LAKE COUNTY — Epidendio Construction is beginning to go green.
When Jonie Epidendio”s son Anthony decided to do his senior project on bio-diesel fuel, she thought he was crazy. She has since changed her tune.
“It”s been a huge flip-flop in the last two years, with global warming, the economy, gas prices,” Jonie Epidendio said. “I had questions about bio-fuel before, but now I understand just how beneficial it can be.”
What began as a topic for a school paper has become a viable alternative for the family business. Heavy machinery at Epidendio Construction is now powered by bio-diesel fuel.
“Everything in the quarry is ran on a renewable fuel source,” said Anthony Epidendio.
Epidendio Construction is excited to be embarking on a new era of viable fuel options while helping to maintain the air quality of Lake County. Anthony Epidendio said there are several benefits to using bio-diesel fuel.
“There is a 20 to 30 percent reduction in exhaust with bio-fuel,” he said. “It”s solvent-based so it helps clean all the build-up in the engine and it”s cleaner for the environment with the types of emissions it releases.”
Anthony Epidendio added that hazards are eliminated when it comes to fuel spills as well. “Any kind of fuel spill ? it”s bio-degradable. Just let it evaporate and there are no toxins,” he explained.
The transition to bio-diesel was simple, he said. The fuel can be used in any diesel engine with little or no modifications needed at all. It can also be “splash-blended” with regular diesel in any proportion.
Epidendio Construction is obtaining its bio-diesel product through Yokayo Biofuels, of Ukiah. According to Yokayo, bio-diesel has been proven to be a reliable fuel source with none of the carbon build-up or deposits associated with diesel. Using bio-diesel supports the American economy as well, as all sources are domestic.
Yokayo claims that bio-diesel is a healthier, cleaner burning fuel with 70 percent less greenhouse gasses; 55 percent less particulates; 55 percent less hydrocarbons/VOCs; 80 to 90 percent less mutagenicity (cancer-causing agents) and 100 percent less sulfur (a major component of acid rain). Yokayo says the fuel is renewable and part of an active carbon cycle, which allows for the potential of no net CO2 gain in the atmosphere. The fuel can be produced from recycled and organic ingredients as well.
According to Redwood Oil Company, of Ukiah, bio-diesel is renewable and sustainable. “Bio-diesel has the highest energy balance of any transportation fuel. For every unit of fossil energy it takes to make bio-diesel, 3.24 units of energy are gained. This takes into account planting, harvesting, fuel production and transportation to the end user.”
Mike and Jonie Epidendio have been operating Epidendio Construction in Lower Lake for the past 35 years with the help of their sons Anthony and Donald, as well as other family members.
Contact Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com.
