Earth Promise: The Big Green Bus is on a Mission

June 16th, fifteen eco-eds from Dartmouth College packed up their modified 1989 MCI motor-coach bus for a summer adventure that is making a difference. This eco-mobile (aka, the Big Green Bus), has been gutted and now fitted with a living area, kitchen, solar panels, surround sound, LCD TVs, sleeping areas, and wireless internet. Since this is an environmental road trip, the fuel du jour is WVO (Waste Vegetable Oil). They don’t purchase large plastic jugs of this bio-fuel, but rather “go dumpster diving behind restaurants and fast food joints to get our grease (always after asking politely first though).”

Believe it or not, this is the fifth road trip Dartmouth students have ventured on to educate America on environmental issues. This green journey across the country has a mission that is clear: “With a grass roots approach, meeting American citizens one-on-one across the country where they live and work and play, we can prompt individual action and lifestyle changes that will all add up to a difference for the future.” Just like we proclain here at Earth Promise , any change that we make in our everyday life, whether large or small, will improve the earth’s condition and can have a tremendous effect when grouped together. The passion from these college students to promote sustainable living practices is genuine; and it will make a difference.


The bus itself is an impressive motorized learning tool. Housed on The Big Green Bus are “green living” exhibits the students are sharing along the way. They are promoting sustainable agendas that include: reduce, reuse, and recycle; energy efficiency; cleaner and renewable energy and fuel; food choices; and action through voting on the local, state, and national levels.



Be sure to visit their site to read all about how the diesel engine works using the WVO; or get to know each of the incredible stewards involved on this journey. And what a perfect stay-cation idea! If you check their schedule and see that the Big Green Bus will be rolling through near you, you just might pick up some pertinent green information. By the way, if you have any extra vegetable oil, I’m sure they will gladly take it!