UA GREEN FUNDAGTM Full Proposal4.0studentaffairs.arizona.edu/uploads/greenfund/fundDescription... · member to participate in two professional development workshops: ... Controlled

UA GREEN FUND AGRICULTURE TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT GREEN TEACHING LAB PROJECT

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UA GREEN FUND

AGRICULTURE TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT GREEN

TEACHING LAB PROJECT

Dr. Edward Franklin

Associate Professor

Department of Agricultural Education

1110 E. South Campus Dr. Saguaro Hall 205

The University of Arizona

Tucson, AZ 85721

Tel. (520) 621-1523

[email protected]


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AGRICULTURE TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT GREEN TEACHING LAB PROJECT

PROJECT ABSTRACT

The Department of Agricultural Education seeks to implement energy-saving practices and

improve instruction in photovoltaic and rainwater water harvesting systems at our agriculture

technology management teaching laboratory. This project addresses the mission of the Green

Fund Committee by improving energy efficiency, increasing outdoor and indoor water efficiency,

and providing education, research, and outreach initiatives directly related to environmental

sustainability of The University of Arizona. Requested funds will be used to: (1) replace the

existing (24) T12 laboratory lighting fixtures and lamps with energy-saving T8 fixtures and

lamps to improve lighting and visibility in our teaching laboratory and help lower utility

expenses; (2) install a demonstration complex rainwater harvesting collection complete with

roofing gutters, first-flush plumbing system, a 2,250 gallon galvanized steel cistern, and a solar-

powered surface pump. This will demonstrate a water distribution system for irrigation that will

reduce storm water runoff at the laboratory facility and reduce the use of potable water to

irrigate plants. It will also cool hot metal from student welding skill activities; (3) construct a

classroom model residential photovoltaic demonstration teaching station for providing hands-

on instruction for undergraduate students; and (4) provide funding for a department faculty

member to participate in two professional development workshops: a ten-day certification

training in rainwater harvesting systems conducted by the Tucson Water Management Group

(WMG) and a week-long solar electric design and installation workshop (Solar Energy

International). UA students enrolled in AGTM courses conducted at the Campus Agriculture

Center teaching laboratory facility will be directly impacted by the projects resulting from the

Green Fund project.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The Mission of the Department of Agricultural Education, in the College of Agriculture and Life

Sciences (CALS) at The University of Arizona, is to serve a diverse population through teaching,

application, integration, and discovery in agriculture, education, and applied science and

technology leading to successful careers in Agricultural Education and related businesses and

industries. Students in our Department major in either Agricultural Education (AED) or

Agricultural Technology Management (AGTM). The AGTM major includes five emphasis areas:

Animal Agriculture, Controlled Environmental Agriculture, Field Crop Production and

Management, Information Systems, Ornamental Horticulture/Landscape Management, and

Turf Grass Management. The Department of Agricultural Education seeks to implement

energy-saving practices and improve instruction in photovoltaic systems and complex rainwater

water harvesting systems at our agriculture technology management teaching laboratory

located at the UA Campus Agricultural Center (Building #2008, 4101 N. Campbell Ave. Tucson).

This project addresses the mission of the Green Fund Committee to improve energy efficiency,

increase outdoor and indoor water efficiency, and provide education, research, and outreach

initiatives directly related to environmental sustainability of The University of Arizona.


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The Department of Agricultural Education requests $11,303.25 to implement energy-saving

practices and improve instruction in photovoltaic and complex rainwater water harvesting

systems at our agriculture technology management teaching laboratory. This project addresses

the mission of the Green Fund Committee by improving energy efficiency, increasing outdoor

and indoor water efficiency, and providing education, research, and outreach initiatives directly

related to environmental sustainability of The University of Arizona.

If successful, we would use requested funds to (1) replace existing 24, T12 lighting fixtures and

lamps with better quality, energy-saving, higher-illuminating T8 fixtures and lamps in our

teaching laboratory; (2) install a demonstration complex rainwater harvesting collection and

solar-powered distribution system; (3) construct a mobile classroom model residential

photovoltaic demonstration teaching station for providing hands-on instruction for

undergraduate students and professional development for secondary agriscience teachers; and

(4) provide ten-day certification training for one department faculty in rainwater harvesting

collection systems through the Tucson Watershed Management Group (WMG).

