Posted in Going Green
So what's the deal with biodiesel? Other than hearing about folks that have converted their personal vehicles to run on the leftover oils from local fast food joints, supposedly chugging through town smelling like french fries, I hadn't heard much about it. Then I found out that some state government agencies are using biodiesel, as well as our military and private companies.
Here's the scoop on what biodiesel is, in a nutshell, from Wikipedia:
Biodiesel refers to a diesel-equivalent, processed fuel derived from biological sources. Though derived from biological sources, it's a processed fuel that can be readily used in diesel-engined vehicles, which distinguishes biodiesel from the straight vegetable oils (SVO) or waste vegetable oils (WVO) used as fuels in some modified diesel vehicles.
According to this Wikipedia entry, biodiesel can be distributed using the current infrastructure for fuel distribution that we have today. The use of biodiesel, as I mentioned above, is expanding. You can actually find biodiesel as a consumer, in addition to the governmental agencies that offer their workers access to biodiesel for company or government use.
One of the two key reasons I've seen mentioned for using biodiesel (technically, the primary method I've seen in articles actually falls under SVO or WVO use) is economy. Being able to produce fuel at home or through recycling of resources that would normally go to waste is advantageous. (Check out the archives over at Mother Earth News for articles on just this topic!) The other is stewardship. Obviously the re-use of a material or the use of byproducts means you'll create a lighter footprint and less waste than other options.
Biodiesel, no matter what its format, still has opponents, mind you. Before you go converting your diesel truck and heading to McDonald's for a fill-up, consider all of the options. Do your research and due diligence. George Monbiot's 2005 article in The Guardian explains some of the reasons not to use biodiesel, and why it's not a perfect solution to a possible fossil fuel energy crisis.
Want to learn more about biodiesel pros and cons? Try these sites for further information:
Posted by Anonymous
