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Biofuels in 2012′s Baja 1000
Buster Biofuels in San Diego Eco Warriors Spotlight
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PADRES GO SUSTAINABLE WITH BIOFUEL
Grease at Petco Park is used to power equipment via Buster Biofuels
The Padres reduce emissions with biodiesel powered pressure washers The fuel is made from their own grease via Buster Biofuels.
–“Going green” is considered cliché these days by naysayers, but to the San Diego Padres Baseball Club, it means corporate responsibility and a shift toward sustainability. To meet their sustainable goals, the Padres stepped up to the biofuel plate this season and introduced biodiesel into their Hotsy® pressure washers. The fuel was made from the park’s used cooking oil via Buster Bilofuels®, an emerging San Diego biofuel company. Biodiesel is a renewable fuel for diesel engines. It is non-toxic, biodegradable and significantly reduces emissions when compared to petroleum diesel fuel. Thus, the implementation of biofuel will reduce the Padres’ carbon footprint.
The pressure washer project has been in the works since Buster Biofuels approached the Padres last year and began collecting the used cooking oil from the park. “We are always looking for new opportunities to reduce our carbon footprint and make Petco Park more energy efficient,” said Mark Guglielmo, Padres vice president of ballpark operations & general manager of Petco Park. “With approximately two million fans visiting the ballpark each season, we use a substantial amount of cooking oil. The idea that we could reuse that oil for another purpose within the ballpark was intriguing.” So, Guglielmo and his green committee took a serious look at the opportunity and ran it all the way to home plate. They designated two Hotsy pressure washers for the project.
“It was only necessary for the fuel nossles to be modified to accommodate the viscosity of the biodiesel which is slightly different than petroleum diesel”, says Will Phillips, Service Manager for Hotsy San Diego. “The minimal change enables the washers to run efficiently on higher blends of biodiesel and with identical performance as diesel fuel”.
So, why bother? Well, the pressure washers are little fuel hogs! They are used at Petco Park intensely for pre-season preparation, as well as in-season cleaning of the ballpark inside and out. “The pressure washer’s fuel consumption this February through March was slated to be more than 500 gallons”, says Buster Halterman, CEO of Buster Biofuels. “We can help the Padres reduce their CO2 emissions by nearly 8,708 lbs. during this period alone.” And with success of this program, the Padres plan to invest in more biodiesel capable equipment such as tractors that will mow the fields of Petco Park. This will enable them to utilize more of their recycled fuel and still leaves them with a surplus of used oil, despite the increasing demand ahead.
“When the Padres asked us to convert our equipment to bio-fuel we were not 100 percent sold on this type of technology,” said Adam Forchelli, operations manager for Aramark at Petco Park. “But after working with the machines that we converted to burn bio-diesel, we could not be happier with the results. Our fuel consumption has been reduced dramatically and we are doing the right thing for the environment. It’s a win-win situation.”
Last year, through the Buster Biofuels Alliance, the ball club announced its devotion to localized fuel supply by allocating oil that helps fuel the San Dieguito Union High School District buses in North County San Diego. The school bus program is picking up momentum and has been a collaborative effort through the Buster Biofuels Alliance of conscience companies such as Legoland California, La Costa Resorts & Spa and hundreds of San Diego restaurants that believe in localization and sustainability. “The Alliance companies want to be part of a more meaningful cause.” Jason Biddle, Chief Sales Officer at Buster Biofuels said. “Why use a big monster company and foreign resources when you can utilize small companies and resources right here in your own back yard? That is what the Padres are all about.” So, the biofuel company’s slogan “…GO FUEL YOURSELF!®” was music to the Padres’ ears.
Buster Biofuels was founded in 2009 by backyard biodiesel enthusiast and former professional skateboarder Buster Halterman, whose background also includes marketing, management and consulting in the action sports industry. Based in Escondido, California, the mission of Buster Biofuels is to initiate, establish and service green initiatives for restaurants and companies in San Diego County in an effort to reduce carbon emissions. The company is poised well for funding under the California Energy Commission’s AB118 program and is waiting for an award announcement from the Commission this summer.
Funding from the CEC will enable the company to build a third generation biorefinery with a capacity of 5 million gallons per year. Also, this in house production will enable the company to keep more of the used cooking oil local for bio distribution to more companies who are standing in line for Buster’s fuel.
To learn more about the San Diego Padres and their green initiatives, visit www.padres.com/gogreen.
To learn more about Buster Biofuels, visit www.busterbiofuels.com or call 760.266.5142 x101.
The Grand Del Mar Fuels Themselves!
City Honors Grand Del Mar for Recycling
By Lou HirshThursday, April 19, 2012
The Grand Del Mar resort in Carmel Valley has been named Recycler of the Year, in an annual awards program presented by the City of San Diego.
An April 18 statement from hotel operators said the luxury property recently announced a fuel recycling program and a new food waste composting program, among other efforts. Grand Del Mar President Tom Voss said recycling efforts “have evolved and expanded” since the 249-room resort opened in 2007.
