Holistic ICT for EcoLiving

A good deal of what we do is about creating new global networks of collaboration and exchanges of knowledge and wisdom between grassroots folks in both affluent and non-affluent regions of the world. Just by chance I came upon a place in Fayetteville, Arkansas, called Brown’s Farm, which just happens to be a hotbed of alternative ideas and technologies.

Jesse Thomas one of the residents of the “Farm” which is just outside the city limits of Fayetteville. I came down to see Jesse’s work in building a addition for his garage. A few years back he invested in a new aerated “cellular” form of concrete developed by Australian based Lite Built, and he has continued to experiment with this technology. He plans to use the addition to house his aerated concrete equipment.

While there we did a small batch of the lightweight concrete blocks. Similar to papercrete (a alternative building material using sand, water, cement and recycled paper), the aerated concrete system uses air bubbles instead of mixing paper into the mix, but it basically creates the same effect.

While checking out his Ziacrete (the name of his venture) lightweight concrete prototyping test facility, I came across some biodiesel making equipment and Jesse told me a bit about it.

This is one potential example of how an evolving appropriate technology in one part of the world could potentially be a solution for another. One of OVF’s projects in Ghana involves the set up of a palm oil processing plant, converting palm fruit into a value added commodity – palm oil – which can then be sold at a higher price than the palm fruit meaning more profit for the farmer and less profit for the middleman. Located in the small village of Jukwa (see progress report) and established in cooperation with the local farmers, we are exploring the possibility of using some of the oil to be produced by the palm oil processing plant (now in development) as a feedstock for biodiesel. We believe that this could become a practical model for a more sustainable approach to development for emerging countries like Ghana.

Click the link below to read more about Jesse’s story, his interview with Paul Chapriacki of Evolution Biodiesel. His story is one example of how emerging appropriate technologies like biodiesel can inspire people to make a difference in their lives towards greater ecological consciousness and sustainability.

Over the last couple of years, I’ve been living on an old farm just outside of the Fayetteville City Limits. One of my pet projects has been letting this old tractor repair shop/junk yard breath a little. I’ve hauled off several junk cars, airplane wings, etc. Several dump runs later, there’s some room to work with. My initial intention for the space to continue conducting my research in cellular concrete. Yet, when biodiesel buddies asked a little spot was available for them to set up one of their compact biodiesel processors, I made room for them without hesitation.

With transportation cost skyrocketing, I knew it’d be in my extended self interest to foster these folks along anyway I can. Having a clean, cost effective fuel alternative for under $1/gal, especially when you’re working with all the heavy equipment I have for construction projects. Now, Evolution Biodiesel has become a big part of our small scale, rural enterprise/renaissance.

Since they’ve dropped off one of their 40 gallon processors, they’ve managed to take nearly 200 gallons of used vegetable grease and turn it into a cleaner burning biodiesel. Recycling what would otherwise be thrown away, this tight, little kit provides BD brews, filling the tanks of our vintage Mercedes Turbo Diesels, as well as the brand new dually diesel trucks, cargo vans with no worries. I’m searching for diesel ready mix truck which will be running on BD, too.

My suggestion to anyone having trouble making friends or issues like depression, don’t bother with anti-depressant drugs or pimping out their MySpace accounts, just get a biodiesel processor for your garage! You will be the most popular guy in the neighborhood.

Having got my undergraduate degree in Agricultural/Environmental
Economics from Colorado State, I’ve been talking about all kinds of appropriate technologies too long. BD used to just be a cool conversation piece, however Evolution Biodiesel’s tech. support are making sure BD a pragmatic reality for people all over the country. Personally, I’ve never before have I so thoroughly enjoyed walking my talk! Or should I say driving it! What fuels you? Consider the content!

With the 4th of July around the corner, what better time for us (U.S.) to renew our declarations. However, most would agree that we’re far from independent. Let’s free ourselves from these hypocritical declarations of independence and truly examine our continual denial of these dependency issues. Borrowing from something I heard at a Bioneers Conference, it’s time to make a Declaration of “Interdependence!” which feels a lot more realistic and encouraging a direction to go!

Here’s some questions I had for Paul one of the founders of Evolution Biodiesel:

Jesse: What’s the difference between running an engine on biodiesel or running on vege grease?

Paul: BD can be run in any unmodified diesel car or truck. Straight Vegetable Oil (SVO) on the other hand can only be run in a diesel engine that has been modified with a heater, a secondary tank and several filters. BD is basically SVO that has been refined, using an alcohol (methanol) and a catalyst (sodium or potassium hydroxide) to remove the free fatty acids from the oil.

Jesse: How does it affect your engine’s seals etc.?

Paul: BD is a natural solvent and over time will degrade natural rubber seals and hoses in vehicles. Later model vehicles (pre-1992) tend to have natural rubber hoses and seals that need to be upgraded to synthetic rubber before running BD.

Jesse: Is BD easier on the environmental air quality?

Paul: BD has been tested and proven to reduce vehicle emissions of carbon dioxide by up to 75% over petroleum diesel and it’s free of significant levels sulfur, too.

Jesse: How challenging is it to find the sources of SVO and the chemicals?

Paul: Finding the sources to make biodiesel are as easy as talking to your local restaurant and calling a local chemical supplier. Most restaurants will gladly give you their used SVO on a weekly basis. Finding the methanol and the catalyst can most cost effective be purchased in bulk from an chemical supplier.

Jesse: What waste is created after running the processor?

Paul: The by product of BD is glycerin. Glycerin is composed of the free fatty acids from the oil and residual methanol and the catalyst from processing. Glycerin can be refined to reclaim the methanol for future batches. It’s been neutralized so it can be safely composted or disposed of.

Jesse: How much time would one need to allow to the home brewing process?

Paul: Home brewing biodiesel will take between 8-14 hours depending on how you choose to process. The majority of the time is spent waiting on the glycerin to naturally separate from the biodiesel (8 hours). The hotter you get the oil before processing, the quicker the separation. The better you mix your chemical the quicker the separation happens as well.