Background of Facility

Our laboratory building at the Campus Agricultural Center was constructed in the 1930s (figure

1). The laboratory facility (79’ x 35’, 2725 square feet) was designed to serve as a

demonstration teaching laboratory for agricultural education students preparing for careers as

high school teachers of agricultural education in Arizona communities.

Figure 1. AGTM Teaching Laboratory, Building 2008, Campus Agriculture Center

The laboratory features designated student work-space areas for skill development in welding

technologies, cold and hot metal work, woodworking, and machinery management. The

student work areas were designed to handle up to eight students at a time. A class of 24

students is divided into three separate student work groups. The groups rotate through the

student work areas multiple times over the course of a semester. The purpose of this design


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was to replicate and demonstrate the management of the typical Arizona high school

agricultural mechanics laboratory. The laboratory includes lecture and demonstration areas,

tool and machinery storage, cabinets, and multiple pieces of equipment used in the fabrication

of both metal and wood projects, and typically found in high school agricultural mechanics

teaching laboratories.

During the 1980s an addition (47’x 30’, 1410 square feet) to the building included a lecture

classroom, external restroom facilities, and a large storage/demonstration area separated by a

portable room divider. In the mid-2000s, a patio cover was installed on the north side of the

original building that resulted in expanding the student-work area outside of the laboratory. In

recent years, a new roof was installed on the building. In 2010 an interior wall was constructed

to divide the 1980’s addition into two permanent spaces: a lecture-style classroom of table and

chairs, seating 24 (32’ x 30’, 960 square feet), and a separate material and equipment storage

room. Lighting in the classroom was updated to T8 fixtures and lamps. During the summer

2011, a roof-mounted air conditioning and heating unit was installed over the classroom

replacing a 12-year old window-mount air conditioning unit, and a drop-down gas-fired heater.

A Coca-Cola H20 grant provided funding for the construction of a 1,200-gallon rainwater

harvesting collection system on the west end of the teaching facility in 2009 (figure 2). The

system collects rainwater from the west-facing roofs of the building. Harvested water has been

used to irrigate a small-plot raised garden of sweet corn using traditional furrow-irrigation

technique. The principles of rainwater harvesting were introduced to the pre-service

agricultural education student teacher class, AED 460/560 “Instructional Material

Development” in the fall of 2010 as a method demonstrating how mathematic concepts may be

introduced into agriculture science curriculum lesson plans. A peer-reviewed poster reporting

the results of this concept was presented at the Western Region American Association of

Agricultural Education (AAAE) Research Conference in Fresno, CA in spring 2011.

Figure 2. Existing 1,200 gallon rainwater harvesting system (installed in 2009) located on west

end of AGTM building used to demonstrate collection and irrigation in small plot

garden.


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The facility is used during the academic year for lecture and laboratory instruction of the five

agriculture technology management and education courses. During the summer, the

Department of Agricultural Education hosts professional development workshops for the

state’s high school Career and Technical Education (CTE) instructors in both agricultural

education and industrial technology. Representatives from companies such as Briggs &

Stratton, Miller Welding, Rain-Bird Irrigation, and Echo Turf Maintenance have presented

hands-on workshops for both Arizona teachers and UA students. The facility is used to host the

Agricultural Mechanics Career Development Event (CDE) for the CALS Spring FFA Field Day and

the Arizona State FFA Association. Approximately 30 teams representing 30 secondary

agricultural education programs compete in the annual event as part of a statewide field day

hosted by CALS and conducted at The University of Arizona.

Proposed Project Details

The requested funds will be used to support the efforts of the Department to complete the

following five tasks:

Task 1-Rainwater harvesting collection and solar-powered distribution system

Task 2-Photovoltaic residential demonstration system

Task 3-Retrofit laboratory lighting

Task 4-Certification training in rainwater harvesting collection systems

Task 5-Faculty training in solar electric design and installation (grid direct)

Task 1-Rainwater harvesting collection and solar-powered distribution system

A complex rainwater collection system will be installed along the south side of the AGTM

teaching laboratory (figure 3) to collect storm water runoff from the south-facing roof. The

system will include 110 feet of gutter mounted on the eaves of the building, a first-flush

plumbing system, conveyance to move the water from the gutter to a 2,250-gallon metal

cistern mounted in a concrete pad, and a pole-mounted solar panel to power a direct-current

surface pump to transport water from the storage cistern to a low-volume irrigation system.

