Hybrid Cars, Free Flatbreads and the Phox Enliven College's Environmental Fair

Author: Dan Polifka

Middlebury College hosted an Environmental Fair on the Middlebury Town Green this Sunday, drawing support from businesses, local organizations, town residents and students who shared the common goal of encouraging ecological awareness.
The event, set up in conjunction with Earth Day (April 22), was well attended by both College students and town residents. Over 20 organizations staffed tables, presenting projects based on new ideas and products. Among others, local Toyota and Honda dealerships showed off their new hybrid and other environmentally friendly automobiles.
"Sales [on these cars], including the Prias, our most popular hybrid, have been great," commented Paul Brown, a sales consultant from Heritage Toyota in South Burlington who came down for the day. "We are moving four to five to six models a month, and we expect that number to rise after the Prias is redesigned shortly."
Test driving environmental cars was a popular event enjoyed by many fair-goers. "The car was really nice, and drove really quietly. I came down here for the food and because it was nice out, but I couldn't pass up a test drive," said Niall Sullivan '06, adding, "Fifty-two miles to the gallon would probably save me some gas money."
The hybrid, a car that works with a small gas engine to supplement a smaller electric one, according to Brown, is more user-friendly than a purely electric model because it does not need to be plugged in and can always run provided gas is in the tank. The gas motor recharges the electric one as the car runs.
Other models available include an economic-gas model that gets up to 43 miles per gallon and a hydrogen energy model - thus far only released in California - that converts hydrogen into water, which is released instead of carbon monoxide and dioxide. Brown was unsure of the availability of the car in other markets, but said that a hybrid Sports Utility Vehicle is currently being developed.
A collection of Middlebury students also distributed information about their upcoming project to cross the country this year in a school bus powered by vegetable oil. Dubbed Project BioBus, the trip is being staffed by 13 students.
"With a little tinkering to the fuel system, we were able to make a John Deere tractor and a car run on [vegetable oil]. So we saved up bought this school bus and did the same thing, and we are driving to Kentuckey, Chicago, Fort Collins and then on to Seattle this summer," explained Thomas Hand '05.5. "It is every bit as efficient as diesel and has zero net carbon emissions, so it is more than just fuel efficient."
Several regional non-profit organizations were also on hand, including the Middlebury Natural Foods Co-op and the Middlebury Area Land Trust (MALT), which manages and preserves local land, maintains area trails and works to educate youth on the value of wilderness.
According to MALT Chairman of the Board Bill Roper, the organization is grateful for the student assistance it has gotten so far, but there is "not nearly as much participation from College [students] as there could be. It is unbelievable how much good just coming out for a few hours on a nice fall day will do."
On the whole, the event raised environmental consciousness, sold environmentally-friendly goods (such as bikes) and allowed residents and students to get outside for a nice day in the sun. American Flatbread doled out free organic, homemade pizza samples, for which demand far exceeded supply. A number of performers entertained the fair-goers, including the College's Anais Mitchell '04. The Phˆx, a hard rock outfit that, according to the band, is comprised of five core members from Middlebury Union High School, also serenaded the crowd. Their performance included help from a horn section and a number of Led Zeppelin songs adapted for their instruments. Though the band had no particular environmental or political message, they were glad for the work.
The musical acts were followed by a play performed primarily by children, which aimed to teach the importance of protecting the earth. All the performances were well received, and each contributed to the overwhelmingly positive atmosphere of the event and the cheerful mood of its attendants.
"This was a great day," remarked Brown, and added, not forgetting his businessman status, "And this really is the best state to sell these cars."