Project: Hotel X Energy Audit
Purpose: The purpose of this project is to monitor and analyze the
energy expended at a major hotel on the coast, using energy
consumption sensors made by Veris Industries. By monitoring the
energy, we can identify and eliminate wasted energy, which is not only
“environmentally friendly,” but also saves thousands of dollars.
Data: Throughout 2011 and 2012, I have collected data through
fingerprinting (visually analyzing data through graphs, and
identifying appliances), and mathematically breaking down the data
into weekly averages. Because I have about a year of data recorded, it
is all on the weblog.
Progress: Throughout the year, this project has saved this hotel over
a hundred thousand dollars. This has been done by putting the chiller
on a “cruise” mode, which ended up saving several hundreds of dollars
a month. Furthermore, it was HELCO had mixed up their clients, and had
been overcharging by 10 cents per kWh.
Tools used: Ipad and facetime for video conferences (note that I had
never been down to the hotel, and all of this was done through the
resources at the lab), Current relay (senor) made by Veris Industries,
monitors in monlab, antenna to make connection to the lab.
Next steps: Continue to monitor, learn, and look for ways to reduce
energy consumption.
Project: Hotel X Golf Course Energy Audit
Purpose: Expanding the energy-auditing project to the golf center at
the hotel. We will create an electric power management system that is
designed to charge a large group of golf carts efficiently by rotating
which golf get charged, at a time rather than all of them charging all
the time. This will significantly reduce the high cost of the 400 golf
carts at the hotel, as charging the golf carts costs the same as
paying eight employees.
Data: Because the project has not started yet, I have no official
data, but I have a lot of information on the system now, and how we
are going to change it. Furthermore, I have been in contact with
people down at the hotel to launch the project.
Tools used: Ipad and facetime for video conferences, current relay
(senor) made by Veris Industries, some kind of charge regulator
(watmiser?), monitors in monlab, antenna to make connection to the
lab.
Tools/resources needed: Although we may already have one, we need the
charging system.
Next steps: Get the project launched! And once that happens, record
information and figure out where improvements can be made.
Project: Parker Ranch
Purpose: Monitoring leaks, water pressure, efficiency and other
factors at the 29 million gallon water tank at Parker Ranch using
cameras and sensors made by Veris Industries.
Data/progress to date: The project was just approved by parker ranch
so we are just about to launch it. Other than that we have worked on
establishing a connection between station 6 and the lab using
antennas.
Tools used: Ipad and facetime for video conferences (note that I had
never been down to the hotel, and all of this was done through the
resources at the lab), Current relay (senor) made by Veris Industries,
monitors in monlab, antenna to make connection to the lab, cameras
that can see 360 degrees.
Next steps: Begin collecting data, analyzing the data and making improvements.
Project: OpenPCR
Purpose: OpenPCR is a portable machine that allows to you make several
copies of the DNA for analytical purposes. PCR is used every day to
diagnose diseases, identify bacteria and viruses, match criminals to
crime scenes, and in many other ways. In this project I will do things
like swab cheeks extracted DNA, and use OpenPCR to copy out a few
genes, like for Muscle Performance, or test food for genetic
modifications.
Data/progress to date: I have read the whole manual for OpenPCR, and I
am going to start collecting data next week.
Tools used: PCR machine, USB, computer, OpenPCR control software, gel
electrophoresis, sample tubes, microcentrifuge
Tools/resources needed: We might need a genelaser kit. Other than
that, I think we have everything.
Next steps: To get started!
Project Description: Ham Radio Project
Purpose: To become a “ham” (get my ham radio license) and to learn
about how it works, and how to communicate with people. Also, a goal
is to become familiar with the different kinds of radios Bill has and
how to use each one.
Data/progress to date: I Have read most of the first ham radio book
and I have also become a lot better at finding other “hams” on the
radio. However, I don’t only know how to using the computer program
for ham radio.
Tools used: Ham radio (one of the many), software/applications for ham radio
Next steps: Take the test to get my license and become a skilled “ham”
on and off the computer.
The purpose of this experiment is to test which of us (out of six selected people) have carried on that selective trait.
•
However, for many reasons, the hotel does not use the Watt-Miser. 
is not "top of the notch" technology; therefore, may not have worked as advertised anyway. What we can do, is figure out a way to use the Watt-Miser affectively, determine how to lower the energy expended on the golf carts, monitor what percentage of the golf course funding is going to the golf carts, and toy with alternative energy possibilities that can be used on the golf course. All of this will be done the same way it was done at the VAC. 
