Bo Kemp, founder of Hudson BioFuel, gave a presentation on greasecycling, the process of turning common kitchen grease into bio diesel, to the Rye Middle School Alive class.
Fact: In one year, the US produces more than 3 billion gallons of used cooking oil.
Bo Kemp, founder of Hudson BioFuel, gave a presentation on greasecycling, the process of turning common kitchen grease into bio diesel, to the Rye Middle School Alive class. On October 14, ‘Alive’, an environmental science class of seventh and eighth graders, learned the importance of Greasecycling to our environment. There was great discussion as the students and Mr. Kemp kept each other on their toes with questions and fascinating facts covering history, mechanical engineering, agriculture and biochemistry. Can you say Transesterification? (The process used to convert oils to biodiesel.)
Fact: 1 gallon of biodiesel runs most diesel engines more efficiently than 1 gallon of petroleum-based diesel fuel.
Greasecycling is becoming an important element of sustainable solutions to reducing our nation’s need for fossil fuel. Because biodiesel is derived from an agricultural crop, it is renewable and reduces dependence on unstable sources of oil. Carbon dioxide emissions can be reduced by 15% when using a blended biodiesel fuel like B2 (a 2% biodiesel/98% petrodiesel blend offered at most biodiesel fueling stations). There is also less particulate pollution.
Fact: 1 gallon of kitchen grease can contaminate 1 million gallons of water.
The appropriate waste management of grease is extremely important in preventing the pollution of our landscape. When oil, which is lighter than water, is mixed with water or soil, it creates a thin membrane, which hinders the oxygenation of water or soil, thereby choking and killing the living organisms. Hence, why we must never pour grease down the sink – not to mention the pipe clogging that ensues.
A football player at Yale and a graduate of Harvard Business School, Mr. Kemp is a lifelong entrepreneur. With sustainability as his mantra, he practices what he preaches – he has his own aquaponics set up in his backyard. He is happy to answer all sustainable questions at bo@hudsonbiofuels.com.
John Borchert, the science teacher who created ‘Alive’ and the RMS vegetable garden, is successfully incorporating sustainability into the curriculum.
— Karen Bresolin
