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Despite what by any standards was a setback at Copenhagen, there seems little doubt that a considerable amount of attention is going to be focused on the need for us all to become more sustainable during the new decade. There had been much hope for lasting accord in Denmark, as nations met to discuss a successor to the original Kyoto Protocol. Once again though, politics and domestic interests came to the fore, even though individual countries did promise to take concerted action.

Each week seems to bring forward additional evidence pointing to the contribution of greenhouse gas emissions to environmental damage. Over 300 years we have given little regard to the consequences of energy production and use or our reliance on fossil fuels. It seems likely that unless we reduce this reliance, considerable harm will ensue.

The lead is being taken in Europe, where the UK is implementing a trading scheme to force the largest polluters to buy licenses from the government allowing them to emit additional carbon. In these cases, if the companies do not act efficiently, they will incur penalties. Should they not, they will incur penalties. This is just an example of what governments may do as they force our attention toward sustainability.

A large part of the pollution in question can be attributed to transportation methods and our reliance on petroleum and petro diesel to transport our vehicles. Therefore, biodiesel fuel is, as such, destined to become a much more palatable alternative, as it has been shown to considerably reduce carbon dioxide related emissions when compared to conventional fuels.

In the United States, the EPA has ruled greenhouse gases to be hazardous, under the auspices of the Clean Air Act. We can now expect legislation and existing powers to be wielded, forcing emissions to be curtailed from these vehicles.

Biodiesel is emerging as a workable alternative as the solution has holistic benefits as well, and as such we are likely to see more facilities making biodiesel, more places to buy the product and many more people opting to use biodiesel for their diesel engine cars and trucks. Within Petro diesel engines, biodiesel may be used without any further modifications and can be used in a variety of different strengths.

Biodiesel has been around for a considerable period of time but has not retained much interest as conventional petroleum or petro diesel was relatively cheap and we were not sufficiently aware of the damage caused by carbon emissions. That was the past, but this is now and as society continues to demand that we all become more sustainable, bio fuel advocates should ensure that this fuel becomes part of our talking points and alternatives. People now need to move from the process of making homemade biodiesel to demanding that commercially made options are widely available all around them.

We now know that if we all make a concerted effort individually toward real change, whether in small things or on a large scale, anything is possible when it comes to global environmental sustainability, for us, and for our future generations.

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It is difficult to watch the violence that we see surrounding political summits discussing climate change and it makes us realise just how much tension is in the air surrounding this subject. Now we are coming to understand how unsustainable our lives are. Nobody can justify this kind of violence, and it makes us think how these individuals can be so angry and driven, but then when we look at all the material that scientists now give us and realise that our crazy lifestyles really are alien to the sustainable future of our planet. Most of us realise that we now need to aggressively cut down on our energy use, both individually and collectively, and to take a major element of responsibility for what we do. Greenhouse gases are building up in our atmosphere due to our use of those traditional fossil fuels – gas, coal and oil, raising our Earth’s temperature and threatening considerable harm to future generations unless we act quickly.

As always, political developments are slow and we are often frustrated by the inability of our political leaders to make headway. Recent and crucial talks in Copenhagen resulted in only moderate agreement and few, tangible results. As individuals, we all know that we can make a difference if we take action and really focus on how we use transportation on a daily basis. We have been told for years to try and carpool, to use public transportation, to use bicycles or even to walk to work. If environmental reasons are not enough to cause us to constrain our use, we should remember the events of 2008 when gasoline prices spiked considerably.

Our cars, trucks and buses are huge polluters of the environment and the automotive industry in the United States in particular is slow to shrug off the vestiges of an era when gas guzzlers were totally acceptable. It used to be okay to drive a car that was way too big, cumbersome and inefficient for our actual needs and as much as anything else, when gas was only 50 or 60 cents per gallon.

It seems that biodiesel fuel is a much brighter option for the future. The fuel is derived from agricultural products which are generally widely available. The product is made with leftover fat or vegetable oil and mixed with methanol for separation. If you are suitably inclined, making biodiesel at home is a good option. As a rule of thumb, homemade biodiesel in undiluted form can be used in your diesel engine vehicle with no additional effort, but many vehicles use a blend of conventional petrodiesel and biodiesel, called B20, B40, etc.

Biodiesel may not yet have “arrived” in terms of popular culture, but as our desire to cut back on consumption, to explore alternative hybrid vehicles and to generally live greener lives increases, we’re sure to see more emphasis on this renewable form of energy. When this special fuel does eventually become widely available to people all around the world, we will have a much better chance at slowing the incredible rate of global ecological change.

