Blog #18

     Today we consulted with Mr. Lucido on the white board situation for the classroom. He told us to go talk to Steve Hunt who would take a look at the whiteboard that we brought home from Mr. Magers garage. After close inspection, Mr. Hunt decided that the white board was too warped and we all came to a unanimous decision that it was not very portable and we needed a new, smaller one. Talking about the whiteboard got Eli and I thinking about the other pallet we needed from Wolf Hill. So once again, we called up Mike in the stone departement and apparently he was at a "dentist appointment" and that the pallet still had not arrived from New Hampshire. This was clearly bad news for us because we want to finish the outdoor classroom and we are going to have to end up doing it on our own time after SCORE ends. 

     We spent the rest of the day teary eyed and drowning in our own sorrow. While doing so, we dug out more mulch in the Green Team gardens in hopes of replacing it with sod. Mr. Morrison was really happy with our contribution and gave us free snacks to combat the tiring and stressful work. At the end of the day, SCORE was a nice switch up from the normal routing of going to high school. If it wasn't for outside factors, Eli and I would be done by now which is frustrating but I am looking forward to finishing this project because I hate leaving unfinished.

Blog #17

     Coming into work on tuesday, Eli and I had no more bluestone to lay down so we concentrated our entire day on shaping and placement of our first pallet of stone. We dug out more stone dust and used it to strengthen our patio. We filled in the cracks for better placement and so the stones didn't move. Eli and I finished the entire perimeter area of stone placment and some. When we were finished, John Byrne came by and dropped off the shaping tool and a leveling stick. We checked the floor with the stick and it was surprisingly level. Then, ELi and I used the remaining bluestone we had and some other pieces that didn't fit right and shaped them to fit one another. Some bluestone also had certain secions that were raised higher and I chipped them off to make a more evenly balanced surface.
     Eventually we finished and decided to go talk to Mr. Lucido about drilling the white board into place for the classroom. He told us that Steve Hunt (janitor) would bring the drill and provide assistance in doing so. After, I continued to check in on our next batch of bluestone set to come in and called Wolf Hill for the latest on arrival dates. The guy told me that their source would be dropping it off either wednesday or thursday and would call us when it arrives. This was good because it made Eli and I a bit more relieved because we get a little more time to finish the patio then we thought.

Blog #16

     On Monday, Eli and I continued laying down stone and tried to make the pieces fit just right. We were shocked when it had come to our attention that we had finished using the entire pallet and there was still so much more blue stone needed. Eli and I consulted with one another and decided we needed at least another pallet. We called us Mr. Magers and informed him of the situation. He replied by telling us we should go to Wolf Hill and purchase another pallet. And also because we would be in Gloucester, Mr. Magers told us to stop by his house to pickup the whiteboard we would use for the classroom. 

     So we arrived at Wolf Hill, went to the front desk and asked if we could purchase more natural blue stone. The guy told us that they were out of the natural bluestone at the moment but their source (up in new hampshire) would be shipping a fresh batch sometime this week. Eli and I were a little frustrated at this because we need the bluestone to finish the project and SCORE ends this week. After Wolf Hill, we ran on down to Mr. Mager's house and picked up a whiteboard that he had sitting in his garage. It was massive and he told us that it came from the old high school. I thought that was cool because its always nice to have some nostalgia lying around. Overall, Eli and I are going to be busy this week and there will be a tremendous amount of effort involved, physically and mentally. 

Blog #15

     Friday, Eli and I had the busiest day of our entire internship. This was because we had finished compacting, so we could actually move on to building the classroom. To start off the day, we laid down an inch of stone dust over the entire area of the classroom. We then opened our pallet of natural blue stone and found four pieces of blue stone that fit nicely for each of the four corners. We adjusted the amount of stone dust underneath the blue stone so it would fit better (grounded and not moving) and present a nice flat surface. After we put down our four corners, Eli and took out string and put it horizontally and vertically attached to Popsicle sticks at each of the four corners. When the rope was taut, it showed a flat surface and gave us a good direction on the issue of having a flat surface.
     John Byrne came over later to see how we were doing and was impressed at our work. He told us that on Monday he would come by and give us a shaping tool so we can better shape some of the blue stone to fit better in the patio. In the meantime, John told us that all we had to do was figure out the placement of the blue stone like a puzzle and mix and match until we got the best fit. We did a lot of "puzzle fitting" for the rest of the day and after we finished up by watering all the plants and trees in the school.

