Mission Statement

Philosophy and Mission 

Hot Buttered Rum formed on a month long backcountry trip along the John Muir Trail in the High Sierra of California with guitars, banjos and mandolins strapped to our backpacks.  At the very core of our music is a strong tie to nature and the outdoors. Nothing makes us happier (aside from playing music) than skiing fresh powder, hiking our beloved Sierra, climbing couloirs, and basking in the beauty of alpenglow.

 

Our adoration of the natural world has served to guide not only our songwriting but also our business ethic. HBR helped promote the biofuel renaissance, touring the country on recycled vegetable oil and biodiesel as early as 2003.   By reducing our carbon-footprint, selling sustainably-sourced merchandise, and educating and inspiring others to live in sustainable ways, we continue to promote awareness of environmental issues and the responsibility to pass on a habitable planet for the generations to come.  HBR is determined to make positive environmental, social, and political change through music, education, and outreach.  We have been fortunate to establish many great connections and partners in the outdoor and environmental world and we welcome the opportunity to explore future collaborations and events. Please browse our web site to learn more about the Hot Buttered Rum organization.  To inquire about collaboration opportunities, please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Green Machine

Green Machine

      “...what the restaurant kitchens dump, I want to pump, to fill the tank of my well-oiled machine...”

                       – Nat Keefe, "Well-Oiled Machine"

 

Our Well-Oiled Machine

As a touring band, we run into a dilemma: we must travel constantly, yet we wish to free ourselves from dependency on foreign oil, and all of the associated environmental, economic, and political problems. By fueling our tour bus with biofuel, we are able to travel extensively, yet tread lightly using a domestically produced, renewable fuel with reduced toxic emissions and a decreased carbon-footprint.

Our faithful tour bus, Seana (1983 MC-9) has been retrofitted with a special two-tank fuel system to run on biodiesel and recycled vegetable oil. There is no modification to the standard Detroit Diesel 8V-71 engine. In the past, we used the system to run on waste vegetable oil (WVO) from restaurant dumpsters.  Presently, we use the same system to run on biodiesel, purchased from fueling stations around the country.

Extensive information about biofuels and our tour bus can be found in our Biofuels Learning and Resource Center.

  

click thumbnail to see detailed two-tank fuel flow diagram		click thumbnail to see annotated picture of SVO system

 

 

Running on Vegetable Oil

 

1. Collect the Oil.  Any restaurant that prepares fried food has a dumpster out back for disposal of used vegetable oil. This oil is generally picked up by an oil collection service. The oil ends up either being used in animal feed, soap production, and biodiesel production, or being dumped in the land fill.  This waste oil can be recycled and reused as fuel for a diesel engine. Using a Fill Rite12 volt DC fuel transfer pump, we pump the oil from the restaurant dumpster into our 120 gallon gathering/dirty tank. On the gathering end of our pump hose, we have a 150 micron strainer to filter out the larger food and debris.

2. Heat the Oil. Hot vegetable oil is considerably easier to filter, so both the gathering/dirty tank and the fuel/clean tank are fitted with aluminum coil tank heaters submerged in the oil. These coils are connected to the engine coolant lines; as hot coolant flows through the coils it heats up the vegetable oil to near 180 degrees Fahrenheit.

3. Filter the Oil. The hot waste vegetable oil will naturally separate into hot oil floating on top of water and debris. A hose attached to the bottom of the tanks allows us to drain off the water and debris.  The hot oil can then be pumped through a filtration system to remove particles down to10 microns, and to filter out any remaining water. (Remember, the injectors in a diesel engine are approximately the diameter of a human hair, so any little leftover food debris can cause major injector problems.   We use a Reverso 3 gpm gear pump to pull the oil from the dirty tank, through a Vormax 10 micron filter, and into the clean fuel tank.


