Middlebury College
Middlebury Environmental Council

Middlebury College is a private, liberal arts college in VT and has an enrollment (2,200) similar to Mount Holyoke. Middlebury College has promoted environmental education since the formation of an Energy Council in the 1970s. The Energy Council has initiated a report on the state of the environment at Middleburry College, conducted green building and biodiesel research, and incorporated recycling and composting programs. The programs and initiatives at Middlebury College can be great resources for Mount Holyoke to explore.

About Middebury's Biodiesel Project:

Middlebury currently uses over 7,000 gallons of diesel fuel a year. Seeking to find an alternative fuel source that is more environmentally sound, the Biodiesel project emerged as part of the Middlebury initiative for Sustainable Development . Biodiesel, an alternative fuel made from vegetable oil, has been designed to function as either an additive or replacement fuel in diesel engines. Biodiesel is advantageous because it reduces carbon dioxide emissions and particulate matter, eliminates sulfur emissions, has a less offensive exhaust, and fewer carcinogens. In 2000 Middlebury College began investigating using refined vegetable oil as diesel fuel. Through funds allocated by the NWF Campus Ecology program the college was able to set up an operational refinery. The cost of refining the fuel from used fryer grease can be lower than the cost of purchasing diesel fuel. While the short term goals of the project are to establish a working site to produce the Biodiesel for the test run of a vehicle, and to conduct education and outreach, more long term goals include creating a model other colleges and universities can use to support further greening of campuses. Biodiesel does not have to simply substitute vehicle fuel, if produced in enough capacity; it can also be used as an additive to the burning of fuel in boilers.

Mount Holyoke College burns residual fuel #6 in our boilers. As a byproduct of refining gasoline and diesel fuel, it is the cheapest liquid fuel available. However the emission of carbon dioxide, sulfur, and nitrogen oxides during combustion is much greater. Hence it pollutes more than distillate or gaseous fuels, but less than solid fuels such as coal . Perhaps one goal for the college should be to identify affordable and environmentally friendly domestic fuels that can be derived from cooking oils, soaps, and other consumer items that can be blended (and perhaps ultimately substituted) for the Number 6 oil. Bio-blending heating fuels will reduce Nitrogen Oxide, Carbon Dioxide, and particulate emissions. Mount Holyoke College should look to research more into the Biodiesel project at Middlebury College and evaluate the feasibility of implementing a similar project.