Blog #14

     After our distressing situation on Friday, Monday came around and we got right to work. Because we had to wait until after school to use the compactor, we dug up mulch in the gardens for a large portion of the day. We nailed the technique of rolling up the rugs underneath into burritos full of mulch. Then, when the "burrito" was big enough, we cut the end of the rug with the shovel which in turn freed up the "burrito". This was a quick and efficient way of dealing with the mulch in the gardens but Eli and I still have much to do in that regard. Following the mulch, we proceeded to water the trees we had replanted by the outdoor classroom. After a long day of digging up mulch and watering the trees, school finally ended.
     Eli and I immediately went to the compactor and got it going. We probably went over the area of the classroom around three of four times to make sure the rock was fully pushed down and we had a nice even surface. I thought that the compactor would take a fair amount of time to use but I was surprised when we ended up finishing the job after twenty minutes. We then proceeded to call John Byrne and let him know that the job was done and he could take back the compactor. When on the phone, he told us that for the next step, he would come by and give us a layout of what needed to happen and to make sure we were on the right track.

Blog #13

     Friday, Eli and I after school had planned to use the compactor machine on the crushed stone that John Byrne had loaned us. We fired up the machine and were starting to go when Mr. Magers came out of nowhere and looked distressed. We stopped the machine and asked him what the problem was. He said, "Look at it! It's a mess! The crushed stone is all uneven and it will be a disaster if we build it over this and rain comes and floods certain sections!" Eli and I realized he was right and we took the necessary steps to fixing the situation we had gotten ourselves into. We took out some rakes and started putting more crushed stone in certain areas and overall evening it out. The next day, we proceeded to use the "laser" that Mr. Lucido let us borrow to make sure the ground was even. After learning how to use the laser, Eli and I went across the surface using the laser and whenever the tool it made contact with "beeped", it let us know that the ground was level.
     After this, I contacted John Byrne and asked him if we could borrow the compactor machine for one more day. He said that was fine and also gave us instructions for how to lay down the patio. He said that since the bluestone we are using come in different widths, we would need to lay down stone dust per bluestone and fit it all together like a puzzle. Because, if we laid the stone dust all down before hand, all the bluestone is different widths so it would be uneven and look terrible.

Research Paper: Sustainable Energy Technology: present and future - ROUGH DRAFT

Sustainable Energy Technology: Present and Future

Patrick Hagar

Ms. Nolan

5.10.2013

In today’s fast paced society, humans rely on mobility. Whether it is transportation by car, plane, boat, or train or by portable electronic devices such as the laptop, cell phone and ipad. This technology has become the social norm in most cultures and has benefited society greatly. While it has its benefits, the United States and most of the world has seemingly dug itself into a deep hole, which continues to get deeper. All of these electronic devices and methods of transportation require gasoline and if you multiply the amount of gasoline necessary for these methods of transportation and electronic devices by the seven billion people whom inhabit the Earth, the amount of gas needed to fulfill the world’s needs every day is tremendous. With such high demand, humans have nearly exhausted most of the world’s oil. Prices have dramatically risen, and the United States is now drilling domestically (fracking) and hopes to one day independently supply the nation’s oil. The problem is, the oil industry is not a long-term business and oil can run dry fast. It seems that the world is setting itself up for disaster for when all gas runs dry. Society will regress and life as it is known, will forever be changed. That is why green (eco) technology needs to be the center focus of energy concern. Right now, green technology is small but is playing an ever-expanding role in civilization. This new and revolutionary technology is dynamic and allows humans to obtain energy in a variety of different ways while being safe and giving off little to no pollution. In the future when oil is tapped out, green technology will see significant change and will have to expand and be able to fuel the needs of the ever-growing population. 

Sustainable energy is of the upmost importance, especially in the near future. Green technology is creating green energy jobs, which are vital types of green-collar jobs that are growing in number and have a safe and secure future. Oil on the other hand, is notoriously known as a fossil fuel and can therefore go extinct. Renewable energy got its name because you can “renew” and it keeps going; essentially, it does not end. One main concern with the full conversion to green energy is the high prices. To combat the fear, there are already a variety of different renewable energy sources out there such as hydropower, solar power and wind power which are expensive but well worth the investment because in the long run, people will save a significant amount more money than they ever ended up spending.  There is already so much green technology out today and scientific engineers have only touched the surface. Scientists now are discovering all the power green energy can harness and the future is bright for this technology. The future means new ideas, and new advancements; bigger and better. 

