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  • The Alternative Energy Club (AEC) at Vanderbilt University is a student-led, university-wide initiative. Our organization seeks to both educate students about diverse alternative energy resources (including biodiesel, wind, and solar power) and provide career enhancement opportunities.
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  • Learn more about Vanderbilt Alternative Energy Club.

  • WHAT IS THE AEC?

  • The Alternative Energy Club is a student organization at Vanderbilt University with a unique mission. The purpose of the Alternative Energy Club is to:
    Educate students about diverse alternative energy sources including Biodiesel, Wind, and Solar through Vanderbilt facilities in this area;
    Provide career enhancement opportunities and guidance to members through guest seminars, field trips, and hands-on technical practice related to alternative technologies: measurement, production & maintenance from the aforementioned portfolio.
    Membership information will be available soon. For the time being, check out our comprehensive constitution to learn more about how we operate!
  • WHAT WAS VBI?

  • The Vanderbilt Biodiesel Initiative was a self-sufficient, sustainable, student-run biodiesel production system at Vanderbilt University. The biodiesel production system is used to convert local waste vegetable oil into environmentally responsible biodiesel fuel that can be used in any of the university's diesel-fueled engines. These include vehicles such as student activity vans, medical center buses, and landscaping machinery. The goal was to curb the consumption of petroleum-based fuel by the Vanderbilt community with a system that is economically and environmentally sustainable. Also, the initiative aimed to educate others about the viability of biodiesel as an effective alternative fuel. In Fall 2010, the Vanderbilt Biodiesel Initiative will be fully integrated into the Alternative Energy Club. The Alternative Club will carry on the mission of the Vanderbilt Biodiesel Initiative while also providing members with unique opportunities previously unavailable anywhere else on campus.
  • HOW WAS THE AEC STARTED?

  • Before the Alternative Energy Club, there was the Vanderbilt Biodiesel Initiative. Producing biodiesel on campus was an idea first conceived by a group of WilSkills instructors while brainstorming more environmentally responsible ways to take their weekend trips to Tennessee's beautiful rivers, caves, bluffs, and mountains. In Fall 2006, along with members of SPEAR, they decided to apply for the Eco-magination grant, a campus greening contest hosted annually by GE and mtvU. Vanderbilt was selected as a top ten finalist out of more than 100 entries. A similar biodiesel project at MIT won the contest, but university-wide interest was sparked. That support enabled the initiative to succeed even without the $25,000 prize. During Spring of 2007, the group met frequently at the director's (Derek Riley) home to construct and test a pilot system. Over that summer space was allocated for the initiative on campus and Plant Operation's sponsored the construction of our production facility. We began producing fuel in our new home on campus in Fall of 2007 where to date, we have produced over 1,300 gallons of biodiesel and 100 gallons of soap for Vanderbilt. In Spring 2010, with the graduation of founding leaders Derek Riley and Stacey Worman, the Biodiesel Initiative which includes production engineer Robin Midgett was looking for ideas to expand its agenda. When we consulted Dr. Anilkumar of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, he suggested that the organization should concentrate on merging the Biodiesel initiative with new energy facilities that were coming on board such as the wind turbine & solar pilot facility being set up near campus. The argument was that students should meet the minimum biodiesel obligation and concentrate on a wider alternative energy portfolio that includes wind and solar. Further, the club should focus on career enhancement opportunities for members. Accordingly, a new Alternative Energy Club was launched. This club will be guided by Dr. Anilkumar, and the ME Department will provide additional funding to help run activities.
  • WHO ELSE IS INVOLVED?

