The growing interest of the Dublin City School District in finding alternative fuel options turned into a research project lead by a group of Jerome High School students. Their mission: Find out how biodiesel fuel works, and how it can be used in Dublin City Schools. After many long hours or research and testing, a pathway to using substitute fuel in school buses was born. The goal of this research was to gain a sense of biodiesel’s effectiveness when compared to regular diesel.
Biodiesel can be created from many forms of waste materials, which the students discovered were available to them through the cafeteria. By using the cooking oil waste that the cafeteria produced over a six-month period, the students concluded they would have enough fuel to power two school buses. Not only could lower the amount of diesel fuel used, but it could save the community and school district a substantial amount of money annually.

Empowered to be creative, the students gained a sense of pride, along with new knowledge of alternative resources. The school district saved money on fuel expenses, and had the privilege of being at the forefront of technological advances. The potential that this research presented represents a new wave of innovation that the Dublin Foundation was proud to be a part of.