In today’s society, one might think that cars, houses and cities are still only fueled by fossil fuels but that is simply not true. Five main types of present day renewable energy technology that help fuel societies needs are hydropower, solar power, wind power, geothermal power and biomass. These clean and efficient methods of obtaining energy have made outstanding contributions to the world energy consumption and will make even bigger strides in the near future. According to the EIA (Energy Information Administration), hydropower accounts for 73% of all renewable energy. Hydropower is generated using the mechanical energy of flowing water by forcing it through piping called a penstock, which then turns a generator in order to produce electricity. The largest hydropower system in the U.S. is the Hoover Dam located on the Colorado River bordering Nevada and Arizona. The Three Gorges Dam in Hubei, China has the world’s largest instantaneous generating capacity with production of 98.1 terrawats an hour. The dam is so powerful that it actually provides 10% of China’s energy. If the total population and production industry in China is taken into account, that is a lot of sustainable energy that will be around as long as the river runs deep. Hydropower also consists of wave and tidal energy, which are both in the infant stage of research. Right now, scientists are trying to discover how to harness the energy produced from movement of the ocean. 

 From what they believe, ocean currents can power the world if it could be channeled. The new device under construction (Vivace), which has been inspired by the way fish swim, consists of a system of cylinders positioned horizontal to the water flow and attached to springs. As water flows past, the cylinder creates vortices, which push and pull the cylinder up and down. The mechanical energy in the vibrations is then converted into electricity. These Vivace Systems could be sited on river-beds or suspended in the ocean. According to Michael Bernitsas, a professor of naval architecture at the University of Michigan, “If we could harness 0.1 per cent of the energy in the ocean, we could support the energy needs of 15 billion people”(CITATION).  

Solar Power is one of the most talked about forms of renewable energy around the planet. Solar power has so much potential and it is only going to get better. Solar power is obtained when Solar cells made from silicon absorb the sun's radiation, also called photovoltaic cells. The process involves the movement and displacement of electrons to absorb the sun's radiation and create electricity. Solar power has been used in a variety of ways such as powering cars, powering houses (solar panel roof tiles), air conditioning, and even powering portable devices such as phones and videogames. If solar power can power cars, homes and electronic devices then why don’t we make the switch? The two main concerns with reliance on solar power include that it is not fully dependable because sun is not readily available on a daily basis, and that the price of conversion is too expensive. According to a new report from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, the cost of installed solar power dropped significantly in 2011, going into 2012, compared to 2010 prices. If the year is now 2013, it can only mean prices have become even less costly. Eric Magers, director of the Manchester-Essex Green Team has shown the true power of what solar panels can contribute first hand. He has given fellow Green Team members and other students a tour of the Highschool roof where a massive array of solar panels strikes the eye and causes an aura of curiosity. These solar panels account for 5% of the school’s total energy cost. At first, the panels were viewed as expensive because of product costs and installation but as the years have gone by, these solar panels have started saving money on energy costs over the years ( statistics…). 

One of the most notable changes around local Cape Ann, the north shore and the rest of the renewable energy world is the growth of wind power. Three wind turbines have been put up in the city of Gloucester, rising above Blackburn Industrial Park, and have turned Gloucester into an eco-friendly urban environment. The turbines have already sparked $60 thousand dollars in savings. The pair of two-megawatt turbines are projected to provide enough power to run all city municipal buildings, and save the city over $11 million dollars in savings over their 25 years of service life. Even in Lynn, the Lynn Water and Sewer Commission is erecting a 254-high turbine along the Lynnway, a $1.8 million purchase that will save the city as much as $5 million over the next 20 years. Wind power is a rather simple yet effective practice where wind turbines convert the kinetic energy (motion) of wind into mechanical energy that is used to generate electricity. The energy is fed through a generator, converted a second time into electrical energy, and then fed into the grid to be transmitted to a power station. Globally, the long-term technical potential of wind energy is believed to be five times total current global energy production, or 40 times current electricity demand. This could require wind turbines to be installed over large areas, particularly in areas of higher wind resources. Offshore resources experience average wind speeds of 90% greater than that of land, so offshore resources could contribute substantially more energy.

Biomass is an important but less talked about form or renewable energy. What makes it so important is how versatile the form of energy is. What happens is, biomass power plants burn biomass fuel in boilers to heat water and turn a steam turbine to produce many energy related products including electricity, liquid, solid and gaseous fuels, heat, and chemicals Biomass is so fascinating because biomass fuel can be anything from wood to landfill trash. Bioenergy in agricultural research is also seeing unique results, including dairy farms in Texas converting cow manure into energy.

Bioenergy ranks second - to hydropower - in renewable U.S. primary energy production and accounts for 3 percent of the primary energy production in the United States. Unlike other renewable energy sources, biomass can be converted directly into liquid fuels for our transportation needs and it just so happens the two most common biomass fuels are ethanol and biodiesel. Ethanol is mostly used as a fuel additive to cut down a vehicle's carbon monoxide and other smog-causing emissions and biodiesel can be used as a diesel additive to reduce emissions. Bioenergy in agricultural research is seeing unique results, including dairy farms in Texas converting cow manure into energy. 

