Every year St. Johns Pubic Schools saves more than 15,000 gallons of oil by using alternative, non-oil based methods to fuel, clean and operate its vehicle fleet.
About seven years ago, St. Johns Public Schools’ fleet manager, Wayne Hettler, started using soybean oil on the district’s fleet because it was cheaper and more effective.
“That’s really when we got started on this green stuff,” Hettler says. “Then, with Iraq and environmental issues, we thought, 'We’re going to save as much oil as we can and we’re going to save money doing it.'”
Now the school gets 20 percent of its diesel fuel from soybeans, has driven more than three million miles on biodiesel and uses recycled materials on its fleet.
“I can tell you the most expensive full synthetic motor oil is about
$7.40 a quart and the motor oil we use is $1.60,” Hettler says. A
school bus holds 30 quarts of oil for a total savings of $174 per bus.
Conventional motor oil runs about $2.20 a quart, so St. Johns Public Schools still sees a savings of $18 a bus.
Hettler says 40 to 60 Michigan school districts have contacted St. Johns Public Schools about its biodiesel program.
“Probably all of them have started because they contacted us about it or heard about us doing it,” Hettler says. “We’ve helped people all over the United States and provided them with resources.”
Hettler says he’s constantly looking for additional, environmentally friendly ways to fuel his fleet and reduce transportation costsfor St. Johns Public Schools.
Source: Wayne Hettler, St. Johns Public Schools
Ivy Hughes, development news editor, can be reached here.
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