Projects
Biodigester Design Project
Animal waste, human waste, and food scraps can be turned into useful biogas (60-70% methane) for cooking or heating water and odorless fertilizer through bacterial digestion. We are researching existing projects and developing a prototype to build at the University. Eventually, this system will be implemented in the developing world in conjunction with other BLUElab projects. This project has the potential to quantify, expand, and improve a process that already provides clean cooking fuel in rural communities in countries such as China, India, and the Philippines.
Project Leader: Marc Jankowski (marcjank@umich.edu)
Sustainable Development in Hagley Gap, Jamaica
BLUElab is collaborating with Students for Jamaica and the Blue Mountain Project to improve the quality of life in Hagley Gap, Jamaica. BLUElab’s involvement is centered in three areas: improving water quality and access, rebuilding a washed-out river crossing, and finding a dependable and renewable source of power for the sole medical clinic. For each project, community education and involvement are considered key objectives, as well as using creative techniques and interdisciplinary collaborations.
Project Leader: Rebecca Frank (rebfrank@umich.edu)
Partnership with Appropriate Technologies Collaborative
BLUElab is partnering with the Appropriate Technology Collaborative and Appropriate Infrastructure Development Group to design and implement a human-powered water pump to irrigate farmland and improve quality of life in subsistence farming communities in South American communities. The group will generate design specifications using suitable local materials which will allow the pump to be used in multiple locations, as well as create and implement a business model to foster entrepreneurship in those communities.
Project Leaders: Robert McNulty (mcnultyr@umich.edu) & Brennan Crispin (bhcrisp@umich.edu)
Sustainable Housing Project Initiative
In all communities, housing poses unique obstacles, for both people and the environment. The goal of the project is to develop a system of housing that incorporates cultural, environmental, and economic factors to provide housing that benefits all. This year, we're holding the Live:Green design competition for teams to design a completely off the grid house. To engender collaboration, teams must consist of members from at least three different colleges within the university. There will also be opportunities for teams to present in front to professionals in related fields for feedback on their preliminary designs. Cash prizes will be awarded as well as at the opportunity to have their designs displayed at the Greening the Heartland event at Cobo. (site)
Project Leader: (livegreen@umich.edu)
Student Outreach in Detroit
BLUElab is organizing an outreach program that will work with middle school students in Detroit. These students will be coming to the University of Michigan to take part in three workshops that BLUElab creates which teach the students basic environmental principles and foster their interest in sustainability issues. Likely topics for these workshops include alternative fuels, pollution, and sustainable design. We will also be visiting these students in Detroit to help them during their own sustainable design competition.
Project Leader: Genevieve Lampinen (generose@umich.edu)
Gallery Exhibit
Annually, BLUElab creates an exhibit in the Duderstadt Media Union’s Gallery, a high visibility location on North Campus. The Gallery Project allows students to express their creativity while raising awareness amongst their peers of issues related to sustainability. This year’s theme will be “Developing Nations, Developing Technologies” and will focus on energy, housing, and water issues which face many communities, highlighting the unique technologies that can overcome them.
Project Leaders: Aysha Ansari (ayshaa@umich.edu) & Christine Driscoll (cedrisc@umich.edu)
Chainless Challenge
BLUElab is developing a prototype hydraulic hybrid bicycle to compete in the Parker Hannifin Chainless Challenge. Hydraulic technology has the potential to revolutionize the transportation industry because it allows the vehicle to capture and reuse energy from braking. Imagine pressing on your bicycle brakes at 20mph, slowing down to a complete stop, and storing all of that kinetic energy. At the press of a button, you will experience an exhilarating acceleration to over 17mph! We hope to use the bicycle as a fun way to raise awareness about fuel efficient vehicles while gaining hands-on experience on a multidisciplinary team.
Project Leaders: Aidan Feldman (afeld@umich.edu) & Henry Kohring (hkohring@umich.edu)
Growing Hope in Ypsilanti
BLUElab plans to assist Growing Hope in the ongoing renovation of its recently purchased property for its new center. Growing Hope is a nonprofit community gardens organization in Ypsilanti, MI dedicated to improving people's lives through organic gardening & healthy food access, while promoting positive environmental, social, and neighborhood change. BLUElab's current project goals include the design & construction of an underground rainwater collection, storage, and irrigation system for a greenhouse and the final design and construction of a raingarden to capture parking lot runoff.
Project Leader: Erica Green (greeneri@umich.edu)