Engineers for a Sustainable World
RENSSELAER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE
2010
Solar Powered Computing Classroom
Lascahobas, Haiti
In January 2010, in partnership with St. John’s Episcopal Church in Troy, New York, ESW students installed a solar-powered computing classroom in Lascahobas, Haiti. The project utilized twelve 205 watt solar panels—donated by General Electric—and ten touch-enabled tablet PCs—donated by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. The design of the system was conducted throughout the spring and fall semesters of 2009, and the project was installed by four ESW-RPI students, our faculty advisor, two GE engineers, and a Troy community member. While there, the team helped paint classrooms, install educational software on the laptop computers, and played with the schoolchildren. The team also happened to be in Lascahobas when the devastating earthquake struck the island. Although they were fortunate enough to not experience any harm, our hearts go out to those who have lost loved ones. Photos can be found here.
Solar Power & Hydroponics Agriculture
La Hoye and Lascahobas, Haiti
During the summer of 2011, members of ESW, St. John’s Episcopal Church in Troy, NY, and the Empire Haiti Coalition installed another photovoltaic solar system, this time in the remote village of La Hoye. Prior to the trip, the ESW team designed and tested a hydroponics agriculture system with a $4,000 grant from the Clinton Global Initiative University. Two ESW-RPI members and our faculty advisor, Michael Jensen, installed the project and infused the food-producing technology in the K-12 curriculum at the school in Lascahobas. Photos can be found here.
2011
2012
Shipping Container Patient Ward
Rantlamouaie, Haiti
In collaboration with the DesignLab at Rensselaer and To Love a Child, the ESW Haiti team converted a used 20-foot shipping container into a patient ward for a medical clinic for the rural town of Rantlamouaie, Haiti. The design and construction of the project was performed during the spring semester of 2012 as a senior capstone design project, and the system was installed in August. Originally designed as a bedroom for an orphanage in Haiti, the container features reflective white paint, solar power with lighting, biodegradable insulation, finished walls and windows, a shade awning, and an accessibility ramp. Photos can be found here.
2014
La Casa del Pueblo (Eco-House)
Ek' Balam, Mexico
In 2014, the ESW Mexico team worked with the town officials of Ek' Balam, Mexico to design and implement the Eco-House. The home was built with the purpose of demonstrating sustainable technologies to the villagers of Ek' Balam. Since 2013, multiple solar hot water heaters and photovoltaic systems have been developed at the Eco-House. The technologies have had an impact on the village, as numerous systems have been built in homes around the village in the ensuing years.
2015
Solar Hot Water Heater
Ek' Balam, Mexico
In 2015, the ESW Mexico team developed a solar hot water heater system at the Eco-House. The solar hot water heater system was designed to avoid the use of a pump, using solar energy to heat water to a comfortable temperature to shower with. The system works by absorbing sunlight on a collector traversed by a series of pipes. The radiation energy collected is used to increase the temperature of water flowing through the pipes in the heated solar collector. The fluid dynamic emphasis on the design of the system allows for water to gravity feed to a solar collector, which then gravity feeds to a nozzle. The reception from the villagers towards the system has been very positive, as many more solar hot water heaters have been installed in homes around the village.
2016
Solar Photovoltaic System
Ek' Balam, Mexico
In 2016, the ESW Mexico team developed a solar photovoltaic system at the Eco-House. The solar photovoltaic system was designed power the Eco-House with four 12V batteries. The system works by absorbing sunlight on four 330W solar panels, which then go through a solar regulator and to deep cycle batteries. From the batteries a DC to AC inverter allows for AC power to be used in the Eco-House.
2019
Rebuilt Solar Photovoltaic
and Hot Water System
Ek' Balam, Mexico
In 2019, the ESW Mexico team designed and built a new solar photovoltaic and hot water system at the Eco-House. These new systems replaced the old systems in place. Renewable power was restored to the Eco-House and necessary improvements were made to ensure longer periods of time before maintenance is required on the systems.
2020
Community Center Systems
Ek' Balam, Mexico
In 2020, ESW Mexico team plans to aid in the development of a Community Center for the village of Ek' Balam. The team has been asked to design a solar photovoltaic system, a hydraulic cistern pump system, a waste treatment system, and adobe bathrooms.
