Gov. Bev Perdue is working to make North Carolina a leader in building a green economy and some students at East Burke High School are helping the state get a head start. With the help of other North Carolinians who can vote online, their know-how and entrepreneurial spirit could help East Burke High capture a $20,000 grant to support the school’s environmental projects.
An independent panel of teachers and environmental experts selected the school as one of 20 finalists around the nation, and the only one from North Carolina, in the “Earth Day Every Day School Challenge” sponsored by Walmart. East Burke will receive a $500 grant to promote environmental-friendly activities for being a finalist. But voting on the Internet will decide just which of the 20 schools will get the $20,000 grant. Go to the school’s web site, www.burke.k12.nc.us/EBHS and there is a link to cast a ballot for the school’s project.
The students at East Burke, who call themselves the “Magic Fuel Bus Team, “worked after school in a chemistry lab and produced about 90 gallons of biodiesel fuel from waste vegetable oil that was donated from local restaurants. The biodiesel was mixed with standard diesel fuel on school buses. The buses ran for three months using the blended fuels, saving money on the cost of just running on standard diesel and also cutting the carbon dioxide emissions and other polluting elements from the buses.
Teacher Bob Smith said the students made a presentation of their findings to the Burke County Public School system. Since the presentation the students have put together an economic study showing how the school system can save money by producing its own biodiesel.
June 19 is the last day to vote, so don’t forget to go to www.burke.k12.nc.us/EBHS to cast a ballot.