As part of the international research collaboration with Iberoamericana University, Cowichan Energy Alternatives Society and Vancouver Island University, we had the opportunity to interview and collect testimonials from co-op members on their experiences since joining the co-op. We received an incredible response from Zachary Brown, owner at Alderlea Vineyards. 

We've included Alderlea Vineyard's testimonial below: 

​“I have been using bio-diesel in my 1994 Kubota tractor for almost 2 years now and have not had any issues with the fuel. We have just bought a 2018 B2650 Kubota Tractor and have begun bio-diesel trials with it.
I have previous experience working with bio-diesel in the mining industry from before I arrived in the Cowichan Valley. I heard about the Cowichan Biodiesel Co-op on social media and then saw the pump at Bings Creek when I was dropping off recycling.

I chose to switch my tractor to bio-diesel in order to help reduce pollutants on my farm. The fuel change reduces any chances of petroleum exhaust potentially impacting the flavours of my grapes and  wine and reduces the potential environmental damage to my vineyard if there is a spill while refueling in the field. At my winery both the vines and workers are near the emissions from the tractor so reducing the toxins released from my tractor is a priority.
I used B20 for the first four months. This is due to bio-diesel removing build up in the tractor, if this happens too quickly the fuel filter can clog and cause performance issues for the tractor. To avoid mechanical issues caused by the filter clogging I changed my fuel filter regularly and changed the oil in the tractor more often.  After 4 months I switch to B50 for the winter before switching to B100 last April. The only cost to switch from fossil fuel to biodiesel was the additional fuel filters and oil changes in the first four months.
​
I noticed no change in the fuel efficiency of my tractor but, I have found that the tractor runs cooler which allows the driver to stay cooler when they are working in hot weather. I’ve also found that if the driver accidentally hits a bird net the net does not melt immediately from the heat of the engine. This reduces how much I spend on bird nets.
Another reason to consume biodiesel is to support a local fuel source rather than using fuel from the conventional oil& gas sector , which has environmental and social negative aspects." 
- Zachary Brown (Owner, Alderlea Vineyard) 

During May 2017,  the University of Iberoamericana, Vancouver Island University, Cowichan Energy Alternatives Society and the Cowichan Bio-Diesel Co-op collaborated on a research project observing the satisfaction and motivations of bio-diesel users in the Cowichan Valley. The research carried was aimed to find out the opinion of the Cowichan Bio-Diesel Co-op members (both active and non-active) regarding the quality of the bio-diesel provided, the overall operation of the co-op and its contribution to the sustainability of the community. 

Through this research the co-op gained more of an understanding about user's satisfaction, experience and the opportunity areas that will allow the Co-op to improve. 

A longer summary report is provided with regards to the methodology developed by Dr. Lobato, head researcher of the Mexican User Satisfaction of Universidad Iberoamericana.

Highlights of Reports: 

The Cowichan Bio-diesel Co-op team is aware of the necessity to always improve their internal processes in order to offer a sustainable product and quality service, so that its members will continue consuming bio-diesel for two main reasons, founded by the methdology developed within the research:

1. The Co-op is is a sustainable alternative for fuel consumption since there is a commitment to reduce the environmental footprint of Cowichan Valley by: 

• Ethically producing and distributing a sustainable fuel alternative. 
• Providing a community source for recycling local supplies of waste vegetable oil. 
• Providing a strong advocacy for sustainable fuel production and use. ​ ​

2. The Co-op has the commitment with the satisfaction of users and inhabitants  of Cowichan Valley by: 

• Ensuring a stable, high quality and local fuel supply. 
• Working constantly so that The Co-op's distribution and sale services are comfortable and reliable. 
• Stimulating local economic activity by producing and supplying bio-diesel at a reasonable and justifiable price. 
• Sharing information about community-based bio-fuels to the wider community. 

