Camas High School, Camas
Second Place, Design Challenge
Camas High School Wind Turbine
Our project is based on the notion that schools shouldn’t depend on fossil fuels in an age where the climate is being damaged from carbon emissions. We propose that schools should consider wind power as an alternative energy source. We plan to install a small-scale rooftop wind turbine at Camas High School to determine whether wind energy is a viable alternative source to power the school. Using data generated from this turbine, we will estimate the power output of a full-sized turbine and determine cost benefits. We have taken almost a year’s worth of weather data using a weather station, and we plan to also correlate data gathered on wind speed and direction to data gathered from a turbine. This experiment should make it possible for the Camas school district to power its own schools through free energy, saving money and the environment.
Third Place, Design Challenge
Eco-Friendly Stadium
Our group has decided to design an environmentally friendly soccer and football stadium that is beneficial to both the players and the community. We are doing extensive research and experimentation to find the most energy-efficient lights, plumbing and electricity, as well as reusable products to be used in the concessions. We will also determine which type of turf will have the least impact on the environment. To represent our ideas, we will create a Google Sketch design of the stadium, and build a physical model. We plan to work with the architects currently working on the renovation of the CHS stadium. All in all, we believe that an environmentally friendly stadium would impact Camas and set us down the road to a greener community. Through new technology and friendly appliances, the old Doc Harris Stadium could turn into a thriving energy-efficient stadium.
Second Place, Multidisciplinary Collaboration Challenge
Going Green on the Elementary School Scene
In this curriculum for third grade students, many different environmentally prevalent issues will be explained at a level that the students will be able to easily understand. In the beginning, we will give a placement test to the students to find out how much they already know about the topics that we plan to teach, so that we are not skipping important information or reiterating information that they already know. Through question and answer, hands-on work, and art projects we will teach students how they themselves can make the world a better place. At the end of our curriculum we will give another test to see how much information the students were able to retain and implement. After testing our curriculum and taking data we plan on presenting our findings to the school district, hoping that they would adopt and implement the curriculum in the years to come.
Most Likely To Succeed in the Marketplace
Photovoltaic Window Art
With our world entering an energy crisis, it is becoming more popular to harness natural resources, such as solar energy. Our inspiration came from a window at Grass Valley Elementary School in Camas, Washington, designed by Sarah Hall. Hall has incorporated photovoltaic cells and colored glass into the window to create a piece of art at the school. The artwork will be used to power the stairwell lights, located near the window. Our group has tested different colors of glass over the solar cells as well as which direction the window should face to collect the most energy. With our newfound information, our group has created a window that will gather energy as well as serve as a piece of art. We are hoping our window will be implemented into our growing school district and serve as a new energy resource, as well as a learning tool.
Competitors’ Favorite
Power of Exercise
Imagine if humans were able to harness the energy exerted during exercise and use it to power everyday life. This idea alone may not solve the energy crisis, but it definitely puts people in the right frame of mind. Our work with this topic began with researching exercise bikes and their relation to energy production. We furthered our inquiry to include human energy generation and interest in creating pedal power. The information collected enabled us to construct a functioning energy bike prototype. We also learned that this green method of energy generation can be implemented right away because the technology required is present, and simply needs to be applied. Thus, it is evident that a quick trip to the gym could one day help power society.
The Wind-Powered Stadium
Power windmills use wind to conduct electricity. Usually, they are freestanding, but imagine their efficiency if they were installed into a stadium complex. This new process of extracting wind energy is more efficient than the current method because it stores electricity for direct use by the arena, as opposed to storing the energy, and transferring it to generators. This can be accomplished by discovering which type of rotor design, as well as which number of blades is the most energy efficient for the area in which the stadium is being built. This shall be tested through models that are to scale of actual wind generators, and experimented in conditions similar to that of the area involved. This innovative idea can be implemented through the construction of the new Doc Harris Stadium in Camas, Washington. The new project will use alternative energy ideas and power-saving methods to impact the community.
Small-Scale Hydropower Project
Thousands of homes use electricity and gas for power. But how many homes use or integrate hydropower? Our goal is to research how efficient, reliable and feasible it is to use small hydroelectric generators to power a house or electrical device. We will design a model of a hydroelectric generator, and test how much power it can generate, specifically on which kind of paddles will be most efficient for generating electricity. Based on rainfall and power consumption of today’s electrical appliances, this could be a successful and cost-effective method of harvesting power in an eco-friendly way.
Pond Scum to Biofuel (Algae)
Our project is based on the idea of exploring algae biofuel technology. During our research we discovered that scientists haven’t compared algae species for biofuel yields and there is limited knowledge of which grows most efficient or which algae produces the most oil for fuel. We researched various species of algae that appear to be suitable for growing and converting to biofuel. We narrowed down the many species of algae to four species that we would grow and compare growth efficiency and oil yields. We plan to use the oil that we have extracted from the algae to convert to biofuel. With our data and conclusions we will determine if algae biofuel is a viable alternative for fossil fuels.
“You are setting the pace — the dynamic — for a better and brighter future.”
—Elson S. Floyd, Ph.D.
President, Washington State University