Geothermal power is another sustainable energy that is on the rise. The geothermal power process involves trapping heat underground and then building energy, which rises near the surface in the form of heat. When this heat naturally creates hot water or steam, it is harnessed and then used to turn a steam turbine to generate electricity.  Geothermal energy is the most important energy source in volcanically active places such as New Zealand and Iceland. Geothermal is so important to Iceland because it actually provides 18% of its total energy. This energy can be found in the form of volcanoes, hot springs and geysers. In the United States, geothermal power is widely used in Nevada and California. California alone with around 30 power plants produces more than 90% of geothermal electricity in the US. This renewable form of energy is also significantly cleaner and only produces around 3% of the carbon dioxide emissions fossil fuel plants give off. Still, there is room for much improvement with this technology as it only supplies around 7% of the world’s energy. With increasing potential, geothermal energy could produce 10 percent of US electricity by the year 2050. Another advantage of this form of energy is the fact that geothermal power plants run continuously day and night with an uptime typically exceeding 95%. These plants don’t need to shut down as often and if made more efficient, could produce significant amounts of energy. With the use of geothermal heat pumps to extract energy, scientists and engineers note that geothermal energy can easily be found and exploited along the “Ring of Fire” region in the Pacific Ocean. As geothermal power gains movement, the exploitation possibilities and the rising efficiency will lead to a bright sustainable future. 

The Five main types of present day renewable energy technology help fuel the world, but what about the green technologies we see everyday and the amazing advancements being made. One of the most notable modern green technologies is the hybrid vehicle. Hybrid cars such as the Ford Fiesta and Toyota Prius get over 50 miles to the gallon and use just one-third the gas of conventional cars. Hybrids in short, are extremely fuel-efficient and produce significantly less carbon emissions than its stand vehicular counterpart. Electric cars are another revolutionary technology, that although costs more than the standard vehicle, do not require any gas going less than 50 miles per hour and can go unlimited distances. If low on power, all one must do is simply plug into an electrical outlet and let the vehicle charge. Exciting advancements are being made in the electric car industry as Photovoltaic ombrière SUDI, an autonomous and mobile station, replenishes energy for electric vehicles using solar energy. Also, the Tesla Roadster, the only all-electric sports car for sale, can be plugged into conventional outlets and can be charged fully or partially on solar, hydroelectric, geothermal or wind power.

Some of the limitations on this research include that a lot of the future changes and advancements in sustainable energy cam be considered hypothetical. Unless the technology is actually improved upon or shown to exist, one cannot just fully commit to believe in what he/she or told. 

With sustainable energy and the rise of green technology, a lot of questions are left unanswered. Will fossil fuels and sustainable energy peacefully coincide or will one triumph over the other? With all this new sustainable technology coming out today and the endless possibilities of the future, will humans make the full conversion? In the end, humans will have to convert but the main question is how long will it take? Energy conversion opens ideas to new innovation and design of cities, highway systems, and everyday living. Eco-technology will revolutionize the standard of living and with little environmental impact, the quality of life would dramatically improve. 

In the end, the question on everyone’s mind is what will the future look like? Some might say that the world will be simply a planet littered with trash, smog and fumes and that man could not peacefully live side by side with nature. Others argue that global warming and the rising energy costs of fossil fuels are a wake up call to a new clean and energy-efficient world. One that produces zero carbon emissions and allows man and nature to live in harmony and build unity. With fossil fuels, humans are unearthing what Mother Nature buried millions of years ago and it is better left untouched. With the five main types of renewable energy, humans have the ability to harness Mother Nature’s main elements: earth, wind, water and fire. There is also significant room for improvement in these forms of energies, which could one day provide enough energy for the entire world. Modern day green technologies are already revolutionizing how humans live and what precedents will be set.  

                                                                   Works Cited

"250mn Kr Plan to Promote Green Technology Exports." The Copenhagen Post. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Mar. 2013.

"Battery and Energy Technologies." Electrical Power Generation from Fossil Fuels. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Mar. 2013.

Boyle, Godfrey. Renewable Energy: Power for a Sustainable Future. Oxford, England: Oxford UP in Association with the Open University, 1996. Print.

"The Future of Green Technology: What Innovations Are on the Horizon?" Wamda. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Mar. 2013.

Harvey, Fiona. "Clean Technology: What Is the Future of Green Energy?" The Guardian. Guardian News and Media, 02 Oct. 2012. Web. 13 Mar. 2013.