100% of active and non-active users expressed a positive opinion regarding the actions of the Co-op on the production of bio-diesel with cooking oil, and its support to the growth of the local economy and its comments to maintain the health of the inhabitants of our community. 

Three main factors that decrease the satisfaction in users: 

1. The price of bio-diesel 
2. Membership registration and payment process 
3. Location of the pumps and availability  

Ways in which the Cowichan Bio-Diesel Co-op is improving some of these concerns: 

1. Price: We are working to make the price of bio-diesel cheaper for our users compared to the price of bio-diesel cheaper for our users compared to the price of diesel and we will start issuing gift cards in order that they can obtain free diesel. 
2. Registration & Payment: The registration process of new users in our office is no longer available. The co-op decided that this process is more efficient if it is done through our web page, in this way the data is automatically stored in our system, The online payment system was improve to allow multiple fleets under one accounting system so businesses and the co-op can track the CO2e reductions in total in a single fleet and how much your business is using in terms of bio-diesel and all the receipts are e-mailed to members.  
3. Location: Because the cardlock pump at the co-op's Allenby Road location, funds were raised to transition this pump into a newly established Green & Go™ pump, which will facilitate the purchase of bio-diesel by paying directly into the pump with a card payment, thereby removing all pre-payments on the cardlock system.  We are working to launch this pump to members in late November 2018 and to the public Spring 2019. 

One Cowichan is hosting on Saturday, June 9 Charged Up! A fossil fuel free community event showcasing what's happening now in the Cowichan Region to transition us towards a more resilient future. 

There is will live music, street art, info tables hosted by local green organizations, school projects with renewable energy and electrical vehicle displays. In addition to an art installation from the Earth Guardians.

This is a free family-oriented event and all are welcome!

For more information make sure you check out One Cowichan's Facebook Event Page. 

An incredible step forward for the biodiesel industry took place last week in the Legislative Assembly with Sonia Furstenau, MLA for Cowichan Valley asking Deputy Premier and Finance Minister Carole James about carbon tax being applied to biodiesel that is made from 100% waste oil. Sonia's Furstenau's question can be heard from 00:05 - 00:46 and at 2:07 Honourable Carole James' response can be heard and at 3:50 with her follow-up response to Sonia Furstenau. 

We are proud to see these conversations as such occur at the provincial level of government and we look forward to seeing the progress made on removing the carbon tax for 100% bio-diesel made from waste oil.  

 VIU NEWS RELEASE: 2018/010
 
NANAIMO, BC: What stops a person from adopting a change in their business operations, and what factors could convince them to make that change?
 
Students in Vancouver Island University (VIU) Professor Dr. Matthew Bowes’ upper-level Cultural Geography class are attempting to answer these questions as part of his latest research project, which looks at the barriers and benefits to bio-diesel use in commercial, industrial and institutional vehicle fleets within the Regional District of Nanaimo.
 
“Cultural geography looks at understanding the relationship between people and the places they live,” says Bowes. “In doing this research, students are going out and actually doing geography, getting both field experience and research experience and writing about it. As geographers, it’s really important for us to be out in the world. Making the world a better place is a core part of geography.”
 
Bio-diesel is produced using renewable resources such as waste cooking oils. It is clean-burning, biodegradable, can be produced locally and is either blended with petroleum diesel or used in full concentration.
 
The research project received funding through the Vancouver Island University Regional Initiatives Fund, a partnership between VIU, the provincial government and a community partner to enable students to participate in meaningful, community-based, applied research that directly responds to community needs. Both the province and the community partner – the Cowichan Bio-Diesel Co-op (CB-DC) – have provided $10,000 each towards the project; VIU’s contribution is in-kind.
 
Bowes hopes the research will be able to target potential greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions in the RDN and increase awareness among commercial and industrial fleet operators about bio-diesel as an alternative to fossil fuels. According to the provincial government, fossil fuel-dependent transportation accounts for 37.2 per cent of BC’s total GHG emissions. The focus on large fleets – what Co-op President Brian Roberts calls “low-hanging fruit” – would put a significant dent in that total if many operators chose to make the switch.
 