4. Switch to Veggie!  Once the oil is hot and filtered, we flip a switch at the driver's seat which activates four solenoids (electric valves). The diesel engine has two fuel lines — a send line delivering fuel from the tank to the engine, and a return line returning unburned fuel back to the tank. Flipping the switch activates the solenoids and opens up the send and return lines to and from the vegetable oil tank, and closes the lines to and from the diesel tank. We yell out triumphantly, "Switching over!"and then proudly continue down the road powered by biodegradable, domestically produced, used grease, the alluring aroma of the local burger joint wafting behind us.  

From Buster to Seana

Buster (2003-2005)		Seana (2005-            )
click thumbnail to enlarge		click thumbnail to enlarge   more promotional pics of Seana: pic1 | pic2 | pic3

Resume

Green Resume

	Date Accomplishment 2001 Berkeley Ecology Center (Berkeley CA) Bryan and Zac attend workshop on how to make your own fuel from waste vegetable oil. 2001 Berkeley Biodiesel Cooperative (Berkeley CA) Bryan and Zac attend initial meetings of newly forming Biofuel Cooperative. Apr 25, 2003 Humboldt State Renewable Energy Fair (Arcata CA) HBR plays on stage powered by human bicycle power. Jul 9, 2003 HBR purchases Veggie Tour Bus, “Buster” Middlebury College students “Project Biobus” converted a 25ft. 1989 GMC 8.2L Detroit Diesel school bus to run on SVO.  They took the bus on a cross-country rock-climbing trip to promote vegetable oil as a viable fuel, and sold it on Ebay.  HBR won the auction in the final hour and purchased the bus (later named “Buster”) for $2350. Jan 17, 2005 Limbo in Lovelock (Lovelock, NV) Buster throws a rod through the engine block, and dies peacefully on Highway 80, mile-marker 105. Feb 4, 2005 Great American Music Hall (San Francisco, CA) Limbo in Lovelock, song about Buster’s death, performed live a the GAMH. Feb 11 - Mar 15, 2005 Veggie Bus Tour HBR does a tour in a vegetable oil powered bus borrowed from Aphrodesia. Mar 7, 2005 Purchase Tour Bus “Seana” (Tacoma, WA) 40 ft. 1983 TMC Crusader II MC-9 with a Detroit Diesel 8V-71 engine purchased from Northwest Bus Sales.  Initially the bus has 50 passenger seats and runs on diesel fuel, but conversion soon to follow. Apr-May 2005 Flagship Biofuel Bus Conversion (Bay Area, CA) Seana is converted to eight-person sleeper coach with state of the art straight vegetable oil and biodiesel fuel system.  Thanks to bus guru and project lead, Sean McFarland; master carpenter, Frank Vallerio; and biofuel expert, Ryan Grace (RealEnergy).  May 15, 2005 Seana’s Inauguration (Berkeley, CA) Seana drives HBR to the Wavy Gravy 69th birthday bash / SEVA benefit at the Berkeley Community Theatre.  Oct 2, 2005 Clean Fuel Convergence (San Francisco, CA) Workshops, demonstrations, and music to teach people alternatives to fossil fuels.  Hot Buttered Rum performed, Julia Butterfly Hill spoke.  Apr 8-10, 2005 Alternative Fuel Summit (Fresno, CA) HBR performs at Mercy Hot Springs alternative fuel summit with hands-on workshops and exhibits to educate people about alternative fuels. Feb 21, 2006 Well-Oiled Machine CD Release HBR releases studio album produced by Mike Marshall with special guests, Peter Rowan, and Darol Anger.  Album title track is ode to vegetable oil bus and freedom from fossil fuel dependence. Jun 11, 2006 Harmony Festival Biofuel Workshop (Santa Rosa, CA) Jun 17, 2006 Bonnaroo Solar Stage Panel Discussion “Social Change Through Music” Jul 2006 Grey Fox Festival Biofuel Workshop Aug 2006 Humboldt Hills Festival Biofuel Workshop Oct 29, 2006 Colorado Biodiesel Solutions Benefit Concert Oct 31, 2006 Salt Lake City Community College Sustainable Energy Fair Nov 18, 2006 Sustainable Fuel Car Show (San Francisco, CA) HBR-produced free event in Golden Gate Park with a display of alternative fuel vehicles: electric, biodiesel, hybrid, etc. Jan 2007 Greening Jamcruise “Social Change Through Music” Panel May 19, 2007 Green Dream at the Fillmore (San Francisco, CA) HBR-produced event at SF’s historic Fillmore with an environmental sustainability theme. HBR collaborated with ClifBar and Bioneers to produce materials, exhibits, and events at the show to educate and inform fans about the sustainability movement. Jun 7, 2007 High Sierra Greening Workshop (Quincy, CA) Oct 19, 2007 Bioneers Conference (Marin, CA)