"The Latest Green Technology and Environmental Science News." Green Progress. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Mar. 2013.

Madrigal, Alexis. Powering the Dream: The History and Promise of Green Technology. Cambridge, MA: Da Capo, 2011. Print.

Mcginiss, Paul E. "Morocco Leading the World Toward a Green Energy Future A A-3." EcoWatch Uniting the Voice of the Grassroots Environmental Movement. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Mar. 2013.

"Statistics and Facts on Gas Prices." Statista RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Mar. 2013.

"Technology Green Energy." : Future Green Technology. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Mar. 2013.

"Ten Hot Green-energy Trends to Watch." Msnbc.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Mar. 2013.

Webber, Larry, and Michael Wallace. Green Tech: How to Plan and Implement Sustainable IT Solutions. New York: American Management Association, 2009. Print.

"What Will Future Green Technology Look Like?" - Environment 911. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Mar. 2013.

Patrick: Blog #12

        Today, Eli Pearce and I made some serious moves. First, we went outside and watered the tree. I then received a call from John Byrne telling me he dropped off another load of crushed stone for us and that he would also have a guy drop off stone dust later. Eli and I were amazed at his generosity and thanked him several times. He then proceeded to tell us how we should balance out the crushed stone and the patio so it doesn't flood when it rains. After the phone call, Eli and I got straight to work. We grabbed all the tools we needed and set out to finish excavating the width of the outdoor patio. When we finished excavation, we then evened out the pile of crushed stone. Most of the remaining crushed stone we put into the corners because those were the lowest areas.
        On Thursday, Eli and I capitalized on the rainy day we had been looking for. We had needed rain because awhile back we were assigned the task of testing the contents f the water coming off the roof of the school. Testing the contents of the water is crucial because we are looking to use the water on the school gardens. Having rain to water the plants would be awesome because it would conserve fresh drinking water and facilitate the free water we get from above. We collected about a gallon of fresh rainwater and are taking it to the lab. The results of these contents could be shocking!

Nolan: Blog #11

     Tuesday was a frustrating day to say the least but we ended up getting stuff done. After John Byrke had helped us excavate our dimensions and we laid down crushed stone rock, we had Mr. Magers come by and take a look at how it ended up. He came down to the classroom and he ended up wanting the dimensions to be grander because he said it should be more of a "chill" spot than a standard classroom. This was frustrating for Eli and I because we had consulted with Magers on our thoughts for the dimensions several times. I guess we were just not on the same page even though I thought we were. Eli and I ended up hand digging the classroom to be a couple feet wider. We got shovels and other tools from the shed and started uprooting the grass. After about an hour and a half, Eli and I had finished hand digging the right side extension Mr. Magers wanted.
     Tomorrow we need to finish the other side (extend width) and then we will need more crushed stone. After evening out the crushed stone we will use John Byrke's compactor to push it all down. The same day, the flagstone should arrive and then we can hopefully finish up the classroom in the coming weeks. This project has been a struggle but also a great learning experience and I am thankful for that. Landscaping is tougher than I thought but I will persevere and live on!

Blog #10

      Yes, I am so dedicated to SCORE and the outdoor classroom that I actually put in some work on Saturday. I cam right from walk the street for little feet to the area of excavation at 8:00 AM sharp. There, John Byrke had parked his equipment and was waiting for the go ahead signal. When Eli and I gave him the go ahead nod, John took out the excavator and went to work. After an hour, we had a perfect 14x21 dimension. He then proceeded to give us gravel and rock in his dump-truck. He made two trips and dumped it all out on the excavated area. Eli and I spent countless hours fixating the rock and gravel evenly. We also spent a lot of time digging out perfect 90 degree angles for all four corners and evened out the rest of the excavated area.
      When we were done, we thanked John so many times for his massive contribution. We ended up buying him and his boys some ice coffee and donuts as a token of our gratitude. With the help of John Byrke and the Green Team, the outdoor classroom has finally taken shape and is making great strides to being completed. The flagstone will arrive on tuesday so from there on out it will be laying down flagstone and shaping out the stone the way we want to. Once we are done with the classroom, we can move on to our other daunting tasks such as providing the fencing for the Green Team gardens.