“The problem is there are a lot of misconceptions out there about bio-diesel,” says Bowes. “This is an opportunity to dispel some of the myths and create awareness about bio-diesel as an alternative.”
 
Bowes hired three research assistants – two from VIU and one from the CB-DC – to conduct an inventory of commercial, industrial and government fleets operating in the RDN region, collect background research on the use of bio-diesel in large fleets and come up with a short list of fleet operators for students in Bowes’ Cultural Geography class to interview. Each student interviewed one business operator and wrote a paper summarizing the results of their findings.
 
Global Studies student Jordan Lineker and Geography student Caleb McIntyre were two of the students involved in the research. Lineker, who interviewed a farm operator, says aside from learning about some of the barriers this particular farmer faced to converting to bio-diesel – the biggest hurdle was the cost of converting from gas-powered to diesel-powered machines – he found engaging people with different values and perceptions than his own to be eye-opening.
 
“On a personal level, it makes you really aware of the ways you think and how our backgrounds shape our behaviour, which is important for planners to take into consideration,” says Lineker, who wants to become an urban planner. “To ask people to do something differently, you need to recognize where people are coming from.”
 
McIntyre, who is interested in community development and helping the world move towards more sustainable, regenerative systems, says conducting his interview and going through the research process has helped him understand his coursework better.
 
“It would be difficult to understand how cultural geography is actually applied without doing a project like this,” he says. “I’m so glad I get to contribute to a project I believe strongly in. Bio-diesel is 100 per cent carbon neutral in its pure form and is a viable way of reducing waste. If our research can help shift people’s preconceptions about it, I believe that is a win.”
 
Co-op President Roberts, who is also a sessional Geography instructor at VIU, says he is thrilled to get students involved in researching this topic. The co-op produces and distributes bio-diesel from waste cooking oils collected from restaurants and people’s homes to about 250 members, including commercial and industrial transport and local government fleets on Vancouver Island.
 
“It’s really important for us to try and get an understanding of how people perceive it so we can better present it to the public as a feasible alternative,” he says.
 
Bowes and Roberts will present the research at the International Symposium on Society and Resource Management in Salt Lake City, Utah, in June.
 
To learn more about Geography at VIU, visit the Department’s homepage.

To our loyal members of the Cowichan Bio-Diesel Co-op,

In March we were forced to suspend the sale of Bio-diesel and Bio-diesel blends at both our Duncan locations.  Communication problems have long plagued our aging cardlock station on Allenby Rd at Cowichan Petroleum Sales (CPS). and have now, finally, crippled that outlet.  While we continue to troubleshoot the issue, this most recent interruption in service strongly emphasizes the pressing need to upgrade our pump at CPS.  We're pleased to share that plans to upgrade the pump are progressing on schedule and we hope to complete the installation by Fall 2018. All members will be updated as the project continues over the next several months. 
​
Unfortunately, increased demand at our second location at Bing's Creek on Drinkwater Rd., coinciding with the declaration of bankruptcy from one of our fuel supply partners has drained our bio-diesel reserves. 

Simultaneously (as bad things tend to happen in 3's), we have discovered that after nearly 150,000 L of Bio-diesel produced, our processor at the Cowichan Biofuel Facility needs critical maintenance.  The refining/finishing system we use to remove impurities and "polish" our fuel has reached the end of its life and must be replaced.  Sourcing this material has proved challenging and expensive, it will likely be next week before we are able to produce quality fuel we are comfortable supplying to our members.

In the interim we've struck a deal with a Vancouver based producer to supply our pumps while we work to bring our in-house production back online.  We will aim to reopen our Bing's Creek location on Wednesday, April 11.

We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience these issues have caused and hope you understand we are working to bring services back as quickly as possible.  We will reach out again to our members in the following weeks with an update on Bio-diesel availability. 

