ConservationNEXT

NEXTer Blog

Monday Fun: A New Trend in Outdoor Recreation?

August 17, 2009 by John Sterling

How ConservationNEXT inspired us...

August 17, 2009 by brook shinsky
MAKE SURE TO HONK AND WAVE IF YOU SEE THIS VAN DRIVING IN THE SAN DIEGO REGION!

 

 

Outdoor Outreach (www.outdooroutreach.org) is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower at-risk and underprivileged youth to make positive, lasting changes in their lives  through comprehensive outdoor programming.  Through the encouragement of Conservation Next, our entire staff made specific New Year's resolutions that would benefit the environment in the name of our most special place in nature.
My resolution was to convert one of our 15 passenger vans to run on  Waste Vegetable Oil (WVO).  I am proud to report that with the help of Veg Powered Systems, we recently made good on the resolution.  The conversion will not only save us close to $5,000 a year, but also serve as an educational tool to inspire the youth we serve to learn more about their impact in the environment. 
Local restaurants have generously donated the used vegetable oil from their deep-friers to us.  Flour, water and other impurities are then filtered out before the oil can be used for fuel.  According to the U.S. Energy Information Administartion, Americans use 390 million gallons of gasoline each day!  Converting the van to run on WVO saves us approximately 132 gallons a month or 1,500 gallons a year.  Because WVO originates from plants, the environmental impact is greatly reduced when compared to fossil fuels.  Special thanks to Las Patronas, The Coronado Rotary Club and Jimbo's for making grants to fund the purchase and conversion of the vehicle.