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Community Corner

Wilton's Biodiesel Mobile

Wilton High School students show off their biodiesel car during last week's Go Green Festival.

No one knows for sure who killed the electric car, but the biodiesel car is alive and well.

Wilton High School students in the Alternative Energy Club designed and converted a car to run on fry oil. During last Sunday's Go Green Festival, the students displayed the car outside the Wilton Library. The green car helped highlight the festival's mission to prompt Wiltonians to consider alternative energy.

"Her name is Frita, from the Spanish word for fry, since she uses fry grease to run," said Scott Durkee, one of the club's faculty advisors.

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Custodians working at the Wilton schools use the three-year-old car to travel between schools and run school-related errands. Danbury Volkswagen donated the car and the club purchased a converter kit from Golden Fuel Systems to change the fuel system, said Durkee.

The car gets about 45 miles to the gallon. The biodiesel car is carbon neutral since no extra carbon dioxide is added to the environment while running.

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"The nice thing about the club, and the car, is there is a little something for everyone," said Nick Basile, a WHS student. "You take a piece of what you want to work on."

Chartwells, which runs the schools food services, donates the fry oil each week. Students filter the oil and put it in the car.

But most people don't have a ready supply of fry oil, and so a biodiesel car isn't practical, said freshman Megan Roughan.

Most people find it more practical to make simple changes: from turning car engines off while waiting to doing errands in one outing. These simple changes lead to more sustainable, energy-efficient lives, said Becky Bunnell, co-chair of the Go Green Festival.

Other changes might include using energy-efficient lighting, recycling more, signing up for clean energy options at www.CTCleanEnergyOptions.com, or using energy-efficient transportation, Bunnell said.

"Our goal is to offer a fun, family day to learn about energy conservation and sustainable living," said Bunnell.

Bunnell hoped people at the festival made the Wilton Energy Commission's Go Green Pledge. The pledge asks residents to make at least three environmentally responsible choices over the next year to preserve, protect, and promote a sustainable future.

Students in the Alternative Energy Club explore various sources of energy, from solar to wind. Some will go on to pursue engineering, others environmental studies.

"I was interested in the green thing and in renewable energy," said Kyle Hartner, a senior. "Converting the car was surprisingly easy to do. It wasn't as complicated as you might think."

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