Background
We are working with the Campus Center for Appropriate Technology on refurbishing their Mobile Energy Operation on Wheels. It was stolen and vandalized so the goal is to make it look appealing and get it operating again. The outside has to get painted in a way that will represent CCAT. Solar panels need to get remounted and batteries need to be bought and installed. In order to ensure a positive energy return on investment (EROI) we are going to have it power the CCAT house. We will be working on this project during the 2012 spring semester and hopefully have the work completed by the end of the semester, in May. The Campus Center for Appropriate Technology is located on the HSU campus; this is where we will be doing all of our work on the project.
Problem statement
The objective of this project is to restore the Mobile Energy Operation Wagon. We will be making it look more attractive by painting it to better represent CCAT. We will also ensure a positive EROI by running the Campus Center for Appropriate Technology on the MEOW.
Evaluation Criteria
This section was created to weigh the amount of work and budget that goes into each aspect. The goal of this project is to restore CCAT’s MEOW, paying special attention to aesthetics, so it can be modified for efficiency in a future project. I want to focus on durability, aesthetics and educational value as well as the obvious safety factor, so my project lays a good foundation for future projects.
| Criteria | Constraints | Weight (0-10) |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | must meet the budget | 7 |
| Safety | must be safe for everyone, especially since we’re dealing with electricity | 10 |
| Maintainability | must be perform maintenance work on fairly easily, strive for simplicity | 7 |
| Durability | must be built structurally sound and built to last | 8 |
| Aesthetics | must be pleasant to look at | 9 |
| Efficiency | must be as least as efficient as the previous design | 7 |
| Operability | must be able to operate with one or two people | 8 |
| Educational Value | must be easily comprehensible upon first glance, and able to educate citizens in detail | 9 |
| Mobility | must be able to be transported, the lighter the better | 5 |
| Modular Expandability | must be able to adapt and expand for future design and improvement | 8 |