Sustainability labs
From Green Garage Detroit
Home of the MADD Scientists - "Making A Difference Daily"....
go to Commissioning Design Center
go to Current Labs Summary
go to Labs Highlights
go to Agenda
go to Labs Idea Bin
go to Labs Tool Box
go to Labs Help Wanted
go to GG Labs Google Groups
Contents
Overview
Beliefs
- We perform scientific study to support sustainable stewardship of our Community and Earth, seeking the truth of our actions and having fun doing it.
- Pursuing the "truth through science". We are the "truth window" into the Green Garage.
- The relationships we create are important to us and require maintenance.
- "Any result is a result." - Adam Savage, Mythbusters
- "Failure is always an option." - Adam Savage, Mythbusters
Main Areas of Practice
- Operating within the Green Garage Ecosystem, we have three main areas of practice:
- Survival - basic needs met - necessary for the Green Garage to properly function (building & community)
- Evolution - continuous improvement - keeps us moving forward true to our foundational elements
- Play - voluntary experiments or collaborations; keeps us healthy - creates stronger connections to the community and World
Labs
- Current Labs Summary - listing of active labs and experiments
Building Comfort Systems Lab
- Elements of Lab
- Heating comfort & energy
- Cooling comfort & energy
- Dehumidification and ventilation comfort & energy
- Domestic hot water availability & energy
- Lighting comfort & energy
- Main Considerations
- Building System Operations
- Data Collection
- Analysis of Data/Trending
- Occupant Feedback & Comfort
- Energy Production & Usage
- Continuous Improvement
- Predictive Controls
- Optimization of Systems & Operations
Water Lab
- Elements of Lab
- Collection of Rainwater
- Usage of Rainwater
- Usage of City Water & Sewerage
Waste Lab
- Elements of Lab
- Trash Audits
- Composting
- Recyclables
- Trash
Collaboration
- Urban Sustainability Library
- Green Garage Services
- In Residence Businesses
- Business Greenhouse
- Other Organizations
- Virtual Community
Related Internal Links
- The Green Garage Ecosystem
- Labs Highlights
- Current Labs Summary
- Survival
- Evolution
- Play
- Experiment #1: Jamilah's Space
- GGSL Communication Plan
Resources
- Commissioning Design Center
- GGSL Communication Plan
- Labs Idea Bin
- New Lab Template - Wiki outline of individual Lab
- New Labs Experiment Template - Wiki outline of individual Experiment
- Experiment Tracker - summary of all experiments & experiment project management
- Experiment Workbook Template - report template for actual conducting of experiment
Labs Notebook & To Do's
Agendas
- Labs Design Session - Aug 5
- Labs Design Session - Aug 12
- Labs Design Session - Aug 19
- Labs Design Session - Aug 26
- Labs Design Session - Sep 02
- Labs Sessions - Q4 2011
- Labs Sessions - Q1 2012
- Labs Sessions - Q2 2012
- Labs Sessions - Q3 2012
- Labs Sessions - Q4 2012
- Labs Sessions - Q1 2013
- Labs Sessions - Q2 2013
- Labs Sessions - Q3 2013
- Labs Sessions - Q4 2013
- Labs Sessions - Q1 2014
Items to be Developed Further
- Daily Building Setup of Comfort Systems
- Remote Access
- Local Adjustment
- In Residence Community Feedback on Comfort Systems - IN PROGRESS (Mike P.)
- Feedback System - Comfort Survey
- Analysis
- Historical Data & Trending
- Green Garage Weather Station - ON HOLD; National Weather Service Detroit City Airport being used
- Selection - DONE
- Procurement & Partnership Potential (Davis Instruments)
- Mounting Location
- Interface with Building Comfort Controls
- Interface with Weather Underground
First Evolution of Labs Group
- In Residence Participants
- Perform field work at GG
- Document activity for remote participants and history
- Your Customized Role is based on what you love to do and can flex with your interest and schedule. Some of the more active roles do involve a commitment for a period of time so that we can successfully complete our mission.
