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A team of Geneva College engineering students along with the chair of the Department of Engineering, Dr. James Gidley, and members of the staff recently constructed and installed a wind turbine on the roof of the Science & Engineering Building. The team also erected a weather station to measure wind speed, wind direction, rainfall, temperature and barometric pressure.
The project is part a larger idea to develop plans for a green conference center on Geneva′s property across the Beaver River. Dr. Gidley noted, "Although the college has made no commitment to build such a center, it is a good concept for students to work on. Other parts of the project include designing improved access roads to the site, developing rainwater as a water supply and assessing the potential for renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind, on the site."
The team of students included seniors Jeffery Carpenter, James Harris, Jeffrey Miller and Kyle Potter. The project was also completed with the help of Co-director of Geneva′s Pinkerton Center for Technology Development Dave Clark, Assistant Director of the Physical Plant Paul Pishioneri, and electricians Tom Turney and Ed Waskiewicz.
The group had originally considered erecting a turbine at the possible location for a green building before finally deciding on S&E. "We had determined that there would be significant problems erecting and operating a wind turbine across the river as a student project. Therefore, we decided to put up a small wind turbine on campus to study the potential for wind power. Western Pennsylvania is not a very windy part of the country and so a careful study of the costs and benefits of wind power is necessary," said Gidley.
Learn more about the environmental engineering concentration in the engineering major.
Geneva College is a comprehensive Christian college of the arts, sciences and professional studies. Founded in the tradition of the Reformed Christian faith, Geneva prepares students to serve Christ in all areas of society: work, family and the church. Geneva College′s philosophy of education is based on the Foundational Concepts of Christian Higher Education. Geneva is a founding member of the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities (CCCU).
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