Follow Up on the Green Power/Sustainable Energy Projects Workshop

Fifteen minutes into this workshop I was preparing myself to be underwhelmed. The content being presented was very similar to much of the work that we've done in lab science over the past few years. After a lengthy bit of groundwork was laid, however, we got into some interesting projects and ideas. In truth, much of what was presented to us can be found online. The beauty of the workshop, however, lay in the fact that the presenter (Tim Cooper, an educator from NYC) had completed many of the projects with his middle and high school students. His wealth of knowledge and practical advice lent an air of credibility to the presentation and afforded us the opportunity to ask questions and to discuss possible projects that we might take on at our own schools. What follow below are a list of potential projects, websites that might prove useful, and ideas. I can envision some collaborative efforts between and among the science, math, and PE departments as well as a lot of tie in with SAAStainability and making things. If you're reading this and find yourself interested in one of these projects or ideas, please get in touch with me.

(1) Video conferencing with the National Renewable Energy Lab in Lakewood, CO. Scientists and researchers at NREL have taken the time to video conference with classes in the past and are apparently a great resource. Check out their website at (http://www.nrel.gov/) if you have the chance.

(2) Building solar trackers to automatically adjust solar panels to optimal positions for light collection. The project can be completed in a variety of ways but was demonstrated using Vernier equipment (e.g. differential voltage probe @ about $30), solar panels, and lego robotics kits. A challenge project with real world applications. The class who built this project went on to install a working model at a green cafe in NYC that was hooked up to a cell phone charging station for patrons to use. Gabe, is there a robotics class angle we could work in here for the Fall?

(3) Soliciting grant money and or supplies from a variety of sources to complete renewable energy projects at school. Apparently Target, Best Buy, and other large corporations offer grants in the $1000 range. Similarly, many power companies also offer grants and in some cases will provide kill-a-watts for free to schools and homeowners.

(4) Small scale energy production projects at school ranging from creation of solar and wind powered iPod charging station(s) to the creation of bicycle driven charging stations.

(5) Potential Environment Club and/or PE challenge project where teams of students compete to see who can create the most human generated energy/electricity. This could be done using hand generators or could even be completed using bikes that are hooked up to generators. (http://www.windstreampower.com/Human_Power_Generator.php)



(6) Micro-hydro project generating electricity from the movement of water in the gutters at school or at home. Students can design and build a gutter dynamo to generate electricity that is then stored in a battery.

(7) Design, fabrication, and implementation of working wind turbines. There are a lot of possibilities in this area and lots of viable methods of creating working wind turbines that range from small table top kits to cut and welded 55 gallon drums. Practical sculptural pieces? Welding, technology, and sustainability combined?

As you can see, there are a lot of interesting projects that we could undertake and I'd love to start piecing together some projects for use in my curriculum and for collaboration.

Off to the next event.

- Pete