Water Projects
Alternative Renewable Energy Resources, 2006
This project examined the energy usage by current human society and analyzed instances in which renewable energy could be applied. A comparison was made between the Northeast and West south Central Region of the United States. A renewable energy community was designed to provide a feasible and environmentally advantageous standard of living. The design integrates solar, biomass, and hydrogen technologies. The project also examines the impact such a community may have on the environment and global society. More Information...
Cost Effective Energy Saving Home Renovations, 1998
Our project examines methods to increase the thermal energy efficiency of residential buildings by retrofitting them with various building materials. The thermal characteristics of these products were investigated to determine their effects on the energy improvements, while also displaying quality characteristics based upon aesthetics, safety, and environmental impacts among others. More Information...
Electric Power and Social Attitudes, 2005
This project seeks to examine the miscommunications that arise in discussions concerning electricity deregulation and its environmental impact due to the participants1 opposing discourses of environmental reality. Discourses dominant in the debate are analyzed, and interviews conducted with participants in the deregulation and environmental debate. The interview data is analyzed, with special emphasis on the different associational loads the concepts being debated must bear within each discourse. Recommendations are made on ways for participants to reach a mutually satisfactory consensus. More Information...
Energy Saving Device Survey, 1998
This project illustrates the involvement of ethics in the marketing of an energy saving device. It provides an in-depth analysis of common marketing techniques used by the promoters and problems inherit in these techniques. The theory is supported by a detailed survey, which extracts the opinion and knowledge from a person targeted by the promoters. The results are presented in tables and charts and are accompanied by suggestions and recommendations to combat unethical actions taken by promoters. More Information...
Energy Saving in the Home, 1998
This project was conducted to analyze the effects of new, high efficiency, compact fluorescent lighting (CFLs). Randomly selected utility customers were interviewed and their use of CFLs monitored to measure actual energy savings. Utility efficient lighting programs were examined in depth to determine whether or not efficient lighting programs are economically feasible for both the consumer and the utilities. More Information...
Energy Use in the US and Other Countries, 2005
This project is concerned with the problems and consequences of energy use and its impacts on economic well-being in the United States and various European countries. We gathered and analyzed energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, and economic output data over the recent past using the common benchmarking method of Data Envelopment Analysis. We then ascertained the possibilities of reduction in both the energy consumption and greenhouse gas emission without negative consequences upon the economic output. More Information...
Green Engineering, 2003
Concerns over the growing issues of global warming, fossil fuel reduction, recycling, and toxic waste reduction have led to an increasing need to become a ˜green˜ society. Although some organizations are focusing resources on these environmental concerns, the majority of our top engineering universities are not educating future engineers on ˜green˜ alternatives. Therefore, the task was to create a graduate/undergraduate level course syllabus in Green Engineering. More Information...
Sustainable Development at the San Cristobal Canyon
The Conservation Trust of Puerto Rico has requested the assistance of the students of Worcester Polytechnic Institute to create a planning document for the sustainable development of the San Crist243bal Canyon in Aibonito and Barranquitas, Puerto Rico. This process included determining the impact of making the canyon a biosphere reserve as well as the proper means to make the proposed trails safe and accessible to as many people as possible. At the completion of this project, we have provided sufficient information to recommend the establishment of a biosphere reserve in the canyon area as well as the development of a trail system. With all of this information, the Trust should be able to achieve sustainability in the development of the San Crist243bal Canyon. More Information...
Technically Green An Environmental Resource Website (WPI Related)
Our project was to develop proposals for a formal environmental policy, committee, and annual report for the WPI administration to consider. Unlike many universities, WPI currently does not have a visible position on environmental sustainability. We came to our proposals by researching the processes and final products of other universities and institutions. They, along with developmental resources, are presented on a website (Located at www.wpi.edu/~aminakya/ as of 3/6/07). Comments on the development of the proposals are presented in the paper. More Information...
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