Graduating Engineer & Computer Careers

Archive: Nov 2009

1. We Care Solar Club’s Solar Suitcases

   November 12, 2009 12:54 PM Comments Off on We Care Solar Club’s Solar Suitcases

   Through their solar suitcases, the We Care Solar Club of Elk Grove, California is reaching out to the developing world.

   Hal Aronson and his wife, Dr. Laura Stachel launched the solar suitcase program through their charity Women’s Emergency Communication and Reliable Energy. When high school engineering teacher, Tim McDougal attended a “solar schoolhouse” given by Aronson, he was convinced the suitcases would be a perfect engineering project for his class.

   In turn, the students, hoping to make a difference, have taken on fund raising in addition to suitcase construction. They have raised money for and built two suitcases so far. The first will be sent to the Tarahumara Indians of Mexico next week.

   Teacher, McDougal hopes to see the program in all Elk Grove schools next year and Dr. Stachel said a group of students in Colorado is also planning to join the project.

   Photo by: Randall Benton / rbenton@sacbee.com

   Learn more about the Elk Grove students and the solar suitcases: http://www.sacbee.com/content/news/story/2316027.html

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2. UCSD Students Help City Secure Solar Bonds

   November 4, 2009 5:01 PM Comments Off on UCSD Students Help City Secure Solar Bonds

   Four University of California San Diego mechanical engineering students created an analytical tool making it easier for both UC San Diego and the San Diego Unified School District to determine cost, energy output and payback time when applying for Clean Renewable Energy Bonds (CREBs).

   The San Diego Unified School District ultimately secured the most CREB allocations of any one agency in the nation totaling $74 million for 111 projects. UC San Diego will receive $15 million for 15 renewable energy projects.

   Jan Kleissl, the students’ advisor, heralds the project’s success as a much needed step in making San Diego the solar capital of the nation.

   Read more about Karl Olney, Michael Gollner, Kevin Peng and Ihab Khayal and their calculation tool: http://www.physorg.com/wire-news/18723097/ucsd-engineering-students-help-san-diego-region-secure-154-milli.html

   Photograph of solar panels by Living Off Grid

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