 

Music

Green Tunes

 
Amongst our diverse, original repertoire you will find songs related to the Pacific Crest Trail, clear-cutting, water rights, urban sprawl, climbing in the High Sierra, sustainable energy, global warming, war, political corruption, and drinking 3.2 beer in the Colorado Rockies!  Below is a list of songs that deal with these environmental, social, and political topics.  To listen to some of social/eniro/poltical tunes, please check out our Green Tunes page , which includes samples and a downloadable live sampler.

 

- Always Be the Moon - The Crest - Desert Rat - Evolution - Golden Days - Guns Or Butter - Naked Blue

- Poison Oak - Return Some Day - Roll River Roll - Sifting Through the Ruins - Sweet Honey Fountain - Well-Oiled Machine

 

We have culled from our Summer 2007 tour favorite live versions of some of our social/enviro/political tunes and have assembled them into a sampler that you can download for free by clicking here.  (The link will download a 55 MB folder containing mp3 files; it will have to be unzipped before you can listen to the files.)  The track listing and a few tunes are available for streaming below.

 

Golden Days       download (5.7 MB)       Sifting Through the Ruins       download (5.0 MB)        Well-Oiled Machine        download (5.4 MB)       Desert Rat       download (5.3 MB)

Live Sampler, Vol. 2    Be Kind Boys Guns or Butter Golden Days Small Axe Well-Oiled Machine Sifting Through the Ruins Desert Rat Return Someday Poison Oak Beneath the Blossoms

Team Green

Team Green

We have been fortunate to establish many great connections and partners in the outdoor and environmental world.  These partnerships have improved our ability to effect positive change.  We welcome the opportunity to explore future collaborations and events with you who help promote the outdoors, education and environmental protection. To inquire about collaboration opportunities, please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

 

Clif Bar

There’s a great synergy between HBR and Clif Bar because of our common interest in promoting environmental sustainability. We’ve been focusing on sustainable energy solutions for touring musicians and Clif Bar has been pioneering solutions for businesses to mitigate their impact on global warming.

 

Some of the ways in which Clif Bar has collaborated with HBR:

• Developing co-branded educational materials about the Benefits of Biodiesel, Ways to Reduce Carbon Emissions, Suggested Reading Lists, etc.
• Creating large format posters to demonstrate HBR’s Vegetable Oil Fuel System at performances, workshops, and festivals
• Reimbursing the costs of HBR’s biodiesel purchases for tours
• Purchasing wind credits and planting trees to offset emissions from HBR concerts
• Creating the Green Notes web site to give music fans the tools and knowledge to make sustainable lifestyle choices
• Sponsoring educational events and workshops at festivals and at Clif Bar headquarters

   

 

Fore information about our collaboration with Clif Bar please see the Clif-HBR one-sheet and check out Clif Bar's "Green Notes".

 

 

Other Key Partners and Collaborators

Here are some of the other organizations with whom we have collaborated: 

• Rock The Earth     www.rocktheearth.org
• Equal Exchange Coop     www.equalexchange.coop/
• Bioneers     www.bioneers.org
• Keen     www.keenfootwear.com
• Guayaki     www.guayaki.com
• SNEWS     www.snewsnet.com
• Outdoor Retailer     www.outdoorretailer.com
• Mion     www.mionfootwear.com
• Simple Fueels     www.simplefuels.com
  
• Bear Naked Granola     www.bearnakedgranola.com
• Power to the Peaceful     www.powertothepeaceful.org
• Outward Bound     www.outwardbound.org
• Clean Fuel Caravan     www.cleanfuelcaravan.org
• Circle of Life (Julia Butterfly)     www.circleoflifefoundation.org
• Occidental Arts and Ecology Center     www.oaec.org
• Solar Living Institute     www.solarliving.org
• Oil & Water Project     www.oilandwaterproject.org
• Native Energy     www.nativeenergy.com
• American Forests     www.americanforests.org
• Musician's Biodiesel Network  www.musiciansbiodieselnetwork.com
  

 

Fore information about our green collaborations and events, please check out our Green Resume .