Thank you for your understanding and continued support for sustainable biodiesel


Please contact us with any questions or concerns, 


Your Cowichan Bio-Diesel Co-op President, Brian Roberts and Team. 

This month we have the amazing opportunity to honour our partners at Cowichan Petroleum Sales (CPS) on their 10th anniversary of hosting our the Cowichan Bio-Diesel Co-op's very first bio-diesel pump with a sign-unveiling for all or their support throughout these past years. We are truly grateful for CPS' ongoing support and collaboration in helping increase locally distributed bio-diesel in the Cowichan Valley CB-DC, and it was an honour to present Darcy Pridham, CPS' owner, the new sign for him and his team at our Cowichan Biofuel Facility.

A big thank-you to Dave Hoy and the team at Peninsula Co-op for your community support and as a Sponsor of our green initiatives!

We're glad we could show our appreciation with a tour of the Cowichan Biofuel Facility followed by the unveiling of a sign in honour of our partnership. Cowichan Energy Alternatives (CEA) and the the team at Cowichan Bio-Diesel Co-op look forward to continuing this co-operative relationship into the future!

We had the great opportunity to tour Dave and Christi Ravait from Scale Collaborative through our Cowichan Biofuel Facility and showing the process on how the team at CEA takes waste cooking oil and produces locally distributed bio-diesel for our co-op members. 

This past winter, in collaboration with our community partners at Cowichan Energy Alternatives Society in part of their Community Carbon Smart program, we had the incredible opportunity to host a Cowichan Secondary trades class (grades 9-12) at our Bing's Creek Facility.

It was a great hands-on experience for the students, beginning with a Cowichan Valley Regional District (CVRD) tour of the entire recycling facility and the potential career opportunities they may have within their community. The CVRD tour was followed-up by a Biofuel facility tour lead by CEA's Education Coordinator, Dylan taking the students through the biofuel cycle from the point of when the cooking oil is dropped off to when the biofuel is ​dispensed through the Green & Go Pump. In addition, students were able to observe a bio-diesel production demonstration (picture on the bottom right) also given by Dylan.  

A big thank-you to our partners at the City of Duncan for making this event possible by providing Cowichan Energy Alternatives with an education grant of $1000 to help increase awareness through education amongst students of local sustainable and alternative energy opportunities.  

CEA offers year-round facility tours and bio-diesel for students and groups. For more information on pricing and tours in general e-mail Dylan, CEA's Education Coordinator . 

Thank-you to everyone who attended our Let's Dance! event this past Saturday, without the support of community members we would not be able to accomplish our mission of decreasing greenhouse gas emissions in the Cowichan Valley. 

Here are some highlights of the evening from the incredible introductions, the auction the bands and the dancing! Once again, thank you to all those who came out and we hope to see you all soon. 

Alistair MacGregor, Member of Parliament for Cowichan-Malahat Langford, gives opening introductions. 

Sonia Furstenau, Member of Legislative Assembly gives opening introductions. 

Brian Roberts, President of the Cowichan Bio-Diesel Co-op and Executive Director of Cowichan Energy Alternatives welcomes guests to kick off the event.

Brian Roberts with Alistair MacGregor and Sonia Furstenau behind. 

Great audience for our opening introductions. 

We are so grateful to have so have had so many silent auction items donated to the event - perfect for all ages! 

Kira Pike from Climate Access with David Minkow and family connecting within The Hub's Cafe. 

Fantastic to even see some our community members and our incredible Cowichan Bio-Diesel Co-op members have such an incredible time.

Sonia Furstenau taking the time to connect with community members. 

Thank-you to Alderlea Vineyards for featuring your incredible Plaid wine selection! 

The night finished up with a rocking and fun set from the sounds of Bijoux Du Bayou.

We had such an incredible turnout and we thank everyone who took the time to support us and the work that we do! We look forward to continuing this momentum to helping expand our vision of creating a more resilient Cowichan Valley.