Programs aimed at reducing trash hauled to landfills include an “aggressive recycling program” developed with Waste Management Inc. and Urban Corps, a local nonprofit geared to conservation and community service by young adults, the statement said.
The resort sends 7,000 pounds of food scraps to The Greenery, a city-run composting facility at Miramar Landfill. Only 10 percent of trash is sent to landfills, with 90 percent recycled on-site.
The Grand Del Mar works with San Diego-based Buster Biofuels to reclaim 200 gallons of cooking oil and grease monthly. It is blended and converted into diesel fuel used to power the resort’s landscaping equipment.
The city plans to present its annual Waste Reduction and Recycling Awards in an April 20 ceremony at the San Diego Zoo, as part of Earth Day observances.
Fueling the Fire for 20 Years
FUELING THE FIRE FOR 20 YEARS
Original Founders of Fuel Clothing Circle Back and Collaborate
Hilton Head, SC & San Diego (April 16, 2012)
Twenty years ago, former pro skateboarder Buster Halterman and former pro snowboarder Shane Gould founded Fuel Clothing (Fuel) from an 18-acre farm in Pennsylvania. The owners moved the company to its existing headquarters on Hilton Head Island, SC and worked together for over three years until Halterman went on to pursue his own path in the action sports industry. Since 1995, Gould has carried the Fuel torch and continued to build the brand with success. Now, 20 years later, Buster and Shane remain friends laughing at the fact that they are still in the fuel business…but just in slightly different ways. Today they celebrate Fuel’s anniversary along with their continued passion for fuel, and what it represents.
On April 16, 1992 the partners threw themselves in to the fire of the clothing industry to create a skate, snow, surf lifestyle brand with a positive attitude and image. “Fuel was founded on the principles of the word itself”, says Buster. “It was about getting fired up, aggression, inspiration, motivation and passion for what we were about. We tried to express that in our designs, graphics and branding overall”. The company’s simple Fuel Coffee Cup, Utterly Fuel (milk) and Heart graphics spoke for themselves. Their asymmetrically cut yokes on the Aztec printed flannel and fleece made from recycled plastics were ahead of their time. However, since those early days, the company has come a long way.
“It has taken 20 years of perseverance to keep things burning over here,” Shane says. I don’t’ see perseverance ever leaving the business, but because of it, the original dream did come to fruition…even all the way to the Fuel Station retail store that I built here on the Hilton Head.”
So here’s the irony of it all. In 2009, Buster stepped away from the action sports industry and founded Buster Biofuels LLC. Toward the end of his skate and business career in action sports, Buster became a backyard biodiesel enthusiast who quickly got the bug for creating a business with a meaningful mission to RECLAIM, RECYCLE and REFUEL. The company is built on similar values as Fuel Clothing, and also shares the dream of having a fuel station someday, or at least having a brand presence at fuel stations.
“Shane and I have kept in touch over the years.” Says Buster, “And when we realized that it was the 20th year anniversary of Fuel we felt it would be a good time to reminisce on the old days, celebrate and collaborate on the fuel marketing front. So, we’re ripping off one of Shane’s graphics…hahaha.”
Fuel’s fuel gauge graphic will be adapted in to a limited edition Buster Biofuels t-shirt that Fuel Clothing will be producing. “I think it is very fitting that we’ve circled back 20 years later to collaborate on something simple.” Says Gould. “Now Buster Biofuels can have high end T’s for his team and promotions, and our FUEL labels can be the supporting brand behind it all.”
The old partners hope this leads to further collaboration in the form of clothing, accessories and marketing efforts down the line. But for now, lets be stoked that Fuel Clothing has survived the crazy roller coaster ride of an economy that was filled with fierce lawsuits from Fuel TV and cease and desist orders from Diesel clothing and Sunoco (no kidding! Shouldn’t they have been after Buster Biofuels instead?). Nonetheless, Fuel Clothing prevailed.
Happy 20th year anniversary to Fuel Clothing. Keep fueling the fire.
Fuel has been supplying the action and motorsports industry world-wide with quality clothing and accessories since 1992. The Biggest Little Company in America has remained consistent with our core image in a time of overblown commercialism and the blatant exploitation of the industry. Fuel makes innovative clothing & accessories that incorporate basic as well as cutting edge concepts, appealing to anyone that Fuels the fire everyday. The company has always been a company of riders and a team approach to clothing design to ensure that the fit will assist customers in the action sport of their choice.
Buster Biofuels LLC was founded in 2009 with a mission that can be summed up in three words – RECLAIM, RECYCLE, REFUEL. Based in Escondido, California, the company services the used cooking oil collection needs of restaurants all over San Diego CA, including large clients like the San Diego Padres, Legoland California, La Costa Resorts, etc. Also, the company has initiated pilot biofuel programs by delivering biofuel to several company fleets including the San Dieguito Union High School District and Cannon Pacific (the largest street sweeper in San Diego). Currently, the company poised well for grant funding from the California Energy Commission this summer and hopes to have their in-house biorefinery online by Q4 2013.
Addition company info can be found at:
Call 843-842-3835 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvBw0stO8SY&feature=youtu.be
Call 760.266.5142 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvBw0stO8SY&feature=youtu.be
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