Biofuels Learning Center

Biofuels Learning and Resource Center 

HBR's Sustainable Fuel Workshop

Welcome to our Biofuels Learning and Resource Center.  If the information below is of interest to you or your organization, you might consider hosting a Sustainable Fuel Workshop.  This entertaining and informative workshop presents an in-depth examination of biofuels along with live performances of songs inspired by our veggie-oil-based travels. An outline of our workshop is available here.

 

Please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for booking. 

 

Why Biofuels?

 

Environmental
Fossil fuels come from organic material that has decomposed deep in the earth over millions of years. By burning gasoline, diesel fuel, and other petrol fuels we are releasing all of this stored carbon into the atmosphere over the course of a mere hundred years or so. This carbon dioxide acts as a greenhouse gas, causing global warming, and other detrimental environmental changes. Fossil fuel is a non-renewable resource; there is a finite amount of oil in the earth, and once we use it up, there is no more. Petrol diesel also has sulfur additives for engine lubrication purposes, which release carcinogenic sulfur dioxides when burned.

Vegetable oil and its derivative, biodiesel, are renewable resources derived from various plants and algae. Burning biofuel does release carbon into the atmosphere. However, growing plants to produce vegetable oil removes carbon from the atmosphere. Therefore, using vegetable oil as a fuel is considered a carbon neutral process — in theory there is zero net carbon released to the atmosphere. Vegetable oil fuels are non-toxic, and burning them does not release carcinogenic sulfur dioxides; you can actually drink biodiesel, though the taste is not pleasing.

Economic
Aside from the obvious economic benefits of using a free fuel recycled from restaurant dumpsters, there are other more subtle economic incentives. In 2005, we spent over $300 billion importing foreign oil, more than four times what we spent in 1974 when we set out to become energy independent.1 On top of this are the high costs of fighting wars to secure access to oil. By using domestically produced vegetable oil, we can keep this wealth in our own economy.

Political and Social
The world's increasing dependence upon crude oil for energy is causing political conflict and strife around the globe. By using fossil fuel, we encourage America's aggressive foreign policy, which has lead us into yet another war in the Middle East to secure a rapidly diminishing, non-renewable resource inherently detrimental to the environment and public health. By using vegetable oil, a renewable, biodegradable, domestically produced fuel, we can eliminate our dependence on foreign oil and foreign oil wars.

Reality Check
We do not mean to mislead you into thinking that vegetable oil is the panacea to the energy crisis. If millions of vehicles are driven in Los Angeles using vegetable oil fuel, and all the plants are grown in the Midwest to produce the oil, the air in L.A. will still be polluted with carbon gases. If conventional, non-sustainable farming practices are employed to grow the oil crops, precious topsoil will quickly be destroyed. Furthermore, the fossil fuel energy input to run farm machinery, to create chemical fertilizers, and to process the crop into oil can actually be greater than the energy created in the resulting vegetable oil.

  

Rudolph Diesel’s Engine

Rudolph Diesel (1858-1913) invented the highly efficient compression ignition engine that bears his name. The diesel engine uses extremely high compression to heat air and ignite fuel without a spark, thereby achieving efficiency rates of 75% and greater (compared with the 12% efficiency rates of the steam engines of the time). His engine design was patented in Germany in 1892, and a working model of the diesel engine was demonstrated at the World's Fair and Exposition in Paris France in 1900. This original diesel engine was powered by peanut oil. The diesel engine was intended to run on a variety of fuels including vegetable oils; Diesel hoped his engine would empower smaller industries and farmers to compete with the larger, monopolizing industries that controlled all the energy production of the time.

