Field Test is under way!

After many hours of toil and trouble, the Solar Hen House (SHH1) has been built, deployed and as I type, data is being collected (that's the hope anyway!). I was reflecting on the companion research paper (in progress) and jotted down some ideas as to why I undertook this project is the first place. Here's a glimpse of my ideas followed by updated photos and captions:

•       Air, Water and Soil Pollution from Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs)   "...over 160 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and gases have been identified as coming from CAFOs, there are a few main culprits. Concentrations of ammonia and hydrogen sulfide in as little as 20 parts per billion (ppb) can cause irritation to a person’s eyes and respiratory system. This exposure can be especially dangerous to people who do not have a robust or fully developed respiratory system, including children, the elderly, and individuals with respiratory ailments. In addition to VOCs and gas components of air pollution from CAFOs, dust, dander, and pathogens are also components, and equally dangerous. A number of personal accounts of individuals living near CAFOs report extended periods of time where they cannot open their windows or perform outdoor activities, in part, because of the excessive fumes emanating from nearby CAFOs"(State Environmental Resource Center, http://www.serconline.org/cafoAirEmissions.html ).

Also Excessive Nitrogen run-off, ecoli contamination in surrounding soils and streams, super-germs, eutrophication of streams, lakes, oceans and unsafe swimming and drinking water, etc...

• Animal Cruelty: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJ--faib7to

Working Title:

Utilizing Appropriate Technology Within Small-Scale Sustainable Agriculture: Building and field testing a prototype mobile solar hen house

Brief wrap-up:

     In an effort to bring together faculty and students form both the Appropriate Technology (AT) program and the Sustainable Development program (SD) I designed built and tested a prototype Solar Hen House (SHH1). This process involved ideas and materials from both disciplines. On the one hand, components such as a Photovoltaic (PV) panel, tools, wiring and electronic diagrams were borrowed from AT, while on the other, agroecologic methods, poultry science theory and farmland were procured through SD. It's through my efforts that I hope more interdepartmental cooperation takes place and by donating the SHH1 to AppState I hope to spawn research opportunities for many years to come.

Photos:

The house is at the Farm!

Here is a short Power Point about the SHH1. We're hoping to get about $300.00 from the ASUREI. 

Yesterday I spent most of the day moving the hen house out the the Sustainable Development Research Farm, and then working on the construction (thanks to Mikey D and Mark F). Tomorrow I am heading out to the farm early to hopefully wrap up construction and place the house in the pasture where the experiment is going to take place.

                                                                                                                                                                   

                                                                                                                                                                         

                                                                                                                                                                               

                                                                                                                                                                    

                                                                                                                                                                    

                                                                                                                                                                    

                                                                                                                                                                    

                                                                                                                                                                    

     Last Thursday I had a 2 hour meeting with my project adviser, Dr. Fanatico. We discussed the direction in which my paper should probably go, the specific details about setting up the SHH1 at the S.D. Farm, the parameters of the experiment and getting the experiment started.
     She stressed that instead of getting bogged down with the study of artificial lighting for chickens that I concentrate more on the overall design of the SHH1 and its importance to small-scale sustainable farming. We agreed that I should highlight all of the Appropriate Technology that is incorporated into the design. This includes Structurally Integrated Panels (SIP)'s, Clerestory Windows, Solar Thermal Heater, and Solar Powered Active Ventilation and LED lighting.
     Here are some photos of the progress I've made since Thursday: