Thursday, June 5, 2008
Two architecture students are lending a green hand to a local gas station in hopes of better educating customers about alternative energy.
Neil Steiner, Tulsa, Okla., senior, and Peter Zuroweste, Overland Park senior, designed a rain garden that will be constructed at the new Zarco 66 Earth Friendly Fuels station, 2005 W. 9th St.
Scott Zaremba, owner of the Zarco 66 Earth Friendly Fuels station, approached the School of Architecture with his idea.
“We have to do something about how we view energy within the United States,” Zaremba said.
Steiner said he jumped on board when he heard about the rain garden through the school.
“It is a small step to better bio-diversify the community,” Steiner said.
The students spent three weeks completing the design for the garden, which features native plants as part of its water conservation system. The garden’s design allows run-off water to stay on-site and not drain away to sewers.
It also serves as an educational tool to show community members altenative methods to use and conserve energy.
Zamreba won tentative approval from city commissioners May 27 to add the rain garden, along with a small-scale wind turbine, a set of solar panels and a green roof to his station. He said he hopes to educate his consumers at the pump.
“I believe in the four ‘R’s,” Zaremba said. “Renew, recycle, reduce and reuse. We have the renewable energy source. Now customers can learn about the other three ‘R’s at our station.”
Mike Amyx, city commissioner, said the commissioners considered many factors before granting the project tentative approval.
“I think it (the expansion) is a pretty good idea,” Amyx said. “It gives alternative ways to save energy with the solar panels and wind turbines.”
Zaremba said the station would not only benefit the environment but also the local economy.”
“All our gas is manufactured within 70 miles of Lawrence,” Zaremba said. “We are providing this service all locally, and money is staying here.”
Zaremba said the Kansas Department of Agriculture, Environmental Protection Agency Region 7 office, Kansas Soybean Association and Kansas Corn Growers supported the project and some would be at the grand opening of the station, scheduled for June 30. Zaremba must submit a final site approval for all changes at the location to be made permanent.
The station has been selling ethanol and bio-diesel fuels since February.
— Edited by Gretchen Gier
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