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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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