It seems like everyone is going green these days. The University is no exception.LSU’s Agricultural Center has been working on a research project to develop biodiesels out of foodstocks. Biodiesel is a natural form of diesel, according to Dr. Gary Breitenbeck, a professor at the University who began biodiesel research in the AgCenter. Diesel is what runs work vehicles such as trucks, tractors, and constructions vehicles — all vehicles that require more torque than regular cars.According to Brietenbeck diesel is “essential for our country,” and that’s why its so important people find substitutes for it.Diesel made from petroleum and chemically heavier than gasoline. Biodiesel, on the other hand, is a naturally occurring fuel made from tryglycerides in foodstocks. Most biodiesels are made from vegetable oil and animal fats.But is switching to biodiesel important?Diesel releases carbon dioxide into the air, which is thought to be a major factor in global warming.The amount of sulphur used in diesel is limited by law – another reason for the increased need for biodiesel. The sulphur gives the diesel lubricancy. According to www.performancemotoroil.com, for a vehicle to work at its highest efficiency it needs to eliminate friction because then the maximum amount of energy can be harnessed towards operating the vehicle rather than overcoming mechanical friction. Biodiesel also adds lubricancy, so as sulphur is removed, biodiesel blends with diesel, at about 2 percent biodiesel, to maintain the lubricancy.”Clearly, there is a current need to be energy independent,” said Breitenbeck. If biodiesel was further developed, it would decrease the need for petroleum, a nonrenewable resource.”Biodiesel will give our country the opportunity for prosperity,” Brietenbeck added. Breitenbeck said Louisiana has always been on the forefront of bioenergy research. One of the first ethanol plants in the country was built in Louisiana. Breitenbeck suggested that the Ag Center become more involved in biodiesel research. Since then he has helped to guide the AgCenter in biodiesel research.Currently the AgCenter’s main objective is to find crops that can be harvested solely for the use of biodiesel and not compete with foodcrops. Breitenbeck says we need to use all of the country’s resources and focus on land that is not already being used in agriculture.Breitenbeck is interested in three particular crops: the tallow tree, pecans and cold-weather crops.”The tallow tree is the crop that shows the greatest potential” [to produce the most oil],”  Breitenbeck said. The tallow tree will prevent soil erosion. There are millions of acres of land that are not being used that could be used to harvest the tallow tree.The second crop is pecans that are harvested but cannot be sold as food. Instead of going unused, these pecans could be used as a feedstock for biodiesel said Breitenbeck.Cold-weather crops are another area of focus for Breitenbeck. The majority of land in Louisiana is fallow during the winter. If cold-weather crops were used, biodiesel crops could be produced in the winter when food crops are not being harvested.As of right now, the most common biodiesel is soybean oil, and it’s price has gone up lately as demand increased. It is more expensive to produce biodiesel from soybean oil than the worth of the biodiesel. Consequently, Breitenbeck and the students at the AgCenter are hoping to find alternatives to soybean oil.”Any fat from a plant or animal can be used as a biodiesel,” Breitenbeck said.What prevents a fat from functioning as a biodiesel is what researchers call the “poor point,” which is the temperature at which the biodiesel goes from a liquid to a gel substance. If a fat has a low poor point, it is not suitable to be a biodiesel because of its potential to become a gel on cold days.This project is playing an important role in reducing the amount of carbon dioxide emissions in the air and creating more energy independence. But you don’t have to be an agricultural student to help the environment. Everyone plays a part in the grand scheme of things. Students can cut carbon dioxide emissions, save on gas and promote a healthy lifestyle by riding bikes.Using public transportation, like buses, is another great way to help out. If more people took buses there would be fewer cars on the road and less carbon dioxide being released into the air.It’s not hard for everyone to do their part. There are recycling bins all over campus to throw away a paper after reading it. The book store has a line of organic recycled paper and pencils for sale. No matter what we do, University students should make an effort to make parts of our day a little bit more green.—-Contact Nichole Oden at [email protected]