BY KATIE SNYDER
What did you do this summer? That’s a popular question for student’s returning to campus, and most responses include vacations or summer school. But for 13 committed Dartmouth students, their summer months have consisted of traveling across the country in a waste vegetable oil (WVO)-powered green coach bus teaching people about community involvement through environmental action. The student-run Big Green Bus is a “Vehicle for Inspiration,” and is in the midst of an 85-day nationwide movement covering 12,000 miles across 30 states. The Big Green Bus recently rolled through Arizona, making stops and giving presentations in Tucson, Maricopa and Flagstaff.
Supporting the green initiative for another year is Caesars Entertainment Corporation, parent company of Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino Resort in Maricopa, where the bus made its 16th stop of the tour. The Big Green Bus is just one of many responsible green practice programs Caesars Entertainment and Harrah’s Ak-Chin take part in each year.
“Green practices have always been important at Harrah’s Ak-Chin. Through our various programs and initiatives, we stress the importance of sustainability to our guests and staff here,” said Robert Livingston, general manager of Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino and Resort. “We are proud to have the Big Green Bus visit us in Maricopa.”
During their visit, the Dartmouth students joined Harrah’s HEROs, the resort’s employee volunteer group, and CodeGreen, Caesar’s international environmental sustainability initiative that focuses on renewable energy, reduction of carbon emissions and water consumption to help spread their message. Through various activities, the groups promoted environmental sustainability through grassroots and awareness. The Clean City Coalition also joined the groups supporting their efforts and teaching about reducing the country’s oil dependency.
On the outside, the Big Green Bus is equipped with top of the line solar panels to power any electronics on board like appliances, computers, lights. Instead of gas, the bus relies primarily on renewable resources (some diesel fuel is needed to heat up the engines to burn the oil), filling up at each stop with recycled left over bio-fuel from restaurants to help turn the wheels to the next destination.
On the inside, interactive features designed to teach about energy use and to start dialogues about environmental issues. The classroom-on-wheels displays a map telling stories of sustainability across the country, demonstrations of how individuals can lower their carbon footprint by doing things like buying environmentally friendly products, and information on personal waste reduction and finding alternative power sources. Each stop the Dartmouth team, employees and volunteer engage in discussions on environmental responsibility, provide education opportunities and inspire the public to participate in more environmental friendly practices.
Unlike previous years, this year’s green movement focused on inspiring grassroots action to address environmental issues and encourage sustainability at the community level. Equipped with solar-panel powered appliances, a recycling and compost station and an engine converted to run on waste vegetable oil, the bus is the epitome of sustainable living.
