Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 69.28
Liaison Austin Eriksson
Submission Date Feb. 29, 2016
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

California State University, Northridge
IN-2: Innovation 2

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.00 / 1.00 Austin Eriksson
Sustainability Program Manager
FPDC
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Title or keywords related to the innovative policy, practice, program, or outcome:
Student Developed Solar Powered Charging Trees

A brief description of the innovative policy, practice, program, or outcome:

This was a student-conceived, student designed and student-executed project carried out under the mentorship of a faculty member. A primary objective of the project was to engage students in a challenging engineering design project that would be relevant and useful while helping them learn clean energy technologies.

A second goal was to provide students with experience in working in a team
setting, in this case a team of 19 students, to help them build important team skills including planning, project management, collaboration and communication. The student team was responsible for all aspects of the project including the procurement of materials within a very limited budget ($1,000), design and fabrication of the mechanical
structure, structural integrity, modeling and testing of the structure in simulated environmental conditions, design and construction of electrical components, technical documentation and final presentation. Students learned to communicate with external parties and be responsible for securing the mechanical and electrical components, including solar panels, within budget. The final design is an elegant, robust and highly functional charging tree, where the campus community can readily charge their cell
phones, laptops and tablets. It utilizes a 100W solar panel, a 12V battery, a charge controller and a 400W inverter to provide power both day and night. The tree has four hubs each with three different types of cell phone charge adapters in addition to eight 120V wall outlets.


A brief description of any positive measurable outcomes associated with the innovation (if not reported above):

Positive measurable outcomes include energy savings through the creation of this new solar powered charging station. Along with this energy savings students also are exposed to new technologies, applications and ultimately build skills for the green job market.


A letter of affirmation from an individual with relevant expertise:
Which of the following STARS subcategories does the innovation most closely relate to? (Select all that apply up to a maximum of five):
Yes or No
Curriculum Yes
Research Yes
Campus Engagement ---
Public Engagement ---
Air & Climate Yes
Buildings ---
Dining Services ---
Energy Yes
Grounds ---
Purchasing ---
Transportation ---
Waste ---
Water ---
Coordination, Planning & Governance ---
Diversity & Affordability ---
Health, Wellbeing & Work ---
Investment Yes

Other topic(s) that the innovation relates to that are not listed above:
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The website URL where information about the innovation is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.