ENVIRONMENTAL AND HUMAN EFFECTS OF PRODUCING AND USING COOKING OIL BIODIESEL

This academic study carefully looks at the environmental and human health implications of adding a biodiesel facility to the Gerace Research Centre (GRC), San Salvador, Bahamas. The study examines implications from start to finish including constructing the facility and ending with replacing diesel with biodiesel. This was found by conducting personal interviews and critically analyzing other materials on biodiesel. The biodiesel will be produced on the GRC campus. It will require developing a new building from a previous concrete foundation and additional storage sheds. The new building will store the various chemicals and the biodiesel maker, the Freedom Fueler Deluxe. The biodiesel will be cooking oil based which is different from typical algae biofuel which is more widespread and commonly used. To make the biodiesel, used cooking oil donated by various businesses around the island will be used. A certain part of the vehicles engines will also need to be replaced if the car model is before 1993. The study found replacing diesel with biodiesel would be excellent for the environment and not cause human harm. Initially, biodiesel emits 20-60 percent fewer greenhouse gasses than fossil fuels and 70-90 percent fewer long-term (New Delhi, 2009). This is significant and will drastically reduce the carbon footprint of the GRC and eventually the island of San Salvador. This will also reduce the current environmental impacts of traditionally transporting diesel to the island.