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Biodiesel is still relatively unknown, and due to this lack of education many myths, inconsistencies and “old wives tales” have emerged. It’s important to understand that biodiesel is not an experimental fuel, the subject of inconsistencies or likely to lead to failure or damage to your engine, and we should remember that biodiesel fuel has been around for over 80 years since it was first revealed.

Independent studies show that biodiesel performs equally as well as petro diesel, yet represents a significant benefit to both the health of the population and the environment as a whole. A large number of tests have taken place and they all point to the same thing. US Departments of Energy, Agriculture and the EPA have all analysed, tested and returned positive feedback.

The Clean Air Act, signed in 1990, has recently been the subject of some publicity, as the EPA, using powers vested in the body by the Act, has deemed greenhouse gases to be a hazard to human health. We are now likely to see big consequences for traditional energy sources and fuels and those that emit high levels of carbon. We should know that biodiesel is the only alternative fuel to qualify and pass under the auspices of the Clean Air Act.

Performance related tests have been conducted over more than 50,000,000 miles and have shown that biodiesel is comparable to petro diesel in all types of diesel engined vehicles. It must be noted that biodiesel can be used in regular diesel engines with no modification whatsoever. It can either be used neat or blended with regular diesel. Biodiesel gives better lubricity and can result in longer life and less wear within the engine.

In terms of pure energy performance, this product scores highest among any alternative fuels currently available.

For those who live in colder climes, in the northern parts of the United States or Canada, for example, cold weather is a big consideration. Biodiesel will also react to those cold extremes that can cause issues with conventional diesel engines, but the same preparation methods should be used when cold weather threatens, with no additional considerations. As normal, fuel heating or indoor storage are recommended.

Some people believe that biodiesel can cause filtration problems, but this is only likely when the fuel is first added to a regular diesel engine. As biodiesel is a solvent, it may help to dislodge deposits which exist in pipes or on tank walls. Consequently, the fuel filter should be replaced the first-time biodiesel is used and there should be no issues from then on.

Even though making biodiesel is a little bit more expensive than purchasing conventional fuel, there is definitely a worthwhile increase in fuel quality and overall performance. You can expect longer engine life as a consequence. As you increase the blend of biodiesel, carbon emissions are reduced more and more. If proper precautions are taken when making homemade biodiesel, the fuel can represent a great way to reduce the all-important carbon footprint. Take the leap, and make a change for the better by helping the environment, for this generation, and for all the generations that follow!

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If you have been introduced to the world of making biodiesel, then you will know that with patience and dedication you can achieve a freedom level that you have never seen and make savings as well. While the cost of petrol and petro diesel may have fallen back from the highs that plagued the US economy in recent years, who is to say that we could not fall victim to those far-off countries and their decision-making or other economic factors. In Europe, governments have always pushed punitive taxes on to transportation costs, making gasoline prohibitively expensive.

If you feel that you might want to move beyond the manufacture of biodiesel for just yourself or your family’s use, then you might wonder whether you could make a go of selling it commercially. This is definitely an underserved market, as there are few areas where biodiesel is readily available. You may be confused though as you may consider that the market is yet to formulate.

It’s good to know that biodiesel can be used, as it is, within the diesel engine and while there may be only one in 20 such vehicles in the US currently, the trend is increasing considerably. Note that in Europe, where fuel efficiency and trends tend to start, up to 50% of all vehicles on the road are diesel.

To make biodiesel commercially, resources and space must be created. The space that you use when making homemade biodiesel will probably not be sufficient and remember that you need a high level of purity before you may be certified.

It might be possible for you to get some local government or federal grants to help you establish your operation. You may well be able to present a good case to angel investors, well-off friends or other interested parties. You could aim to start off relatively small and finance expansion from your profits, and don’t forget to ride on the wave of sustainability that’s currently gripping the country. As the weeks and months go by, people are going to become even more concerned about the size of their carbon footprint, to say nothing of any cost savings they might be able to achieve.

Network what you are trying to do. Be in touch with established biodiesel producers regionally and see if you can somehow use their resources or even enthusiasm to help you get going. As time goes by, you may well locate parties who are interested in becoming subsidiary dealers for you.

You can have the opportunity to move from making biodiesel fuel as a hobby to a profitable business as an active distribution point for the local population. Why not go for it, and look to create some real change in your local environment? If you can find a job you truly enjoy, you never really work a day in your life! After all, what’s that well known saying that people all over the world have been talking about lately? Think global, act local!

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The automotive industry in the United States has taken a pounding during the great recession, accelerating a trend towards the introduction of the smaller and more efficient vehicles. Those days of $.50 gasoline and huge, inefficient cars are certainly on the way out, and we have now seen that sky-high gas prices can plague us, even when recessionary forces are not apparent.

