Environmental Economics (Econ 228)
Lauren Gritzke, Debra Hausladen, Anli Yang
Project Goal:
To evaluate the costs, environmental benefits,
and feasibility of switching campus-owned
diesel vehicles to run on a 20% biodiesel fuel
blend instead of 100% petrodiesel1
Why switch to biodiesel?
- Ease
- Low cost
- To bolster Wellesley’s environmental reputation
- To reduce Wellesley’s environmental impact2
- to reduce particulate matter, greenhouse
gases, and other harmful emissions
Evaluation Process
1) Researched other schools that use biodiesel
2) Researched feasibility at Wellesley
a. Possible infrastructure changes
(both filling station and in vehicles)
b. Possible complications with engine
warranties
3) Researched costs
a. Possible filter change costs
b. Difference in fuel cost
4) Contacted Burke Oil, Wellesley’s fuel
provider, and calculated difference in fuel price
6) Decided on pilot program
Project Specifics:
- Switch 5 vehicles (representative of Wellesley’s maintenance fleet) to run on biodiesel
- Choose between 2 biodiesel procurement schemes for pilot program:
- Buy two 55 gallon drums of B20 biodiesel (20% biodiesel, 80% diesel) from Burke every
2 to 3 weeks
- Or, switch 1 of the 2 existing diesel tanks at Wellesley’s filling station to biodiesel
1 Number of diesel gallons used at Wellesley in 2006
2 National Biodiesel Board. <http://www.nationalbiodieselboard.org/>.
Project Snapshot:
Conversion of campus-owned maintenance
vehicles to biodiesel
Petrodiesel cost:
Average price paid by Wellesley during 2006
(Burke Oil): $2.31 per gallon petrodiesel
Biodiesel costs/savings:
Current estimate of $0.12 increase per gallon
(Burke Oil): $2.43 per gallon biodiesel
= 9,419 gallons1 * $0.12= $1130.28
5% increase
Low estimate of $0.07 decrease per gallon
(assuming March, 2007 prices): $2.38 per gallon
biodiesel
= 9,419 gallons * $-0.07= -$659.33
3% savings
High estimate of $0.24 increase per gallon (Burke
Oil): $2.55 per gallon biodiesel
= 9,419 gallons * $0.24 =$2260.56
10% increase
Environmental Benefits from B20 use
(compared to petrodiesel)2:
- 20% reduction in carbon dioxide
- 12% reduction in carbon monoxide
- 20% reduction in hydrocarbons
- 20% reduction in sulfates
