A 15 x 9 x 8 foot concrete box weighing 40,000 pounds was lowered into the ground by a giant crane yesterday afternoon outside the dining room at Karmê Chöling. This was the long-awaited placement of Karmê Chöling’s grease trap. After months of planning we took a huge breath and with earth moving equipment, 18-wheeler flat bed trucks and a giant crane, came into compliance with the state of Vermont’s wastewater rules. And just in time for Earth Day!
This thing is awesome. It will save us thousands of dollars and protect the groundwater for years to come (not to mention contributing to the contentment and joy of the VT Department of Environmental Conservation). And it’s so simple. First thing to remember is fats, oils and greases (FOGs) float. Greasy water flows from the kitchen into the trap slowing down the water flow and allowing it to cool and the FOGs to congeal. The trap has two ‘gates’ or baffles. The baffles trap the FOGs. The grease fills the trap from the top down and the clean water flows out the bottom and is piped right into our leach fields – pristine and grease free. Well, okay, maybe not pristine but at least mostly FOG free. From time to time the trapped grease is professionally removed. Isn’t this fun?!? Everything you always wanted to know about where the grease goes.
Looking at these photos you may think, “Wow, that’s a big grease trap” – and you would be right. It has a 4,000 gallon capacity and cars can drive over it. Yet another mystery of the modern world. But wait! This writer, upon doing diligent research, discovered that grease traps aren’t particularly modern at all but have been in use since Victorian times. The first patent was issued in 1885.
Always on the lookout for innovation and ever diligent in our efforts to work in concert with the natural world we were delighted to learn that our trapped grease has the potential to fuel Karmê Chöling’s cars and trucks. That’s right. There is the possibility of converting our newly trapped grease into biofuel. Don’t get too excited yet, though. Those who are familiar with Karmê Chöling know that it sometimes takes us a while to move on things. Setting up a biofuel conversion facility is almost certainly one of those things particularly since it doesn’t exactly, directly support our mission as a meditation center. So we’re thinking maybe it would be better if we follow the lead of the Four Seasons Restaurant in Washington, DC while practicing generosity at the same time. We could do that by finding a company that does for us what GreenLight Biofuels does for the Four Seasons: remove the grease and turn it into biofuels for use in the local economy – rather than selfishly keeping it all for ourselves. Anyone know of a company that converts grease into biodiesel in Vermont? The company that made our grease trap, by the way, is New England Water Systems. They did a great job with the project. It was fast and efficient and more entertainment than Karme Choling has seen in a while.
We’re so happy to finally get this accomplished. Now we have to finish paying for it. The total cost is $19,000. Can you believe it? That’s right, $19,000 for a grease trap. We have already raised $4,250. A list of the hearty and practical, generous and courageous donors – to whom we are deeply grateful – is below. If you are inspired to become a member of this highly elite group all you have to do is click here and donate. It’s that simple. Become one of the Grease Trap Elite. Join the ranks of: Ming Linsley, Lex ‘t Hart, Joe & Jane Alper, Jane Arthur, Judy Bond, Arthur Borden, Suzann Duquette, Tom Gorman, Allan Graves, Gerry Haase-Dubosc, Patricia Hoffman, David & Judy Hollocher, Michael Johnson, Pam Keats, Gregory King, Joan Kydd, Maria Lima, Matt Nowakowski, Ed Rooney, Kerry Rosenthal, Rachel Siebert, and Cara Thornley. Support Karme Choling as we protect the world from our grease!
Sue Gilman is Karmê Chöling’s Director of Development. You can see her pointing meaningfully in the photo above.
