Introduction

Where we all live..

Fri, 18 Dec 2009 10:01:58 -0800

PlantDrive's 10th Anniversary!

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 08:06:43 -0800

We’re 10 years old and celebrating with a sale on our Vegtherm inline electric vegetable oil heaters! Check it out at our online store at plantdrive.ca Order before Dec. 25 and save $20!

Pounds of Co2 per US Gallon

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 14:37:05 -0800

We are frequently asked for estimates of the carbon emissions of vegetable oil compared to diesel fuel and biodiesel. Here is a summary of the calculations done by researchers at the P.E.A.S. farm in Montana, USA (pounds of CO2 emitted per US Gallon):

Lbs CO2/G

Diesel 27.13
B20 Biodiesel (reduced by 80% if B100) 24.08
Rapeseed Oil (Purchased) 2.07
Rapeseed Oil (On-Site) 2.63
Waste Veggie Oil Minimal (used to heat oil to filter)

http://www.ncat.org/special/oilseeds_innovations8.php

Canola Prices dropping?

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:54:35 -0800

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/canada-scrambles-to-contain-canola-crisis-as-china-goes-local/article1369223/

PlantDrive gear at Everest? Maybe...

Fri, 2 Oct 2009 15:36:59 -0700

Edward Beggs, co-founder and President of PlantDrive, a graduate of the MSc in Environment and Management program at Royal Roads (MEM99), and Royal Roads University Associate Faculty member, has been named Technical Director at Large for the Green Everest Alliance's "Everest Base Camp" project (greeneverest.org).
The Everest Base Camp project goal is to "facilitate the planning and implementation of simple, innovative, and appropriate environmental technologies for human waste management in the Everest region in order to provide sustained improvements in quality of life, mitigate human impact, and preserve the local and regional watershed".
The project proposes to integrate a suite of tried, tested, simple, effective, and ecologially & socially appropriate technologies in the Everest Region, related to waste management, high elevation horticulture, social services, energy production (biogas, PV, solar, and diesel fuel for generator from used cooking oil) and prototype development, stressing that these technical components are simple. All components have been installed at hundreds of thousands of remote and urban locations throughout the world.
Technically, the challenges will revolve around the interconnections of the system's components, which will be limited by the local environment and social dynamics within which they will reside.
The true challenges inherent in the project are not technical. Keystone to the success and longevity of these technical systems are strong, mutually beneficial relationships amongst individuals, organizations, governing bodies, and sponsors.