|
by JUSTIN HERBERGER
Intern News Reporter
In approximately 20 minutes, using a homemade solar oven reaching temperatures of about 300 degrees, Appalachian State University’s Sustainable Energy Society, SES baked cookies for passing students on Sanford Mall Wednesday.
Industrial technology graduate student and SES President Michael J. Uchal said the demonstration on the mall was geared to raise awareness about renewable energy and reducing the “carbon footprint” of the campus and community.
“It’s a simple concept and easy for people to see the product,” he said.
Club members were
able to show passing students the benefits of using sustainable energy
by condensing solar radiation in the insulated oven, using a technique
similar to the greenhouse effect.
Some students share the same opinions about sustainable energy.
“[Sustainability]
is very relevant, it pertains to our future,” Kirby J. Peterson,
sophomore graphic design and Spanish major said.
SES will
also participate in their annual solar Christmas tree lighting. The
fundraiser will be held Dec. 5 at the Jones House Community Center on
King Street, with an after party at Cafe Portofino with live music and
raffles.
The electricity needed to light the tree will be provided by the stored energy from photovoltaic panels, Uchal said.
The club also raises awareness through the Driving Appropriate Innovative Sustainability Energy Education.
Uchal said the DAISE² is a trailer used as a platform for sustainable energy and green building education.
It is
outfitted with a photovoltaic system to produce electricity, a solar
hot water system and a wind turbine. The system also utilizes other
green building techniques.
The
trailer is used by the Appalachian Region Initiative for Solar Energy
(ARISE), the North Carolina Energy Center and Appalachian’s Department
of Technology.
The trailer was also used to power a solar stage at the Music on the Mountain Festival in August, Uchal said.
SES club
members spend some Saturday evenings after home football games cleaning
Kidd Brewer Stadium and recycling the trashed plastic.
Meetings are held Tuesday nights at 7 p.m. in room 178 of Katherine Harper Hall.
Trackback(0)
 |
TrackBack URI for this entry
Show/Hide comments