Blog #9

      Friday, Eli Pearce and I did major work on the outdoor classroom. We got in contact with Wolf Hill in Gloucester and finally were able to buy the flagstone we need to make the patio. Mr. Magers gave me the money and we went to Wolf Hill. There, we bought the one pallet we needed and also negotiated for a non-profit organization discount. We then proceeded to tell the company where to place the pallet and we were done. On a side note, I contacted project adventure for fence posts in the garden. The woman was selling telephone poles so it was not of much use. While Eli and I waited for John Byrke, we did compost and recycling around the school.
      I am glad our school recycles and does compost because looking at how much stuff was in all of those containers made me think of how much a waste it would be if we didn't use green waste management. After waste management, I received a call from John Byrke that we would meet on Saturday at 8 o'clock (am) where we would excavate the dimensions and lay down soe gravel and base layer. Friday was a very successful day in terms of getting stuff done which I am proud of. Now Eli and I can finally start physically putting the classroom together and it will be glorious. I can envision the patio now, with fold out chairs and a nice serene atmosphere! I would almost like to repeat high school just so I could use the outdoor classroom!

Blog #8

        Today in SCORE, Eli Pearce and I touched on a variety of different exercises. When we first arrived in school, we measured the dimensions of the garden and calculated the total perimeter to get an idea for how much rope we are going to need in total to fence the garden. After calculations, we went back into the Green Team room and looked online for the best prices for fence posts and manila rope (one inch thick). Believe it or not, the best prices were from superstores Home Depot and Lowe's. Whatever the case, we are looking for the cheapest materials that will work because the Green Team has a minimal budget. So for Home Depot we discovered cheap one inch manila rope for 72$ per 100 feet. With Lowe's, we discovered fence posts with two and half inch thick holes so we can put the rope through them. The price per post was 12 dollars which from what I have researched, is a fairly good deal. This will even be a better deal since we would not have to ship out the materials which would set us back a couple hundred dollars extra.
        Aside from bargaining, Eli and I went out into the garden and weeded out all the weeds. We were out there for quite awhile and definitely made the garden less of an eyesore to look at.  On top of helping out the garden, Eli and I watered the tree we replanted again because we want it to thrive and not die. Peace and love, from your boy Pat Hagar!

Blog #7

        On Monday, I arrived fresh and rejuvenated to start an epic day of SCORE. I started off by having a meeting with our assistant principal Mr. Murphy of the proposed exit strategy to arrive at the outdoor classroom. I explained to him how our proposed exit out the back door gives teachers and students much faster access than to go out the front entrance and all the way around (while carrying foldout chairs). He didn't read our full proposal we sent him over email but he still agreed with our plan and told us he would talk with Lucido.
      After, we decided to check prices for flagstone to make sure we were getting the best deal and it still stands with Wolf Creek in Gloucester. We then proceeded to water the tree we replanted, and from watering we could confirm that the tree was still alive. After our lunch break, we had a meeting with Scott Morrison and Mr. Lucido regarding the Green Team gardens. We were afraid that prices might be too expensive to use mulch but we were convinced otherwise. Scott and Joe gave us the lowdown on what they wanted removed fro the garden and what they wanted planted.
       Following the meeting, Eli and I watered the gardens all around the school and kept the plants nice, healthy, and of course, green. SOmetime this week, John Burn (contractor) should be coming by to excavate our desired dimensions. When this happens, the outdoor classroom will be in full effect.

Blog #6

      Friday, Eli Pearce and I made some progress. Before beginning construction for the day, Eli and I met with John Burn, a local contractor who has two children who attend the school. He told us he was willing to help and said that if we replanted the tree, He could come in and excavate our desired dimensions for the patio. He also said he could help us step by step with what we need to do. This was amazing and we are fortunate that John was willing to help in our project.
      Following our meeting with Burn, Eli and I started to dig out the tree. We pickaxed and shoveled our way through the earth until we were below the roots. Once dug up, we needed to fully extricate the tree so it could be moved into our desired location. I called Mr. Lucido for help with the tree and he sent me Steve Hunt with a mini John Deere excavator.
      To uproot the tree, Steve, Eli and I tied a rope around the base of the tree which was connected to the excavator. This way when Steve lifted the shovel on the excavator, the tree came up with it. We then proceeded to place the tree in our 3 foot wide by 3 foot deep hole. Once in the hole, Eli and I refilled the holes with dirt, soil and fertilizer. For safe measure we went ahead and watered the tree as soon as possible so it would thrive.

Patrick: Week 2, Blog #5

      Today was an awesome day at SCORE, as Eli Pearce and I started the physical labor today! The ground was moist and the weather was nice so it ended up being a perfect day to start. Before we started, I called up John Burn who was interested in helping build the outdoor classroom because he has landscaping experience and has two children that attend the school. He told me that he would love to help out and said he would stop by our office either today or sometime this week.
      After I had made the phone call, Eli and I entered the tool shed, grabbed our shovels, the tarp, work gloves and a wheelbarrow. We then proceeded to head on up to our outdoor classroom location and took our beginning steps. First off, we had already calculated the dimensions and we had to move a tree so it was in horizontal line with the other so it would form an entrance to the classroom. Today we did not extricate the tree but we dug up the hole where we will place the tree in. The hole had to be three feet wide by three feet deep because apparently the roots on the tree are very large. Eli and I had started digging when we got to about a foot and half deep and the ground turned from nice dirt, into hard rock. We struggled with the shovels and decided we would go to my house because I had two pick axes which could get the job done. When we returned, the pick axes made the difference and the hole was dug up in no time.

