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Environmental Tech student Dusty Silvester's idea to set up a campus biodiesel reactor

David Sovka, Associate Director, College & Community Relations presents $1,000 prize cheque to Dusty Silvester, winner of the 2009 Green Initiative Challenge.
David Sovka, Associate Director, College & Community Relations presents $1,000 prize cheque to Dusty Silvester, winner of the 2009 Green Initiative Challenge.

The winning submission in the contest for ideas to improve sustainability at Camosun College is aimed at reducing the college’s consumption of fossil fuel reserves.

“The Earth contains finite deposits of fossil fuels and the current rate of fuel consumption is much greater than the rate of renewal. Alternative fuels, like biodiesel, are a viable replacement,” says Dusty Silvester, winner of the 2009 Green Initiative Challenge contest.

Silvester’s project is to install a small biodiesel reactor on campus, provided by the Green Initiative Challenge fund in partnership with the Environmental Technology department. The reactor will produce biodiesel fuel for use in vehicles used by Physical Resources on campus. The fuel will be converted from waste vegetable oil from the cafeteria, supplementing conventional diesel use, and reducing waste and harmful emissions to the environment.

Silvester is working with Physical Resources staff and Environmental Technology faculty to install the reactor and set up a program to make biodiesel fuel, and to train others in production techniques.

Camosun College, the Camosun College Student's Society (CCSS), and Camosun Students for Environmental Awareness (CSEA) thank all those who submitted terrific ideas to the contest. Together we can make a difference.

For more information, contact green@camosun.bc.ca, or phone 250–370–4241.

Last updated: September 23, 2015 5:12 pm

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