendance to take part in the preparation process. Ingredients used in creating the biodiesel included oil, lye and methanol. Once the biodiesel was produced, participants were allowed to take batches home with them.
There was also an opportunity for questions to be answered about the presentation, during the course of the workshop.
The workshops were organized by Robert Burns, a graduate student in SRU's master's in sustainable systems program.
"Initially there was only one workshop planned for Nov. 12, but the positive response and large number of people interested in attending prompted the additional workshop on Dec. 3," Burns said.
Both sessions were held at the Robert A. Macoskey Center for Sustainable Systems Education and Research. The workshop was available at no charge to students as well as the community. There were about 40 participants in each session, which was at capacity. Due to the large response, those who wished to attend the event were asked to make a reservation, some of which were put on a waiting list.
An additional workshop will be held at the Robert A. Macoskey center in April as a part of the Earth Day Festival. Further details for this session will be available next semester.