Blog #4

          Coming back from break, jumping right back into my internship was fun and refreshing. I missed the smell of green team room and the lively atmosphere it brought. Coming back, I checked my email and I received a post from Eric Magers telling me that someone was interested in helping out with the outdoor classroom. I listened to the voicemail the main left and I guess he is a good friend of Mr. Mager's with building experience and is willing to help out because he has a son and a daughter enrolled in this institution. So with him on our team as well as my friend Hunter Coons's dad (landscaper), we should be ready to build and make our vision a reality. I also received a email, from Matt Loy with Project Adventure who we had contacted earlier about learning how to tie rope. Unfortunately he does not possess this skill and recommended several websites online we could try from natural materials(twig) to tying small rope into larger rope.
          Over break, Mr. Magers also told us to try and bring in glass jars so we can test the acidity of the rainwater coming off the Earth. The glass jars will hold the water so that is why it is of great importance. The acidity will be tested so we can determine if the Green Team can use the H20 to water the gardens and grass. These next few days to come will be the most important as we start the physical work.

Patrick Hagar Blog - 3 - 4/12/13

          Today was a day of many challenges in SCORE. We recently found out that, because the exits are alarmed, classes would have to go out to the classroom via the main entrance. This would be an extreme inconvenience for teachers and students because they would have to go all the way out and around to the high school wing. The current location for the outdoor classroom is perfect because it is an area where there will be minimal distraction to students and teachers located by the windows. Our proposed exit out the side door (by the ramp area) allows easy access, and for us to store the 28 foldout chairs (underneath the stairwell). We understand that this door will have an alarm put in place soon and recognize its importance but know that it is mostly needed for when students are coming and going (beginning of school / end of school). We talked to Mr. Lucido about alternative solutions and asked him if there was any way to disarm the alarm for the more convenient exit. He said he was willing to provide teachers with a key to the side door. We were thinking that there could be a sign up system, similar to the library, where teachers could check out the space and get the key. The key could be located in the main office for security purposes and would also allow teachers the ease of having a student to run down and grab the key for the class. I hope the administration will be agreeable on this issue.

Patrick Hagar Blog - 2 - 4/10/13

        Today was a long and eventful day with the Green Team. Today, Eli and I calculated the final dimensions for the outdoor classroom and found the total square footage. We then consulted with with Salem Stoneworks and decided to drive down to Salem to talk to them in person to figure out the specifics with the patio. He gave us options between different sufaces and since we have a low budget we were looking for the lowest price. The lowest price for a pallet of flagstone was not as cheap as we had liked it to be so we decided to look elsewhere. Wolf Hill in Gloucester we found had better deals because we compared the pricing. By calculating some simple math and converting between inches and feet to figure out the price for 294 square feet, we found that Wolf Creek had significantly better deals. Today was a hectic day for SCORE because I did not even get to finish my lunch! I was busy the whole day because Eli and I were originally lost in Salem when both of our phones died and we found it close to impossible to locate the stoneworks facility. We also discovered that we have a conflict surrounding how students will leave the school to arrive at the outdoor classroom. Apparently, alarms are going to be placed on the doors that are unarmed on the first floor stairwell which will not allow students to exit the building that way.

Patrick Hagar - Blog 1 4/8/13

After coming out of SCORE orientation, I jumped directly into my internship with the Green Team. When I first arrived, I went right into work with creating a to-do-list for the outdoor classroom, the garden and the waterwall. Eli Pearce and I started working on the outdoor classroom and found the dimensions of the seating area for the students. This included the total area for where we will place chairs which will allow us to create a perfect size for the patio we will construct. After finding the dimensions, I went back into the office and started researching places to buy stone for the patio.I ended up finding a place on craigslist that had it all and even delivered! I messaged the guy about his location and I surprised to learn that he was located in Pennsylvania! This was an obnoxious set back because he had a listing in the north shore Massachusetts craigslist. I decided to move on with my search and contacted a variety of construction sites and building centers. It was a strange experience because it felt like the first time I was actually doing office work. When I got on the phone with the managers, I was bargaining for deals and trying to find the right price to maintain our stringent budget. I am excited to work here for the internship because I feel that this job has me balance multiple factors while still trying to achieve the goal of the outdoor classroom. This is only the beginning and I cannot wait to make more progress!

