Let's get started!

After our inspiring and informative trip to the Earthship I feel the urge to get started on some projects... or at least one!

1. ALGAE
Thanks for posting Kaspar :)

The three different types of Algae are:
Chlorella Protothecoides (microalgae)
Botryococcus Braunii (microalgae
Chaetomorpha linum (macroalgae - seaweed)

Apart from the algae which is on Mr Harris's window sill our materials consist of 5 glass tubes and a wooden brace to support them. We need experimental designs on how we will fit the different components together. These include a temperature control, carbon dioxide and nutrient inputs, possibly a method to add salty water. I suggest in order to vary controlled conditions we may need to be able to add or adjust all the variables for each tube. A list of other relevant available materials in the laboratories would be helpful. This might require a few investigative missions to the labs. All ideas welcome however trivial or unresearched.

A nice picture of a common set up (however its not experimental, there would be the same conditions in each tube)
http://science.howstuffworks.com/algae-biodiesel3.htm

Information on general growing conditions (These include temperature,light, ph, aeration and mixing and salination.)
http://www.growing-algae.com/algae-growing-conditions.html

2. SOLAR THERMAL PANELS
We could go and investigate Tayside Recyclers to find (possibly free) materials and actually get building.

3. INSULATION
Still waiting for a response from Dr. Slade...

4. ISE BIKES
Arpi is waiting for a response from the bike-manufactuers...

5. BIODIESEL
Waiting for funding – have not heard back from the Climate Challenge Fund

6. MAGDALEN GREEN LIGHTS
They are on their way - waiting for them to arrive so we can help with the installation (ie pour the concrete)

7. FILM NIGHT + SPEAKERS
feel free to add a comment and post your ideas

Fresh Start....

...into the new decade.

1. HOUSE-BUILDING/MEETING
2. REFRESHERS FAYRE
3. EARTHSHIP-VISIT

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1. Meeting on Friday, 22nd of January 2010 at 13:00 in the Harris foyer to build a model house equipped with renewables, which we can hopefully used for the

2. Refreshers Fayre on Saturday, 23rd of January 2010 from 13:00-16:00 in DUSA to attract some new members.

3. We'll be visiting the Earthship (in Fife, near Kinghorn) on Saturday, 30th of January 2010. Our guided tour is from 11:00 to 12:00. It takes about half an hour to get there from the train station, so I suggest we take the train at 9:07 (arrives at 10:05)... The society will be covering all or at least most of the cost. If you want to come along contact Ruxandra or Kimberley (k.ellis@dund...andsoon)

1. THE AGE OF STUPID
2. SUSTAINABILITY CONFERENCE
3. ISE BIKES
4. SOLAR THERMAL PANELS
5. INSULATION
6. ALGAE
7. EARTHSHIP-VISIT
8. BIODIESEL
9. MAGDALEN GREEN LIGHTS

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1. THE AGE OF STUPID - INDIE FILM SCREENING - Thursday, 12th of November, 19:30
You won’t see a more important film this year! Oscar-nominated blockbuster starring Pete Postlethwaite. £1 entry to cover the license fees. Thursday, NOV 12th, 7:30 pm, Mono (the Union). Watch the trailer: http://www.ageofstupid.net/trailer

2. SUSTAINABILITY CONFERENCE – Friday, 13th of November
Have a look at the program and sign up - some of the workshops look quite promising: http://ds3c.co.uk/conference-day.php

3. ISE BIKES
Arpi and Kaspar are going to investigate what’s in the gym (type of bikes/other equipment used, possibly hot water storage facilities,…)

4. SOLAR THERMAL PANELS
Andrew will investigate if Tayside Recyclers have any broken fridges that can’t be fixed to take off the heat exchanger and make it into a solar thermal panel.
Gari has nano-particles that could potentially increase the efficiency of solar thermal panels and will see if Solartwin will donate a panel for this purpose.

5. INSULATION
Lubo will do research on thermographic cameras (cost-benefit analysis)
Gari will get in touch with Dr. Slade who teaches heat analysis (Mechanical Engineering)

6. ALGAE
Sitting on Gari’s windowsill waiting for us to start experimenting on CO¬¬¬¬2 absorption – well, we’d have to fit the tubes first… Andrew, Kaspar, Kris and Kimberley (and anyone else who’s interested) meeting on WEDNESDAY, NOV 18th in Harris foyer

7. EARTHSHIP-VISIT
Kaspar called them: they are booked up for the 21st of November so we decided to go on Saturday the 30th of January (after the Refreshers Fayre)

8. BIODIESEL
Waiting for funding – have not heard back from the Climate Challenge Fund

9. MAGDALEN GREEN LIGHTS
Waiting for provision of second suppliers quote to get funding from the City Council

If you’re interested in any of these projects just e-mail k.ellis@dund... And so on (don’t want to risk spam)!

