Groups meet for ecoSymposium
By Ashley Hopkins, staff writer
Posted on December 7, 2006

Speakers from various JMU environmental groups met Monday night for an ecoSymposium, providing information about what can be done to preserve the environment. 

Assistant ISAT professor Christopher Bachmann kicked off the event, presenting information on the benefits of biodiesel fuel over petroleum diesel. Holding examples to the air, he showed the audience how much dirtier petroleum is when burned.

“Biodiesel exhibits a tremendous reduction in exhaust emissions and is much more environmentally friendly than conventional fuels,” he said. “Biodiesel is less toxic than table salt and is also biodegradable.”

In addition to its environmental benefits, biodiesel costs less per mile than petroleum and allows consumers more miles to the gallon.

This is beneficial for JMU as all the buses on campus and in Harrisonburg run on biodiesel. With an energy bill of $5.26 million a year, according to Elizabeth Thomas of the Clean Energy Coalition, JMU can afford to cut costs.

“I was really excited about the fact that all the buses were run on biodiesel,” said Kendal Whiteway, who was present at the event. “[JMU’s] taking steps to change things.”

Towana Moore of facilities management at JMU also presented information at the ecoSymposium, focusing her lecture on what is currently being done at JMU to help protect the environment.

JMU replaces every diseased tree that must be taken down and uses many semi-permeable walkways to help prevent rain runoff. In addition, JMU is currently working on switching to exterior lights that point down, eliminating  extraneous light that can keep star-gazers from clearly seeing the night sky.

“I enjoyed hearing all the ongoing projects and to see that [JMU’s] looking at things from so many different angles,” said Sarah Frick, who graduated from JMU in 2003.

Other groups who presented throughout the night included the Association of Energy Engineers, Progress, the Earth Club, the Environmental Business Club and the Center for Energy and Environmental Sustainability.

Environmental Business Club member senior Beth Schermerhorn talked about JMU’s plans to build a farm staffed by student interns, employees and volunteers, which she said would benefit the community.

“You can talk face to face with the farmers you’re about to buy from,” Schermerhorn said.  “It creates a connection.”