  • AEC is an umbrella organization for a campus wide effort which is only successful because of its many contributing partners.
    • Plant Operations
       

    • Plant Operations provides facilities support for all construction, renovation, and routine maintenance of University Central space and facilities; housekeeping services for approximately 5.8 million square feet of academic, administrative, residential, and recreational space; grounds care for 330 acres that are a registered arboretum; turf care for athletic fields; and utilities for the University Central and the Medical Center.
    • Department of Mechanical Engineering

    • The Department of Mechanical Engineering provides extensive support to the Alternative Energy Club by both providing the supervision of faculty members Robin Midgett and Dr. Amrutur Anilkumar and by sponsoring monthly seminars held exclusively for members of the Alternative Energy Club.
    • Wilderness Skills
       

    • Wilderness Skills is Vanderbilt University's premier outdoor experience. The course is designed to integrate academic study with practical experience in the wilderness. It utilizes both the classroom and the environment, combining lectures, films, and discussions with trips to the surrounding areas. The trips are designed to teach students the basic techniques of backpacking, caving, rock climbing, and whitewater paddling. The course is offered each Fall and Spring semester and is open to all current Vanderbilt students, both undergraduate and graduate.
    • Vanderbilt Environmental Health & Safety

    • Vanderbilt Environmental Health & Safety partners with the Vanderbilt University community to facilitate and promote safety, health and environmental management. Their vision is to achieve excellence through stewardship for safety, health, and the environment.
    • Vanderbilt Dining

       

    • Vanderbilt Dining has a passion for providing excellent food at the highest levels of quality, value, convenience, and service. Their mission is consistent with Vanderbilt's vision to enter the top ranks of American research universities, and we embrace our role as builders of community and campus life. To achieve their goals and to ensure long-term stability, we will be innovative, creative, proactive, and financially self-supporting in our business endeavors.
    • Vanderbilt Student Government (VSG)
       

    • Vanderbilt Student Government (VSG), comprised of elected and appointed members of the student body, represents the student voice in all aspects of the University, ensuring that student interest is the first priority in the decision-making process. We aim to ensure that life at Vanderbilt meets the needs of all of students both academically and socially. We host a variety of programs including annual parties, cultural symposium, and service projects, in addition to co-sponsoring events with student organizations. Overall, we lobby for policies and practices that will enhance the quality of life enjoyed by Vanderbilt students.
    • Students Promoting Environmental Awareness and Responsibility

    • Students Promoting Environmental Awareness and Responsibility (SPEAR) will increase environmental awareness and promote more environmentally sustainable habits and infrastructure within the Vanderbilt and Nashville community.
  • WHERE IS THE BIODIESEL PROCESSING FACILITY LOCATED?

      • 24th Avenue S. and Vanderbilt Place

      • Our facility is located in the Coal Power Plant yard in the heart of Vanderbilt's Campus. We have a 16' by 20' (320 square feet) shed with electricity and running water. Before construction the area was used for power plant parking and storage.
  • HOW IS THE SYSTEM SET UP AND HOW DOES IT WORK?

      • This sketch roughly illustrates the current setup of our system, a 120 gallon batch processor. Waste vegetable oil, the main feedstock, is heated and mixed with methanol and KOH. After the reaction completes, a layer of glycerin settles to the bottom and is drained off, leaving biodiesel in the main reaction tank. To remove the impurities in the fuel, first the biodiesel is heated and the fumes are sent through a condenser to recover any unreacted methanol. Then Magnesol, a synthetic talc powder that attracts the impurities, is mixed in and then removed by centrifuge. The fuel is pumped through several filters to a storage tank, where it is ready to dispense.
  • WHAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT AEC'S BIODIESEL PRODUCTION PROCESS?

      • Our biodiesel production facility is unique in that we are have a zero-waste process. We take a waste product, used vegetable oil, and turn it into a fuel. But all other by-products of the reaction also have a use! The glycerin is made into a soap (EcoSuds) which is then bottled and distributed. The synthetic talc power is high in pot ash and is used in landscaping. Finally, any excess methanol is recovered and reused for the next batch.
  • WHERE DO WE COLLECT OUR WASTE VEGETABLE OIL?

      • We are currently collecting from Rand and the Commons, two of our cafeterias on campus. We also are collecting from a few local area restaurants and are actively looking to expand our sources of waste vegetable oil. We are registered as a 501.c3 non-profit organization so any oil donations are also tax deductible. Please contact us for more information.
  • HOW MUCH BIODIESEL IS PRODUCED?