Hagar's Outline

Patrick Hagar

3/15/13

                                                SCORE OUTLINE: Green Energy

THESIS:

Right now, green technology is small but is playing an ever-expanding role in civilization. This new and revolutionary technology is dynamic and allows humans to obtain energy in a variety of different ways while being safe and giving off little to no pollution. In the future when oil is tapped out, green technology will see significant change and will have to expand and be able to fuel the needs of the ever-growing population.

1) Main types of present day renewable energy technology/ Introduction to renewable sources of energy

Hydropower

·      73% of all renewable enrgy according to EIA

·       generated using the mechanical energy of flowing water by forcing it through piping called a penstock, which then turns a generator in order to produce electricity

·       Water power also consists of wave and tidal energy, which are both in the infant stage of research, as scientists try to discover how to harness the energy produced from movement of the ocean.

·       Hoover Dam is the largest hydropower system in the U.S.

·      Three gorges dam in China is largest producing 98.1 terrawats an hour

Solar Power

·       Solar cells made from silicon absorb the sun's radiation, also called photovoltaic cells.

·       process involves the movement and displacement of electrons to absorb the sun's radiation and create electricity

·      used to power cars/ power houses(roof tiled with solar panels) – small scale

·      MERSD use of solar power

Wind Power

·      Simple process

·       wind turbine converts the kinetic energy (motion) of wind into mechanical energy that is used to generate electricity

·       The energy is fed through a generator, converted a second time into electrical energy, then fed into the grid to be transmitted to a power station

·      has the most upcoming potential in renewable energy

·      largest wind farm in west texas

·      Gloucester wind turbines

Geothermal Power

·       process involves trapping heat underground, then building energy that rises near the surface in the form of heat

·       When this heat naturally creates hot water or steam, it is harnessed and then used to turn a steam turbine to generate electricity

·       

Biomass

·       very versatile form of renewable energy

·       Biomass power plants burn biomass fuel in boilers to heat water and turn a steam turbine to create electricity

·      Biomass fuel is everything from wood to landfill trash

·       Agricultural research is seeing unique results, including dairy farms in Texas converting cow manure into energy

2) Modern day green technology

·      Hybrid Cars

·      Electric Cars (Ex: Photovoltaic ombrière SUDI is an autonomous and mobile station that replenishes energy for electric vehicles using solar energy) (ex: Tesla Roadster s the only all-electric sports car for sale and in serial production. It can be plugged into conventional outlets and can be charged fully or partially on solar, hydroelectric, geothermal or wind power)

·      Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles

·      “eco” button in cars

·      ethanol

·      Morocco leading the world toward a green energy future

3) Future Technology and Expansion

·      Solar Spray – spray on window…generates

·      Science City Heating System – pioneering system that stores summer heat underground

·      Powerleap – energy generated from footsteps

·      Bolt on Turbines – work on your home’s ceiling

·      Subway Power – harness power of wind of passing trains to charge gadgets

Works Cited

"250mn Kr Plan to Promote Green Technology Exports." The Copenhagen Post. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Mar. 2013.

"Battery and Energy Technologies." Electrical Power Generation from Fossil Fuels. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Mar. 2013.

Boyle, Godfrey. Renewable Energy: Power for a Sustainable Future. Oxford, England: Oxford UP in Association with the Open University, 1996. Print.

"The Future of Green Technology: What Innovations Are on the Horizon?" Wamda. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Mar. 2013.

Harvey, Fiona. "Clean Technology: What Is the Future of Green Energy?" The Guardian. Guardian News and Media, 02 Oct. 2012. Web. 13 Mar. 2013.

"The Latest Green Technology and Environmental Science News." Green Progress. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Mar. 2013.

Madrigal, Alexis. Powering the Dream: The History and Promise of Green Technology. Cambridge, MA: Da Capo, 2011. Print.

Mcginiss, Paul E. "Morocco Leading the World Toward a Green Energy Future A A-3." EcoWatch Uniting the Voice of the Grassroots Environmental Movement. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Mar. 2013.

"Statistics and Facts on Gas Prices." Statista RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Mar. 2013.

"Technology Green Energy." : Future Green Technology. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Mar. 2013.

"Ten Hot Green-energy Trends to Watch." Msnbc.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Mar. 2013.

Webber, Larry, and Michael Wallace. Green Tech: How to Plan and Implement Sustainable IT Solutions. New York: American Management Association, 2009. Print.

"What Will Future Green Technology Look Like?" - Environment 911. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Mar. 2013.