Clarkston High School, Clarkston
Green Lantern
The Green Lantern provides a way for anybody to cut their dependency on electricity and have a healthy impact on the environment. It implicates modern technology that produces far less carbon dioxide than traditional lighting methods, and the concept of a magnet running through a copper coil combined with a capacitor to operate it. Although the results of switching lamps will not be seen immediately, annually a couple hundred dollars will be saved. Also, the carbon dioxide footprint your household leaves on the atmosphere will be reduced. This environmentally friendly lamp holds the appearance of any ordinary lamp and will not produce any extra bulk throughout your house.
The Trucking Impact
Refrigerated tractor-trailers, which use their diesel engine to power the refrigerator, or reefer, require the engine to be running for around 13 hours more per day than needed. This not only wears the engine down twice as fast but is also harmful to the environment. By using alternative energy sources, such as solar panels, a brake regenerating system and wind turbines, the need of the reefer will be vastly reduced. By using such a system, the consumption of diesel energy, and the output of CO2 would be greatly reduced.
The Wheel of Fortune
Our group noticed that when washing dishes or taking a shower there is a constant stream of water just flowing down the drain. We decided to do something about it. We made a water wheel to conserve energy. They will be placed underneath the sink and shower drains. The flow of water will spin the wheel that we have connected to a generator. The generator is then connected to a light bulb to represent the energy made. In our experiment we used a small generator that put out a half to one volt of energy. Our hypothesis that if we used larger generators and place them all through he house we will be able to convert wasted water to reusable energy. Having the water wheel in a home will make the homeowner self-sufficient in providing power to their home.
“You are setting the pace — the dynamic — for a better and brighter future.”
—Elson S. Floyd, Ph.D.
President, Washington State University