Why Biodiesel? More reasons than you might think

Biodiesel is an alternative fuel of the future. No other fuel available has so many natural, built-in advantages. It is easier to produce and burns much cleaner than fossil fuels and most importantly, it is a renewable resource.

Article by David Sieg

Admit it, wouldn't you love the feeling of going into your garage, flipping a switch, and a few hours later having all the fuel you need to drive your car or heat your house? Think about a fuel that would only cost about 70 cents a gallon to make. The purpose of this article is to look at one such alternative...biodiesel.

No other fuel available has so many natural, built-in advantages. For example...

* It burns much cleaner than fossil fuels.

* It is easy and inexpensive to make.

* Is made from renewable resources.

* It can actually be made at home, in your garage.

* It is not dependant on the whims of unstable, or hostile governments.

* Biodiesel contains no petroleum and as a result it is environmentally friendly.

* It is made using vegetable oil, alcohol, and lye, all of which are easily renewable resources.

* It is recognized by the US Government and the EPA as fuel.

* It is covered by many vehicle manufacturers warranties.

* It requires no modification of your engine.

* It doesn't require that the nation reorganize it's entire energy infrastructure.

What if the basic ingredient for this fuel could be found for free at fast food restaurants?

Yep, that's right. A lot of people are doing just that. The basic ingredient in biodiesel is vegetable oil. Even old, dirty vegetable oil can be used. The kind that they are currently throwing out, and have to pay someone to haul away. Every fast food joint, every burger stand, every Chinese restaurant, is throwing away what you could be using to heat your home. In fact, what they throw away in a day in any major city is enough vegetable oil to run your car and heat your home for the next ten years. Not only would you be doing them a favor and saving them money, but you're also recycling a bothersome waste product that would end up in a landfill.

In fact, any natural oil can be used. Different parts of the world use different oils for biodiesel production all the time. In Asia, it Palm oil, in Europe it's rapeseed. One of the truly interesting aspects about this fuel is all the different "feedstock" it can use. Here in Vietnam, they are experimenting with catfish oil. Another really exciting development is the use of algae as an oil base. You are simply not limited to one, non-renewable fuel base, as is the case currently with fossil fuels.

Biodiesel is different from a lot of other alternative fuels.

One, because it has passed all of the safety standards and requirements set down by the EPA. Unlike other bio-fuels it can be used in your (diesel) car without any modifications. You can make it at home, pour into your gas tank and go. Another benefit is that it doesn't require changing the existing energy infrastructure. This means you don't have to buy any special tools, go to a special dealership or filling station, buy an expensive "hybrid" vehicle, no special gizmos and gadgets. Just put it into the family car and go.

Don't be confused that biodiesel is like the previous vegetable oil fuels ...

...that can only run in heavily modified engines. Biodiesel can be used "as is" in it's basic form to power your vehicles, or any other diesel engine on the market today. What this means to you, is that you can easily make a batch at home and immediately use it for your car, your truck, to heat your home, run your business, or any other application using a diesel engine.

What if I told you...

That biodiesel was also benign to the environment? That in addition to saving money, you could also do something positive to reverse the effects of green house gases from fossil fuels? According to The National Renewable Energy Laboratory document "Biodiesel Handling and Use Guidelines", by using biodiesel we can realize a...

78.3% reduction in greenhouse gases

55.4% reduction of particulate emissions (black sooty cloud)

56.3% reduction of hydrocarbons

80-90% reduction of mutagenicity (cancer-causing agents)

100% reduction of sulfurs (a major component of acid rain.)

Biodiesel is a biodegradable fuel alternative...

...that is produced from many domestic crops, such as soybeans, corn, rapeseed which are entirely renewable. Because it's easily renewable, the supply is technically, infinite. There are concerns that the amount of energy needed to produce biodiesel is greater than the amount of energy it creates. If however you are using waste oil to begin with, this energy has already been produced and is being thrown away. These concerns, in my opinion, are not valid. What you are doing is recycling a waste product, an already expended form of energy, into an entirely an entirely new form of energy. What could be better? This fascinating fuel is completely safe and non-toxic. Even the emissions are not dangerous. Biodiesel has been found to be so safe, that some say even ordinary table salt has a higher level of toxicity. By using biodiesel you are also contributing to the bottom line of family farmers, and putting money back into the local economy, not the bottom line of an oil company's quarterly profit/loss statement.

Why biodiesel?

Because at the present time it is one of the few alternatives which make good, environmental, economic, political and financial, sense. Of course, it has some drawbacks. No energy alternative is one hundred percent and there is no magic wand to wave to solve the serious energy problems we now face. It will be up to every individual to decide for themselves if this is something worth considering.