- Labs Point of Contact - if you love communication, documentation, organization, helping to manage
- Labs Truthologist - if you love the hands on, get dirty, use your brain, finding the truth in its purest form
- Labs Observer - don't have time to be super active but still have an interest and opinion to share; be a Labs backseat driver or peanut gallery
- Remote Participants
- GG Labs Wiki
- Google Groups - discussions
- Google Docs Polls - forms to poll opinion or vote on selections
- Labs Twitter - link to other developing stories, like Labs FB
- Labs FaceBook - cover new stuff that is going on
- tumblr - blogging? Check with Library
- Urban Sustainable Library (USL) Collaboration
- Liaison to the Labs - Helen
- List of contacts interested in labs with various classifications of interest and involvement - work with Library
- Wiki - Main Page interface to Labs
- Google Groups
- Drop Box for shared files storage
- Will there be a referral system? Yes
- GGSL Communication Plan
- Business Greenhouse (The BG's or ?) Collaboration
- In-Residence Businesses (IRB or Homey's or ?) Collaboration
- Education/training on building systems operation and how they may impact it
- Assist in understanding plug loads
- Green Garage Services (GGS or Services or ?) Collaboration
- Building Opening/Closing Walk Around
- Observe any unusual noise, water on floor, condensation anywhere
- Check that Earth Room door is closed
- Check windows open/closed depending on if Natural Ventilation Day
- Check that lights are on/off depending on occupancy/outside conditions; does it make sense for automatic lights, if any
- Check that designated GG Services plug loads are off nights/weekends (are there any that have to stay on or are more energy efficient if remain on?)
- Test emergency lighting annually
- Weigh trash as it is removed from building
- Building Opening/Closing Walk Around
Labs Services
- What do you go to the Labs for (consider from each of the other GG seeds)?
- "Under Construction" - no Labs Services for the first 6 months while getting established
- Urban Sustainable Library
- Science Information & Consulting
- Collaborate on articles, media creation
- "Behind the Scenes" Tours
- Business Greenhouse
- Science Information & Consulting
- Studies
- GG Services
- Building Systems Optimization
- Continuous Improvement Advice & Support
- In Residence Businesses
- Science Information & Consulting
- Studies
- Collaborators/Partners
- Establish & maintain relationship
- Feedback information & reporting
- Host tour, event, visit, etc. collaboration
Equipment
- Scales - weigh trash
- Wireless Web Cam - observe experiments; monitor equipment readouts not on DDC
- Plug Power Meter - measure plug loads
- Breaker/Panel Power Metering? - lighting study, plug load study
- Temperature/Humidity Handheld Meter - calibrated
- Measure water temps through PEX where no sensor provided
- Rolling cart for experiments & documenting
TO DO
- 'Plan / Do / Study / Act / Repeat
- Experiential Learning - Concrete Experience - Reflective Observation - Abstract Conceptualization - Active Experimentation - Concrete Experience
- The Scientific Method
- The Engineering Design Process
- Poll (use FaceBook Questions or Google Forms) to help select experiments - People's Choice
- Virtual Labs Sessions
- Develop series
- Create Labs Glossary
- Develop Green Garage Sustainability Labs One Earth Pattern to help gain identity - IN PROGRESS
- Recipe for Labs Sessions content (see Mind Map of Energy in Green Garage Sustainability Labs One Earth Pattern) - DONE
- Develop Experiment Tracking Spreadsheet that contains experiment parameters (lead, start, end, goals, how used, etc.) - DONE
- Design Experiment Template Workbook for conducting experiment and reporting data - outline, measurements to be taken, reporting, who does what, timeline (scheduling & sequencing) - DONE
- Create Labs Idea Bin - DONE
- Update Labs Experiment Template for Wiki to Add sections on collaboration (in residence, other organizations, remote/virtual), relationships, available jobs - DONE
- Intern write-up & check with Janice Means for potential candidates (small volunteer project first) - DONE
- Create Labs Help Wanted page and interface with Main Page - DONE