C L I F T O N P A R K
Teacher makes energy conservation a way of life
Local resident advocates for reducing waste, improving efficiency
BY PAM ALLEN Gazette Reporter
Energy conservation represents more to Joanne Coons than recycling a few cans and bottles, or buying environmentally friendly light bulbs.
The earth science teacher at Shenendehowa High School West wastes almost nothing — even the cold water from her shower nozzle is recycled — and Coons and one of her students spent Tuesday demonstrating how she processes old restaurant oil into fuel for her car.
For about two years, the resident of Vischer Ferry has been recycling the used vegetable oil into fuel for her 2003 diesel Volkswagen Jetta. The process requires Coons and her husband, Paul, to mix the old oil, methanol and lye in a 55-gallon drum to produce the biofuel.
Coons and a student, Ashley Dorch, spent the day promoting the recycling process at the 36 th annual Capital Region Earth Day Celebration in Albany. The day-long event at Quackenbush Square is sponsored by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority.
In addition to the biodiesel fuel presentation, the pair offered a demonstration featuring a "Watts Up Meter," which measures the amount of energy used by different types of light bulbs.
"It was great. We had a lot of fun," said Coons, who also founded High School West’s chapter of Students Concerned About ‘R’ Environment, or SCARCE, in 2003, and continues to supervise the approximately 12-member club.
Several club members had planned to attend Tuesday’s event, but vacations and other commitments prevented them from attending, Coons said.
The club’s first project was recycling cans and bottles in the classrooms of the school. From there, the project expanded to the cafeteria. A company comes regularly to pick up the recyclables.
"It removes garbage from the main waste stream," Coons said.
Another club project involved building a large pond for High School West’s outdoor courtyard, in which the running water and waterfall are powered by a solar cell.
Students in the club learn about how fossil fuel emissions contribute to ozone depletion and global warming, and explore ways to use renewable energy as an alternative.
Education and conservation are the keys to solving the planet’s environmental issues, said Coons, who is knowns as a "key leader" in the NY Energy Smart Students Program, an education program started two years ago that integrates energy into basic curricula.
The Shenendehowa teacher oversees workshops on biodiesel fuel, and the training is then used by teachers in the classroom, said Todd Rogers, spokesman for the program.
"She’s been with us from the beginning," he said.
Coons is investigating ways to use vegetable oil to heat her home. Right now, the family uses solar panels to produce electricity.
Their Jetta gets 45 miles per gallon, and the fuel costs between 40 and 60 cents to make. In colder weather, the biofuel must be mixed with diesel fuel. The couple collects the used vegetable oil from participating restaurants once a week.
During a recent test run, initial emissions from the Jetta smelled like donuts.
Recently, the SCARCE club worked on hydrogen-powered model cars, and have entered a car in the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association being held May 11 through 14 at the Saratoga Car Museum.
Sophomore April Jeffries, 16, joined the club in her freshman year. She started attending the meetings at the urging of her brother, Steve, who is also a member of the club.
At first, she said, she was going because she didn’t have any a f t e r - s c h o o l a c t i v i t i e s o n Wednesdays, when the club meets.
Now, after realizing the ecology club provides information that has proven helpful in her endeavor to become a meteorologist and climatologist, she plans to stay in the club until she graduates.
"I really like it now," she said.
The club will also participate in a discussion about the stewardship of water on May 4 at the
Envirothon at Saratoga State Park.
 Joanne Coons, an earth science teacher at Shenendehowa High School West,discusses the amount of energy used by light bulbs during the Capital Region Earth Day Celebration on Tuesday.
ANA ZANGRONIZ/ GAZETTE PHOTOGRAPHER
 ANA ZANGRONIZ/GAZETTE PHOTOGRAPHER Gerard Chartier of Albany, left, listens to Joanne Coons explain how her bio-diesel Volkswagen Jetta works during Capital Region Earth Day festivities on Tuesday. |
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