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2007 Season (Power Puzzle)
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2007 Season (Power Puzzle)
Accomplishments: 2nd Place at the Regional Tournament!
1st place Programming Award at the Flint State Tournament
and Top 5 in Teamwork!
The theme this year is Power Puzzle. We are researching alternative energy and saving energy.
We audited Bella Vista Church as part of our project and we found out that energy is being
wasted. We made up a few short-term and long-term ways to save energy that
we are mainly focusing on:
Short-term:
1: Replace lighting.
2: Water-heater
blankets.
3: Weather seals on windows and doors.
4: Turning off computers
with timers and\or sensors.
5: Thermostat settings.
Long-term:
1: Gutter-Turbine (under the innovative ideas).
2: Geothermal
energy.
3: Replace furnaces.
Shark II
Our robot name is "Shark
II" because last years
robot was called "Shark".
Problems and Solutions from our Audit:
Bella Vista Church has a 30-year old water-heater. We found out that old
water-heaters have less insulation and water-heater blankets can save
25-45% of heat loss and they only cost $5 through $15!
20 (all) of the upstairs windows at Bella Vista Church aren't properly
weather-sealed and\or have old weather-seals. We found out that (proper)
weather-sealing saves 35% of energy by keeping the outside air out and the inside
air in!
Bella Vista Church has a 30-year old furnace. We found out
that a high-efficient furnace can save 30% of heat loss!
Bella Vista Church has old T12 magnetic light ballasts in
the gym. We found out that using T8 electronic light ballasts can save 1,316
watts per hour in the gym!
Bella Vista Church's vending machine light is always on. We
know that taking out the light bulb will save energy.
Bella Vista Church's exit signs have incandescent bulbs. We
know that using LED's will save energy.
Bella Vista
Church's computers are plugged in and some of them are always on. We found
out that even if the computer is plugged in, it still uses electricity
because turning off the computer doesn't turn off the power transformer.
Using an outlet timer can save energy. Not only you can use an outlet
timer, but there is free software called SmartSleep
were you can turn the computers that are on off at a certain time.
Innovative Ideas:
We
thought of the Gutter-Turbine: Water rains down from the clouds and lands
on the roof. The water then goes down into the gutter into the water tank.
When the water level rises, it pulls the valve open using the bobber then
the water flows through the tube and spins the water turbine, which makes
energy. We also thought when its the dry season, we can put water turbines
in the bathroom sinks.
We
thought of the Solar-Mill: It's a windmill with a solar panel on the
propellers on top of metal power-line poles.
Short-term ways to save energy:
- Use Compact Florescent (CFL) Light Bulbs.
- Turn off your light when your not using it.
- Turn off the water when you brush your teeth.
- Keep your air conditioner on a low temp when your away (using programmable thermostats
can automatically change your temp.)
- Use rechargeable batteries so the battery companies don't have to make as much batteries.
- Use crank or shake powered flashlights.
- Turn off your computer when your not using it (You can
Hibernate it or put it on Stand-by with Windows XP & Vista to keep
your files opened, but dosen't save as much energy).
- Use F2-21 liquid that you put in your gas to save gas mileage and reduce fuel emissions (See the 2006 Season - NanoQuest
for more info).
Long-term ways to save energy:
- Use Geothermal Heating.
- If you have an old furnace, Replace your furnace with a high-efficincy furnace.
- Use the Solar-Mill (under the innovative ideas).
- Use the Gutter-Turbine (under the innovative ideas).
All 2007 content provided by the Legos in Paradise team members.
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