Rudolph Diesel died suspiciously on September 30, 1913 while crossing the English Channel. One theory suggests that he committed suicide due to mental anguish over patent disputes; another theory contends that the German Military, which had begun using diesel engines to power their submarines, assassinated Diesel to prevent him from providing his engine technology to the British Navy.

In the 1920's, the petroleum industry was growing rapidly, and wealthy oil tycoons greatly influenced engine and machine development. Diesel engine manufacturers modified their engines to run on a lower viscosity fossil fuel byproduct (known now as diesel fuel) rather than vegetable oil and other biomass fuels. The influence exerted by the oil industry solidified the widespread use of petroleum based diesel fuel, eliminated the nascent biomass fuel production infrastructure, and erased the possibility of biofuels from public awareness.

As fossil fuel reserves are depleted, and oil prices skyrocket, perhaps public awareness of biomass and other alternative fuels will increase, and the diesel engine will once again be powered by vegetable oil as its inventor originally envisioned.

 

Straight Vegetable Oil (SVO) vs. Biodiesel

The original diesel engine was designed to run on vegetable oil. But the injectors in the modern diesel engine were modified to run on lower viscosity petrol diesel fuel. So in order to run your modern diesel engine on vegetable oil, you need to lower the viscosity of the oil to make it more similar to diesel fuel. There are two ways to do this: by heating the oil, or by chemically processing the oil into biodiesel.

Straight Vegetable Oil (SVO)
By simply heating the vegetable oil to 150 degrees farenheit (or higher ­ 180 degrees is ideal), the viscosity is lowered to the viscosity of diesel fuel. A vegetable oil conversion involves installing a method for heating the vegetable oil fuel. Most often, an extra fuel tank is installed, and coolant lines (carrying hot coolant from the engine) and a heat exchanger are run into the tank to heat the oil. The important thing to understand is that there is no engine modification required to run your diesel vehicle on SVO. If you poured hot vegetable oil into your tank, your vehicle would run fine (until the oil cooled).

Biodiesel
The other method for lowering the viscosity of vegetable oil involves a process called transestrification in which the vegetable oil is combined with methanol and lye in order to separate the glycerin from the oil. After settling the mixture, you are left with glycerin, and biodiesel. Biodiesel can be used as a petrol-diesel replacement and poured directly into a diesel fuel tank without any modification or heating. Glycerin is made into soap.  To learn more about biodiesel, check out the great summary on howstuffworks.com.

 

Biofuel Locator

You too can run your vehicle on vegetable oil recycled from restaurant dumpsters. First you need to get a diesel vehicle and install a conversion to heat the fuel. Or you can simply fill up your diesel with biodiesel.  The National Biodiesel Board maintains a database of biodiesel filling stations around the country: www.nbb.org/buyingbiodiesel/retailfuelingsites/

 

Testimonials

 

I converted to veggie oil because of you.

 

Just thought someone might care: I recently bought a '79 Benz and had it converted to run on veggie oil. I had no idea that veggie oil could be used as fuel in a diesel until I started listening to HBR this past summer. I had been wanting to buy a hybrid for sometime but could not afford it. I bought "Well Oiled Machine" after hearing the title track on a Homegrown Music CD, and wanted to hear more. I love the music and just got to see y'all in Indianapolis on St Patty's Day. It was after seeing your bus that I really started researching the whole veggie oil thing. I bought my Benz for $600 and a conversion kit for $700. After other random adjustments, in total this car has cost me $1900. Due to the weather here in Ohio, I will only be able to drive it about 5 months out of the year, but it is well worth it. I put a sticker on the bumper that says "I run on veggie oil." I've only been able to drive it a few times because of the temperature, but I have already been stopped by 4 people who had questions about how my car runs. I hope I can help spread the word. Thank you for opening my eyes to this simple alternative and for giving the world great music.

 

Peace & Love,

Trisha

Ohio