If you’re cruising down Interstate 95 or up I-5 one day and see a huge green bus with solar panels, a living room, and 15 smiling faces looking back at you don’t be alarmed, it’s completely polite to stare. We are the Big Green Bus and this summer we’re on a mission to educate the country about alternative energy and sustainable living practices. It’s the great American road trip, re-defined.

While other college-aged kids are back home or at internships, we’ll be spending our time crisscrossing the US in a specially modified and incredibly tricked out 1989 MCI coach bus complete with a living area, kitchen, solar panels, surround sound, LCD TVs, sleeping areas, and wireless internet. Oh, and did we mention the whole thing runs of veggie oil? Over the past year and a half we’ve been slaving away on turning this ordinary coach bus into something extraordinary. We don’t think of it just as a bus, it’s a green mobile classroom--a literal science fair project on wheels.

As a collection of freshmen, juniors, and seniors, every single member of our 14-person team brings something special and different to the Big Green Bus. Just take a look at a few of our “bussers” for example. Mike can fix anything so long as he as an impact driver and a hammer, and Marissa can make the best blueberry muffins you’ve ever tasted (seriously though, they are nothing short of amazing). Ben can multitask like no other and Kari is so small she can fit in one of the overhead storage bins, which is great for saving us tons of space! We are the Big Green Bus from Dartmouth and we are out to change the world for OUR generation on OUR terms.

But, we can’t do this alone, we will need your help now and throughout the summer to spread the word about our story and about how we can all change our reliance on energy. Your voice makes a difference and, frankly, we could use the encouragement of your messages and your responses to our Action Requests.

We’ll be driving to over 30 states from coast to coast, holding nearly 50 events everywhere and anywhere from science museums to statehouses to

farmers markets. Take a look at our tour dates and itinerary and see if we’ll be in your city sometime soon. We’d love to meet you, give you tours of the bus, and chat! You can also “virtually” hop on board here at Changents 24x7 anytime you like, day or night.

Ok, so you’ve read this far, sold on our story yet? If not, here’s more. Our specially designed two-stroke diesel engine runs on both straight diesel and waste vegetable oil. And where exactly does this all this waste vegetable oil come from? Well, we go dumpster diving behind restaurants and fast food joints to get our grease (always after asking politely first though). But that’s not all! Our solar panels and persistent wifi connection means we are never out of touch. Tessa and Annabell, our video crew, and Kawa our photographer will be uploading tons of content here (I’m pretty sure Kawa sleeps with his camera) throughout our road trip so check back often.

We are the Big Green Bus and we’re out to change the world, join us. All aboard!