A group of twelve Dartmouth students and recent graduates are spending the summer living on a bus, and that's where the similarity to your late '60s summer sojourn in a VW Microbus ends.
The students, who just arrived in California, are traveling in their "Big Green Bus" in an effort to increase awareness of sustainable living and green technology described as a "science fair on wheels." It's the fifth year that students have taken part in the project.
The bus itself -- a 1989 MCI coach that we swear we've taken to the airport -- has been converted by the students to run on waste vegetable oil (WVO). Creature comforts (including air conditioning) are provided by ten 12-volt deep-cycle AGM batteries connected to a 4000 watt inverter and tied in with four solar panels. To complete the sustainable theme, cabinets and flooring are made from bamboo.
The bus tour departed from Hanover, NH on June 18th and has already made over 45 stopsto educate visitors about sustainable living and refuel with WVO at greasy spoon diners across the country. Its last scheduled stop is in Cleveland, OH on August 29th.
Those who can't come out and see the bus can follow the journey via Twitter, Facebook and the team's blog.
Photo: Dartmouth