  • We are currently running a batch (~120 gallons) about once every other week. Operating at full capacity, without any alterations to our system, we could in theory produce as much as 360 gallons per week. We are currently limited by the amount of waste oil we collect and personnel to run the system.
  • WHO USES THE BIODIESEL?

    • Plant operations uses the fuel in their diesel-fueled equipment (A vaccum truck, lawn mowers, tractors, front-end loader, fork-lift, and woodchipper).
    • As envisioned, Wilskills is now taking their weekend trips to the South Eastern hills, bluffs, caves, and rivers in their B100 Dodge sprinter.

      If you are a member of the Vanderbilt community and operate any diesel fueled vehicles or machinery, we are looking for more partners so please contact us about using our fuel!
  • HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO PRODUCE?

      • The fuel we produce has a marginal cost of approximately $1 per gallon. Please note that this is only a "rough estimate" because it incorporates many unsteady variables like changing input prices, oil quality deviations, and fluctuating seasonal temperatures. Therefore the below price breakdown should not be taken as fact, but merely as a starting point. For more information, the full cost analysis can be found in Amelia's 2008 VBI
  • WHO CAN BUY THE FUEL?

  • We are currently not authorized to sell fuel to the general public due to regulatory issues. Some of our partners who are actively involved in the project are able to use our fuel. For more information about becoming a partner, please email us.
  • HOW DO I GET INVOLVED?

  • Join our mailing list to stay up-to-date with what we are doing! More information on how to join will be available soon.

    Students with a passion for alternative energy are the backbone of our organization! As a member, you’ll have the opportunity to…

    • …see how our biodiesel is made in our unique production shed from waste vegetable oil collected from campus dining halls and local restaurants. After completing a safety training session, you can become part of the process by being actively involved in collection and production!
    • …participate in the making of EcoSuds! One major by-product of the process is glycerin, which is made into a soap we call EcoSuds. It’s all part of our no-waste process!
    • …attend monthly meetings to stay informed about how AEC is continuing to implement and promote alternative energy around our community, and how you can help. Meetings are important to being a part of Vanderbilt’s alternative energy community!
    • …go on field trips to local companies, and attend guest seminars. These trips and seminars are excellent ways to see how businesses and organizations are successfully using renewable resources to power our world.

    So what are you waiting for? Visit our How to Join to learn how to apply!

  • How to Join

  • AEC is open to anyone in the Vanderbilt community who has an interest in alternative energy, including faculty and staff. Our goal is to unite everyone with common interests in alternative energy processes and protecting the environment. Becoming a member is easy! Just send us an e-mail and we’ll be happy to let you know when our next meeting is.

    As an active member, you’ll have the opportunity to attend unique seminars and participate in the production and distribution of biodiesel at our on campus facility. We also encourage members to come up with their own unique projects and initiatives!
  • EcoSuds

  • WHAT ARE ECOSUDS?

      • EcoSuds is a new environmentally friendly soap produced right here on Vanderbilt campus. Glycerin, a by-product of making biodiesel, is the main ingredient in our EcoSuds soap, which makes it very moisturizing (usually, companies remove glycerin from soap because it is more profitable to use in lotion as a moisturizer). Therefore, EcoSuds make a great hand soap, but it also works well as a shower gel, dish soap, carwash, blood stain remover, or laundry soap. The only contents added to the glycerin is a nautral scent - all soap kills bacteria, EcoSuds just does it without lots of chemical additives. AEC is currently promoting the use of Ecosuds in bathrooms around campus.
  • WHERE CAN I FIND ECOSUDS?

      • Ecosuds are currently available in many of the bathrooms in Featheringill Hall. If you would like Ecosuds for your residence or classroom building, please contact EcoSuds Chair Emma Steigerwald!
  • WHERE CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION?

      • Past News Articles: If you have more questions or are interested and would like to be involved, please contact our EcoSuds Chair Emma Steigerwald