What is CU Biodiesel?
CU Biodiesel is a non-profit student organization dedicated to advancing the use and
knowledge of biodiesel, a vegetable based and clean-burning alternative to petroleum diesel. Our efforts are focused on
the University of Colorado at Boulder and the surrounding community. We address the commonly held concern that the use
of petroleum diesel is done at the detriment of our health and environment and necessitates a dependence on foreign oil.
CU Biodiesel strives to educate the private and public sectors about the production and implementation of biodiesel and
simultaneously promote it as a renewable and valuable resource.
In the fall semester of 2002, 5 students from a CU engineering class designed and created
a biodiesel processor. With this asset, CU Biodiesel was formed to implement biodiesel at the University. CU Biodiesel
worked with campus officials to produce and test biodiesel made from waste cafeteria grease. In March 2003 one campus
Buff Bus began running on 100% biodiesel. Later that spring the students of CU overwhelmingly voted on a referenda ballot
to fund CU Biodiesel 49 cents per student per semester for four years in order to implement biodiesel on campus and in the
surrounding community. Since the referenda CU Biodiesel has established relations with many organizations including the
CU Environmental Center, Boulder Biodiesel, and Blue Sun Biodiesel.
CU Biodiesel has worked
and continues to work with the City of Boulder and the University
to switch their fuel of choice to biodiesel. All of the 13 diesel
busses in CU's fleet now run on either 100% or 20% biodiesel.
The City has made significant advances toward a similar change. As a result of
these successes and the corresponding media attention, countless
people have learned about this excellent fuel.
Our current projects include the
production of a comprehensive guide for the implementation of
biodiesel, education of Colorado K-12 students about biodiesel,
the design and construction of a mobile biodiesel production
facility, the implementation of biodiesel in Thailand, and the ongoing project of getting more people educated
about biodiesel and filling their tanks with it.
As we design educational materials and the processing facility we will be looking for funds to help with both. Much of our work to this point has been accomplished through volunteerism, but as we look towards the construction of a production/eductional facility we will require more concrete funding sourses, If you wish to donate either time or funds, please let us know,@ info@cubiodiesel.org.
Documents
Synergy of the Americas PDF
In partnership with Boulder Biodiesel, members of both groups recently help build a processor in Bogota,
Columbia, for las Gaviotas. One year ago at the Sustainable Resources Conference, Paulo Lugari,
the founder of Las Gaviotas, met with members of both groups and invited them down to assist in
the construction of a biodiesel processor.
Thanks to Evan Belser, a draft research paper outlining the trip and the knowledge gained is now available.
A brief overview here.
Project Yellow Bus
is a renewable energy curriculum designed for elementary schools.
Front Back
CU.Biodiesel Fliers PDF
This is a print out flier for information about CU.Biodiesel that you can use.
Gaviotas Presentation Posters Large PDF
Here are renders by Gabriel Ciafre for the Gaviotas Journey.
Project Application
If you are interested in working with CU.Biodiesel, please take the time to download and fill-out the following form
You can send this to our organization at: info@cubiodiesel.org
Fueling the Future is a document describing CU.Biodiesel's history
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