Things are beginning to look up for the UNH transportation system. Not only are there brand new buses with heating systems, air conditioning, radios, bike racks on the front, but now an alternative fueling system. With the switch of petroleum fuel to biodiesel, UNH will have one of the cleanest, small transit systems in New England in just eighteen months. The University has already gotten rid of five "dirty diesel" buses therefore reducing emissions, improving air quality and cutting down on noise pollution. Not only is the biodiesel alternative environment friendly, but it also has significantly better range than gasoline vehicles and comparable power.
There has been an addition of six compressed natural gas shuttle buses, UNH's first all-electric non-transit vehicle, and over two million dollars worth of low emission diesel transit buses that are fueled with this biodiesel to UNH's growing fleet of other fuels and clean technology vehicles.
Just across the Durham town line at the university's Kingman Farm, about four acres of land are being used for the experimental conversion of sunflowers to biodiesel. Last August five different varieties of sunflowers were planted to see which type would be the best and most efficient for the production of the fuel. Each kind of sunflower grows to be a different size, and they die at different rates. When they do die, their seeds are removed and used to make oil. This oil is then cycled through a biodiesel station that is located on a small trailer in close proximity to the farm. The oil is heated and circulated through several tanks and processed until it is formed into the replacement fuel.
Farmers use approximately ten percent of the fuel to power their farm equipment. The surplus fuel can be used to power cars as well as to provide heat for the farmers' homes.
Biodiesel, referring to a diesel-equivalent, is a processed fuel derived from biological sources, like sunflowers. Though derived from biological sources, it is a processed fuel that can be readily used in diesel-engined vehicles. Biodiesel is biodegradable and non-toxic, and has significantly fewer emissions than petroleum-based diesel when it is burned. This fuel, which burns up to 75% cleaner than conventional diesel fuel made from fossil fuels, functions in current diesel engines, and could in theory supplement fossil fuels as the world's primary transport energy source. Although biodiesel is more expensive to purchase than petroleum fuel, fuel stations are beginning to make biodiesel more and more available to consumers. It can be used in any diesel engine with no need for modifications, in fact, diesel engines run better and last longer with biodiesel, and it can also be easily made from a common waste product such as used cooking oil.
With these new improvements to the University Transportation Systems, UNH is working hard to become a leader in supplying energy efficient, clean transportation selections.
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