3/25/07- As seen in The Key west Citicen
2007 Glee Expo Driving Home Green Transportation Messages
BY BARBARA BOWERS
Special to The Citizen
When biking or walking isn't an option for getting from here to there, some Florida Keys residents are still driving home messages about "green transportation:" Reduce greenhouse gas emissions, conserve fuel and get better gas mileage.
In short, they think alternative vehicles can save the planet and save money."
Last summer, we took our grandchildren on a 3,000 mile road trip in our Prius and only spent $180 for fuel," said Karen Beal, who lives in Key Largo. "Political debate on global warming aside, driving a hybrid car makes sense because it's good for the environment, saves us money and we give up nothing in comfort or horsepower."
Beal says that years ago her husband, Ike Beal, the former deputy chief of the Key Largo Fire Department, researched and created a training class on the potential hazards in hybrid vehicle extrication for both victims and rescuers.
"Ike's concern was originally with safety, but his research caused him to fall in love with the technology of Toyota's Prius, and we bought one in 2005," said Beal, who organized the green transportation sector for the upcoming Florida Keys Green Living and Energy Education 2007 Expo.
On March 31, the GLEE Expo will display 20 vehicles that offer energy-efficient alternatives to standard cars with internal combustion engines. Three South Florida dealers will showcase their latest models and six hybrid owners will be on hand to discuss their day-to-day use, but Beal says the Expo isn't only about dealers and owners of hybrid cars that typically use a mix of gasoline and electricity.
"We are exhibiting alternative hybrid vehicles of all sorts," she said.
Everything from electric cars exhibited by the Florida Electric Auto Association and electric bikes to Larry Wexler's three-wheeled solar motorcycle will be at the Expo.
"Basically, mine's a solar-powered sports car that accelerates and stops just like any regular vehicle," said Wexler of GREENhouse 2000, Inc. "It has AC, room for three occupants and you can drive all day in the sun at a top speed of eighty-five miles per hour."
Wexler, who has been working on his second prototype with NASA, says because it has three wheels, the vehicle is licensed as a motorcycle. It is lightweight, and the solar panels on the hood and roof give the electric half of his hybrid its extra kick, not just for speed, but for battery charging.
When there's no sun, he says, plug it in.
But oil and greenhouse gas emissions can be conserved by those who are unplugged, too.
"I've been invited to GLEE to showcase my 1982 Mercedes 300 Turbo Diesel wagon," said Seth Mularz, who lives in Hollywood, Florida but formerly lived in Key West. "I had been researching waste vegetable oil (WVO) conversion kits when my gas-powered truck finally quit. I zeroed in on this old Mercedes with two hundred thousand miles on it that had been converted by Naples Biofuel.
"The old Benz five-cylinder engines have been praised as being practically bullet proof, and have been known to go over a million miles when well maintained," said Mularz. "That said-they make a strong case to run off of WVO."
Mularz says the conversion is pretty simple.
"I have two tanks-the original still gets filled with diesel fuel and the second tank is specifically for my filtered WVO. It's necessary to start the car using diesel, but when the car heats up, I simply flick a switch and bam! I'm running my car off of the veggie oil that may have been used yesterday to fry your tempura," he said. "Not only am I re-using an energy source that is typically incinerated with no energy gain, but I am effectively cutting down my emissions."
According to www.NaplesBiofuel.com, Mularz and others who use WVO conversion kits reduce sulfur dioxide 100 percent, soot and smoke 40-60 percent, carbon monoxide 10-50 percent, among other greenhouse gases.
"Local restaurants are eager to donate their used vegetable oil because instead of paying a company to dispose of their oil, I pick it up for free," said Mularz. "The average person who gets frustrated when he has to stop to buy gas isn't going to like doing this, but this is my one and only vehicle, well worth the maintenance involved, plus, I figure it gets me good karma."
A recycled vegetable oil converter kit for diesel engines is different from the bio-diesel fuel system that processes cooking oil and ethanol.
"My daughter inspired me to buy a 2005 Volkswagen Jetta that can use bio-diesel fuel," said Lois Kincaid. "We didn't have to do anything to the engine, and if bio-diesel fuel isn't available, we just use diesel."
Kincaid, who splits her time between Key West and Portland, Oregon, says that when she's in Key West she doesn't drive a car: "We use our bikes here and the Jetta in Portland, where the fuel is sold at Shell Service Stations. I pay more at the pump for bio-diesel than gasoline, but it makes me happy not just because my car smells like Duncan Donuts, but becauseI'm conserving oil and energy."
Although bio-diesel fuel isn't available at the gas pumps in the Florida Keys, Lisa Bowman of Sol Atlantic Biodiesel distributes a palm oil-based product in Miami.
"My partner, Christian Miranda, was visiting his cousin in Portland, where he learned about bio-diesel fuel," she said. "We just started our wholesale distribution company and the Florida Keys Electric Cooperative is among our first clients."
I think FKEC is trying to set an example for being environmentally conscious," said Bowman, who will demonstrate bio-diesel vehicles and present the workshop "Biodiesel: An Alternative" at the GLEE expo.
Another expert on driving options, Bill Moore, Editor of EV World magazine, will cover the pros and cons of electric vehicles, what's available for consumers, and what difference these vehicles make to the environment and world in his workshop, "Green Transportation."
Green transportation, though, is just one area of concentration at the Green Living and Energy Education 2007 Expo. On March 31, more than 50 workshops, speakers and exhibits will address how to save money and energy at home and in the workplace. The Expo is free and takes place at the Stanley Switlik School in Marathon, 3400 Overseas Highway Mile Marker 48.5 bayside.
For details and schedules, call 305-293-7658, or visit www.keysglee.com.