PLANS

CHIPFAT TO FUEL
MAGDALEN GREEN LIGHTS
GYM BIKES
ENERGY EFFICIENCY/INSULATION
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EARTHSHIP VISIT
FILM NIGHT(S)
SUSTAINABILITY CONFERENCE
NEXT MEETING
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TO DO
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CHIPFAT TO FUEL
a location has been identified + we have permission to set up the biodiesel-processor
Gari has applied for funding with the Climate Challenge Fund and will check out the cost of chemicals needed
Kimberley will contact DUSA and the DoJ canteen to tell them that we'll be needing the chip fat soon (and find out if we can use their trolley to transport it to Harris)

MAGDALEN GREEN LIGHTS
there is funding to set up two prototypes - we get to dig the holes and pour the concrete some time soon (possibly on a weekend in November/December) - Gari shall inform us as soon as he knows the date
Once the prototypes are set up we could help with taking readings/monitoring the performance of the lights (January-March)

GYM BIKES
Arpi and Kaspar will head over to the ISE to take a look at the bikes (and hot water generation... device(s)) if anyone wants to join them just e-mail Arpi ( kuthyar(at)freemail.hu )

ENERGY EFFICIENCY/INSULATION
we'd like to do a workshop/learn how to do energy audits/run around the campus with a thermo graphic camera to identify heat leaks so they can be/we can insulate them
apparently the mechanical engineers do work in that direction... Lubo shall find out about that and report back to us.

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EARTHSHIP VISIT - 21st of November 2009
Ruxandra will contact them to confirm the date
We got funding from DUSA for the trip so it should only cost about 10 Pounds/person (if you can't afford it e-mail us, we'll figure something out - make it a solidarity price)
If not enough people from our society sign up (to this really worthwhile adventure http://www.sci-scotland.org.uk/earthship_centre.shtml ) it'll be e-mailed around the department and put on Hermes

FILM NIGHT(S) - 12th of November 2009 at 19:30
I can really recommend the film "The Age of Stupid" which will be screened in the Union (Mono)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZjsJdokC0s
(Lubo will look get some films about renewables and suggest a date for another (more geeky ;) filmnight)

SUSTAINABILITY CONFERENCE - 13th of November 2009
We're offered a stall on the 13th of November - this might be a good way to attract new members - anyone up for manning it?
Here's a link (if you want to have a look at the program and sign up - I think some of the workshops look quite promising): http://ds3c.co.uk/conference-day.php
I'll definitely go to the "Transition Towns" one :)

NEXT MEETING
shall be on WEDNESDAY, the 11th of November at 13:00 (Harris meeting room)
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TO DO:
Everyone - get involved :)
Arpi + Kaspar - check out bikes at ISE
Gari - send us updates about the lights and the biodiesel processor
Ruxandra - book Earthship visit
Kimberley - contact DUSA and DoJ canteen
Lubo - find mechanical engineers working on insulation, find films

Filmnight

Monday 11th of October 2009 at 19:00
We'll be meeting in the Tower foyer
(building 1 on campus map http://www.dundee.ac.uk/general/campusmap/ )
for a filmnight (Andrew and Lubo have kindly prepared a selection :)
We'll also take a few minutes to talk about a second project we'd like to tackle (energy audits, planning to retrofit a building on campus with proper insulation and renewables).

Next Meeting

Monday, 5th of October 2009
at lunchtime, 13:00 - 14:00
in the meeting room (ground floor) in the Harris building (number 33 on the campus map - just behind the library)

Welcome

We’d like to welcome everyone who is thinking about joining our society this year (don’t worry it doesn’t involve any paperwork or fees – just come along to one of our meetings).

Objectives of our Society:

- learn more about renewable energy
- promote the usage of renewable energy sources at the university
- potentially find sponsors for latter
- do some hands-on work on renewables
- go on excursions
- organise lectures (presented by specialist speakers)


Things we did last academic year:

- Took flow rate measurements in Benvie for estimating the potential of a micro
hydro power installation
- Excursion to Dundee Sun City House
- Looked into brewing our own biodiesel from old chip fat (waste from Union and DoJ)
on campus
- Film Night: Who Killed the Electric Car?
- Organized a public lecture: RE-Economics by Dr. Subhes C. Bhattacharyya from
CEPMLP (Centre for Energy Petroleum, Mineral Law and Policy)


Plans for this year: come along to a meeting and find out!

We usually meet fortnightly during lunch – still have to find out which date suits (most) people best. If you can’t make it to the meeting but would still like to join, just e-mail k(dot)ellis(at)dundee(dot)ac(dot)uk