We are now likely to see more European-style cars on the road in the US. In Europe, efficient vehicles are the norm and you never see those big American clunkers on this continent. If we are looking at trends and expecting European vehicles to become widespread in the US, we can imagine that an increasing number of diesel vehicles will soon be revealed. Diesel engine cars and trucks have a far better efficiency, even though the petro diesel required to fuel them can be a little bit more expensive.

If we can foresee a definite upward trend from the one in 20 or so diesel engine cars currently in the US toward the huge numbers popular in Europe, then we can see how biodiesel may have a considerable future there. As it emits very little in the way of greenhouse gases and can be made from readily available products, biodiesel fuel is much more friendly to the environment. The process for making biodiesel is fairly straightforward using animal fat or vegetable oil, commonly known as transesterification.

You may have already experimented with making homemade biodiesel in your garage and been quite successful. It is possible that you are considering a cottage industry and know that in your area there are no existing biodiesel distributors.

If you have an entrepreneurial bent, a commercial biodiesel operation may well be worth considering. Consider where you could find the oils or fats you need, the methanol and caustic soda in the correct quantities. You will need a reasonably sized space to be able to set up the production process and while it will require a bit more than just a simple ramping up from wherever you are now, the basic parameters remain the same.

Please note that before you will be able to sell your products you will have to ensure a certain level of purity and achieve certification and will of course need relevant business operational licenses. If you are unable to fund the entire operation set up yourself, note that you may be able to find grants and incentives, especially from government authorities that clearly see climate related pressures. It is very trendy to be sustainable these days and authorities realise that they should make public funding available to those who are following this trend.

Look at those who are already established. In certain parts of the country, biodiesel fuel users are more in evidence, especially in new England and the Northwest. If you research well, there is no reason why you should not benefit from an emerging trend. With so much change coming on the horizon, ever so much faster than we may realise, it only makes sense to become more sustainable as quickly as we can by turning to environmentally sound energy sources. Try biodiesel today, and see for yourself what the experience brings!

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The automotive industry is slowly but surely becoming more sustainable and is thinking about producing cars with better mileage figures, engines with longevity, reductions in carbon emissions and is also looking at major improvements to diesel engines. Conventional petro diesel is being replaced by a low sulphur alternative and this is of benefit to those who use, or wish to use biodiesel in their vehicles.

Equipment manufacturers are now making diesel engine motors that can accept either biodiesel or low sulfur. While it is true that pure blends of biodiesel can damage certain rubber compounds over a period of time, especially in older diesel engines, this issue is likely to decrease as more stringent rubber compounds are used. Indeed, if biodiesel is used in lower blends and not “neat,” any issues appear to be negligible.

Some consumers believe that should they use biodiesel in their cars they will void the warranty provided by the manufacturer. This is completely incorrect, as the diesel engined vehicle manufacturers all support the use of biodiesel. As biodiesel is the only alternative fuel to be certified by the US Environmental Protection Agency, savvy manufacturers are taking note of its potential and embracing its use. Within the automotive industry, senior executives can foresee that regulation is becoming much more likely as politicians react and they know that vehicles will be required with higher performance and greater sustainability.

More than 50% of all vehicles in Europe have diesel engines. This is more than a 10 times higher ratio than found in the USA, but we can see that more manufacturers are now planning to import and produce vehicles with diesel engines in this country as the trend toward smaller and more economical continues.

Within the last 10 years, interest in biodiesel in the US has grown considerably. Today, more than 700 million gallons are produced annually, compared to less than 1 million in 1999. This industry is likely to grow significantly as we go forward. Across the country, 14 organisations have multimillion dollar manufacturing operations, but there are hundreds of fledgling and micro operations elsewhere.

Not surprisingly, making biodiesel commercially is an option that many are considering, in some cases moving up from homemade biodiesel production, supplying neighbours and friends in the locality as they start a business. Commercial production of biodiesel fuel requires certification by the EPA, while there are certain incentives and grants also available to help.

If you are not sure and pondering whether the adoption of biodiesel as your fuel of choice would be a good idea, just consider the advances of the trend toward sustainability. The US Congress is looking at legislation to force major energy consumers and polluters to cut back considerably. As this trend continues, consumers will increasingly demand that organisations and individuals become more sustainable and show evidence that they are complying; biodiesel fuel is ideally placed to contribute. If you’re interested in helping the environment, and are looking for a way help others do the same, getting invovled with the production of biodiesel fuel is a great way to start!

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