"Stop Hamilton's Million Dollar Energy Bill!" Members of the Hamilton community have undoubtedly seen the signs around campus and in dorms. However, other than turning off the lights, how can Hamilton College be more environmentally-friendly? Dave Gordon (New York, NY), Zachary Hesse (Jenkintown, Pa.) and Matt Himmel (Lexington, Ma.) are trying to find a different, more efficient way to produce energy right on campus; the three were recently awarded a collaborative Emerson Scholarship from Hamilton College to finance their endeavor.
The three students, all members of the class of 2005, will be working with Hamilton College Professor Michael McCormick on a project titled "A Feasibility Study: The Benefits of Biodiesel Fuel at Hamilton College." Gordon, Himmel, and Hesse recently took Industrial Ecology with Professor McCormick; during the class, the students discovered biodiesel to be an alternative fuel that could be used at Hamilton College to heat buildings.
Biodiesel fuel is a "form of diesel fuel that is created via a simple conversion process from cooking oil" and is more environmentally-friendly than regular petroleum-based diesel fuel. By taking the used cooking oil from Hamilton's Bon Appetit food service, the students hope to create biodiesel fuel that can be used at the College in an economical way.
The goal of the project is to help Hamilton become more environmentally-friendly and introduce the use of alternative fuels on campus while maintaining the school's existing economic budget. Gordon, Himmel, and Hesse claim that the progressive grassroots project will make Hamilton more environmentally-friendly, and will allow it to serve as the model school for environmental action. They hope it will also strengthen the Hamilton community by bringing together students, faculty, the physical plant, and the food service.
Gordon is majoring in government, Himmel is majoring in biology, and Hesse in religious studies.
Created in 1997, the Emerson Foundation Grant program was designed to provide students with significant opportunities to work collaboratively with faculty members, researching an area of interest. The recipients, covering a range of topics, will explore fieldwork, laboratory and library research, and the development of teaching materials. The projects will be initiated this summer, and the students will make public presentations of their research throughout the 2004-2005 academic year.
-- by Emily Lemanczyk '05
