ENST 490S Student Service Learning Capstone

What is CCAT?

• CCAT Stands for the Campus Center for Appropriate Technology, It is a student run student operated live in demonstration home, surrounding the ideals and practices of appropriate technology and sustainability.
• What is Appropriate Technology?
• My CCAT background:

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What is the MEOW?

The MEOW stand for Mobile Energy On Wheels or Mobile Energy Operation Wagon. It is a student built and fully renewable mobile energy generator.

Four large solar arrays charge four 12v lead-acid batteries connected in series. The Power that the MEOW produces is accessible via exterior and interior outlets.

Brief History:

The first rendition of the MEOW was built by an engineering team back in 2003, and went through multiple iterations as well as a significant amount of theft to get to the point that it is today. The MEOW also used to have a pedal power aspect to it, but was eventually scrapped due to inefficiency, and over-complicated maintenance.

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ENG 305 Project:

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In Spring of 2023, I along with a team of two other engineering students worked on the MEOW and repaired it to working order, as well as installed a window, interior light, and exterior outlet. Although we were never able to complete all our goals for the project.

Goals, Outcomes, Funding:

Goals:

- Paint exterior, and interior floor.

- Design, print, and install educational signage.

- Install a photosensor: A photosensor will allow the MEOW to automatically turn itself on/off to conserve energy at night or during rain storms.

- Create a new MEOW Appropedia page

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Outcomes:

-Use the MEOW to power events, be an educational tool, and rep CCAT overall.

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Funding:

-In 2023 I submitted a (HEIF/SHIFT) Proposal for the MEOW to complete our ENG 305 project. Our team received $1500 for the completion of the project. We ended up using $487 for our project on top of our class budget.

- With the remaining budget I set our to further complete our goals for the MEOW, using the same HEIF/SHIFT funding to complete this project.

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Challenges/Hours:

Challenges:

- WEATHER!!!!

- In order to complete the scope of my project I needed to cut down my goals. The educational signage, and Photo Sensor would need to be cut to give enough time complete the mural. (Time)

- Physical Strain/Burnout

- Obstacles: (leaking ceiling, floor slip, paint opacity, drytime)

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Hours:

My total hours for this project is:

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145 Hours!!!!

Community:

- In order to combat the crazy hours of this project I held multiple volunteer days to encourage students and community members to engage in communal art, and gain volunteer hours.

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Before:

Exterior Front

Exterior Back

Exterior Sides

Interior Floors

After:

Exterior Front

Exterior Back

Exterior Sides

Interior Floors

Mural Description:

Appropedia Page:

• I decided to write out a new appropedia page for this project, summarizing the new additions to the MEOW, and the extra aspects/goals I wasn't able to complete, in hopes that a future engineering team could complete it.
• It also includes the Mural description, Prototyping, step by step directions, and informational videos.

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• The page is still being edited.

Finals results:

What’s Next?

• Educational signage for future ENG class.
• Photosensor for future engineering class
• Add more to the Appropedia page
• @Bee.Blockprints for full part-part videos/appropedia link

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