Student Activities
ASU Sustainable Energy Society
For more information, visit: www.asuses.appstate.edu, or contact Brent Summerville.
The ASU Sustainable Energy Society (ASUSES) was founded in 1995 with the mission to educate, enlighten, and inform students and the community about renewable energy resources. ASU students, graduates, and staff are committed to this mission and are well-known in the local community for the club's free weekly workshops on topics such as photovoltaics (solar electricity), passive solar building design, wind energy, micro-hydro, electric vehicles, energy efficiency, permaculture, fuel cells, solar cooking, solar food dehydration, and solar water heating. For three years, ASUSES has been awarded the Farm City Banquet Award for the club's contributions to a clean energy future for this local mountain community.
Collaborative Biodiesel Project
For more information, visit: www.biodiesel.appstate.edu, or contact Dr. Jeff Ramsdell.
The Collaborative Biodiesel Project is the newest among ASU's energy-related contracts, to plan, design, build, and operate a small, high-quality biodiesel processor/reactor. This $10,000 grant awarded by the Environmental Protection Agency will engage Appropriate Technology students in hands-on experience with this growing fuel source and will conclude by presenting the project on the Capital Lawn in D.C. Spring 2006.
Renewable Energy Initiative
For more information, visit: www.rei.appstate.edu, or contact Mike Dooraghi.
The ASU Renewable Energy Initiative, a student-led referendum to create a fund for renewable energy projects on campus, received overwhelming support for clean energy with 82% of the voting student body favoring this $5 student fee increase. The purpose of this fund is to demonstrate ASU's responsible stewardship of this mountain community with the installation renewable energy production technology on campus to increase both awareness and use of clean energy. The REI taskforce is comprised of ASU students, faculty and staff, and has been meeting for one year to research potential projects to utilize this $150,000 pool of student fees. The first year of projects are scheduled to begin Fall 2005, and include possibilities such as solar pool heating, solar electricity, and biodiesel for campus vehicles.
Small Wind Initiative
For more information, visit: www.wind.appstate.edu/swiwind/smallwindrdsite.php, or contact Dr. Dennis Scanlin.
The North Carolina Small Wind Initiative (SWI) is a collaborative research and demonstration project supported by Appalachian State University Department of Technology, North Carolina State Energy Office, TVA and the US Department of Energy. Growing out of several years of wind energy research, the SWI is assessing the performance of small wind technology in the region and is providing interested groups (ranging from utility companies to manufacturers, and landowners to state agencies) and with advice and information about small wind technology, wind resource assessment, potential energy production, and the economics of wind energy. The SWI is recognized nation-wide among the industry for its Small Wind Research & Demonstration Site on Beech Mountain, testing state-of-the-art turbine technology and demonstrating wind systems currently available on the American Marketplace. This facility features 6 small wind turbine systems suitable for residential, farm, or business applications and provides a truly unique hands-on training experience with educational workshops and seminars.
Environmental Careers Specialist
For more information, visit: www.careers.appstate.edu, or contact Michelle Brown.
ASU Career Development Center offers an Environmental Careers specialist to cater to the growing number of students graduating with related careers.
Energy Center
For more information, visit: www.energy.appstate.edu, or contact Dr. Dennis Grady.
The Energy Center was formed in 2002 as an applied research group at Appalachian State University to provide research support for ASU faculty, staff, and the State Energy Office of North Carolina. Housed within the Appalachian Regional Development Institute, the ASU Energy Center explores energy issues as related to building science, renewable energy, public policy, and economic development with most notable accomplishments including authorship of the North Carolina Energy Plan. Partnering with leaders in the state, the Energy Center maintains working relationships with: The N.C. Fuel Cell Alliance (NCFCA); the Renewable Energy for Economic Development (REED) Alliance; The A&T University Center for Energy Research Technology (CERT); and The NCSU Solar Center. Most recently in the news, the ASU Energy Center sponsored the first “Zero Energy Home” in North Carolina, by contributing program coordination and technical support for this innovative and affordable passive solar Habitat for Humanity House in Hickory, NC.
Appalachian Regional Initiative for Sustainable Energy
For more information, visit: www.ariseboone.net/, or contact Brent Summerville.
We are a community group located in the northwest corner of North Carolina in the beautiful Appalachian mountains. Our goal is to promote the use of sustainable and renewable energy in our region through education and practice, and our website is a vital part of our educational outreach.
