Earth Fest this Sunday – Check out the BioBus

October 26, 2007

organic garden
Students share work at the organic garden, one of many sustainability projects on campus. Come to Earth Fest to learn more.

We've all heard about it – vehicles running on used vegetable oil. Sunday's your chance to see it live when the BioBus, which is traveling cross country as part of the BioTour program, comes to Exeter's campus for Earth Fest. Sarah '08, Environmental Action Committee (EAC) Co-Head, describes its appeal, "Anyone who thinks environmentalism can't be high-tech and futuristic might find this bus interesting." 

"Earth Fest is an opportunity for the student EAC to help educate the community about global environmental issues," says Jennifer Wilhelm, sustainability coordinator at PEA. Earth Fest highlights include a BioTour presentation in Mayer Auditorium, Step It Up 2 rally, a demonstration of converting vegetable oil from Exeter's dining halls for use on the BioBus, tours of the BioBus, games and pumpkin carving.

EAC anticipates that Earth Fest will build awareness on a broad range of ecological issues, including how students and other members of the PEA community can make a difference to the environment. According to Sarah, "It's a great way to get out and have some fun on Sunday which is a day that many students spend studying." EAC expects the BioBus to attract interest from many people, including students and renewable energy enthusiasts from outside the community. Aspen '08, an E-Proctor, notes: "It's exciting to know that the school is taking strides towards sustainability not only in measurable ways, but also in mindset."

By running on waste vegetable oil, the BioBus is a tangible example of renewable energy technology. A photovoltaic solar energy system provides electricity to the BioBus interior for lights, laptop computers and other electrical devices.

Sunday is also a chance to become part of Step It Up 2, a nationwide movement to urge Congress to pass progressive climate change legislation. Step It Up was started in 2006 by Bill McKibben, environmentalist and writer. The Step It Up 2 event on Sunday at PEA will be one of hundreds of events countrywide, most taking place on November 3.

Schedule of Earth Fest Events

 Time  Location  Activity
12:00 - 1:00  Mayer Auditorium  Multimedia presentation by BioTour activists on climate change and peak oil.
1:00 - 4:00  Library lawn  Various activities: Step It Up 2 rally, BioBus tours, vegetable oil as fuel demo, games, pumpkin carving, environmental awareness tables
In case of rain, lawn events take place in Love Gym.

Ongoing Sustainability Initiatives

PEA has a broad range of sustainability initiatives, including:

  • Green Cup Challenge: Thirty-one schools across 10 states expect to participate – more than double the participation from last year. The 2008 GCC is a single group challenge, in which schools work to reduce overall electric use by a given percent.
  • Focus the Nation: This nationwide educational event coordinates teams of faculty and students at over a thousand colleges, universities and K-12 schools in the United States. All year, Focus the Nation teams have been creating campus dialogue, sponsoring talks and debates, and integrating discussion of climate solutions into curricula. Focus the Nation will culminate January 31, 2008, in national symposia held simultaneously at over a thousand venues across the country. Exeter students are currently planning a roundtable discussion on global warming solutions, with state and local political leaders.
  • Green Flag Program: Exeter began working on the Green Flag Program in the spring of 2006. A team of students, faculty and staff conducted an environmental assessment of the campus and is now addressing the program's four issue areas by instituting policy change.
  • Student-run, 25- by 50-foot organic garden: Now in its first season after months of careful planning. Organic carrots and beans have already made their appearance at the dining hall.
  • A fleet of sustainable vehicles: These include a hybrid Campus Safety vehicle that was purchased over the summer, the Electric Egg, the Segway, and biodiesel tractors.
  • Green purchasing: A broad assessment and ongoing implementation of green purchasing is taking place on campus.
  • Campus composting:  This growing program now collects 25 - 35 gallons of compost twice a week.

Read about Exeter's ongoing sustainability efforts...
Learn more about the BioTour, including details on the BioBus…
Learn more about Step It Up 2… and last year's Step It Up event at Exeter.