About Us
Frequently Asked QuestionsVBI in the News
VBI FAQ's ...back to top
What is VBI?
How was VBI started?
Who else is involve?
Where is the VBI facility located?
How is our system set up and how does it work?
What is unique about the VBI production process?
Where do we collect our waste veggie oil?
How much does it cost to produce?
How much biodiesel is produced?
Who uses VBI's biodiesel?
Who can buy the fuel?
How do I get involved?
What is VBI? ...back to top
Vanderbilt Biodiesel Initiative is a self-sufficient, sustainable, student-run biodiesel production system at Vanderbilt University. The 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 is to curb the consumption of petroleum-based fuel by the Vanderbilt community with a system that is economically and environmentally sustainable. Also, the initiative aims to educate others about the viability of biodiesel as an effective alternative fuel.
How was VBI started? ...back to top
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 and it 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!
Who else is involved? ...back to top
VBI is the umbrella organization for a campus wide effort which is only successful because of its many contributing partners.
 |
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. |
 |
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 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 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), 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 (SPEAR) will increase environmental awareness and promote more environmentally sustainable habits and infrastructure within the Vanderbilt and Nashville community.
|
Where is the VBI facility located? ...back to top
|
|
|
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 our system set up and how does it work? ...back to top
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 the VBI production process? ...back to top
At VBI, we are taking a waste product and turning it into a fuel. But all other by-products of the reaction also have a use! The glycerin is made into a soap ("Eco-suds") which is then bottled and sold. The synthetic talc power is high in pot ash and is used in the garden. And any excess methanol is recovered and re-used for the next batch!
Where do we collect our waste veggie oil? ...back to top
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 does it cost to produce? ...back to top
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 Overview Report.
How much biodiesel is produced? ...back to top
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 VBI's biodiesel? ...back to top
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!
Who can buy the fuel? ...back to top
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? ...back to top
Join our mailing list to stay up-to-date with what we are doing! Or stop by on of our bimonthly meetings, every other Wednesday at 6PM in Featheringill Hall.
VBI in the News ...back to top
Proposal for mtvU&GE's Ecomagination Challenge
The Initiative began in the Fall of 2006 when a group student instructors from the Wilderness Skills Course (WilSkills), decided to enter a campus greening grant contest hosted by GE and mtvU. The initial group also consisted of several students from the campus environmental group, Students Promoting Environmental Awareness and Recycling (SPEAR). The student group worked hard to assemble an application package for the mtvU GE Ecomagination Challenge in an attempt to win $25,000 to implement a campus greening project. The Vanderbilt application made it into the top ten out of more than 100 entries. In the end a similar biodiesel project at MIT ended up winning, but by that point there was enough student energy behind the Initiative that it was bound to succeed, even without the $25,000 prize.
Grant Proposal Materials:
Vanderbilt Biodiesel Application Video: QuickTime Large, QuickTime Small, Google Video, YouTube
Vanderbilt Biodiesel Written Application
Vanderbilt Biodiesel Entry Profile
List of Ecomagination Finalists
Past News Articles:
SustainVU Article, Aug '07
Vanderbilt Register, July '07
Vanderbilt Orbis Article, Feb '07
InsideVandy, Feb '07
Vanderbilt Register, Feb '07
InsideVandy, Jan '07
InsideVandy, Jan '07