Signage will be displayed to visitors of the Campus Agriculture Center to inform and articulate

the process of rainwater collection. The system will aid in reducing storm water runoff.

Approximately 20-gallons of potable water is used per lab session by AGTM students to cool hot

metal as a result of the multiple welding and cutting operations conducted during the AGTM

skill development laboratory. The system will aid in minimizing the use of potable water used

by the AGTM laboratory to cool metal used in skill development activities.


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Figure 3. Proposed location of rainwater harvesting (in red) & solar distribution system (in blue)

installed on south-face of AGTM laboratory building.

Task 2-Photovoltaic residential demonstration system

To effectively teach the principles of an off-grid photovoltaic residential system, a classroom

instructional module is required. Available commercial systems range from $15,000.00 (Green

Collar Zone, www.greencollarzone.com) to $35,000.00 (Hampden Engineering Corporation,

www.hampden.com). A classroom teaching module will be constructed with the support of the

Green Fund grant. Technical assistance will be provided by the UA Campus Agricultural Center

maintenance staff. The module will include solar panels mounted on the rear-side of a mobile

wall-section, with components such as a control charger, inverter, batteries, a service entrance

panel with circuit breakers, a watt-hour meter, and an assortment of conduit, conductors, and

outlet and switch boxes. The module will complement classroom lecture and PowerPoint©

presentations. Students will gain hands-on experience installing system components and

measuring and calculating voltage, amperage, wattage, and Ohms.

Task 3-Retrofit of teaching laboratory lighting

Currently, our laboratory is lit by 24 eight-foot double bulb T12 florescent lamp units (figure 4).

The fixture units are aging and bulb failure has meant replacement of the ballasts. According to

a LEED AP expert with GreenBuildings.com, “By replacing the T12 lighting and magnetic ballasts

with T8 lighting using electronic ballasts, you should see a reduction of lighting energy costs of

17 to 48 percent depending on the specific lights and ballasts.” (www.green-

buildings.com/content/781559-t12-lighting-vs-t8-lighting-how-much-can-i-save)

To improve lumen and minimize wattage, the Green Fund grant will support the cost of

replacing the aging, less-efficient T12 lamps with higher-lumen T8 lamps and fixtures. The result

will be a brighter laboratory, which is critical in student work areas of the laboratory, especially

in our electric arc welding booths and oxyacetylene welding stations.


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Figure 4. Existing interior AGTM laboratory ceiling lighting (T12 bulbs and fixtures)

Task 4-Certification training in rainwater harvesting collection systems

Participation in a certification training program is a commitment to develop faculty expertise in

the area of rainwater harvesting collection systems. According to Water Management Group,

Water Harvesting Certification provides the highest quality and greatest depth of training in

integrative water harvesting offered in the nation. This 65-hour, ten-day course draws

applicants from all over the world and from backgrounds as diverse as architecture,

landscaping, planning, business, government, science, education, and community development.

The workshop curriculum covers design, implementation, and installation of grey water

systems, water harvesting earthworks, and plastic and steel cisterns; integrated design; and

appropriate plant selection for retrofitting urban areas. The course is taught through a

combination of hands-on workshops, group design work, and lectures. Graduates who pass the

course become certified water-harvesting practitioners. Following the completion of the

course, the plan will be to incorporate the principles and practices learned from the workshop

into the existing AGTM courses with the goal of developing a stand-alone undergraduate course

designed for implementing water harvesting and conservation practices into secondary

agricultural education science curriculum.

Task 5 – Solar Energy International (SEI) solar electric design and installation training

This course provides an overview of the three basic PV system applications, primarily focusing

on grid-direct systems. The goal of the course is to create a fundamental understanding of the

core concepts necessary to work with all PV systems, including: system components, site

analysis, PV module criteria, mounting solutions, safety, and commissioning. The course will

also cover the basics of sizing a residential grid-direct system, wire sizing, overcurrent

protection, and grounding. The six-day workshop will be conducted in Tucson the week of

March 12-18 (spring break). After successfully completing this course the UA faculty member


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will be eligible to sit for the North American Board of Energy Certified Energy Practitioners

(NABCEP) Entry Level Exam.

INVOLVEMENT AND POTENTIAL IMPACT ON UA STUDENTS AND AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION

UA students enrolled in the AGTM courses and students in the pre-service teacher education

program will be directly involved and impacted by the enhancements to the teaching

laboratory. We have the unique opportunity to have an impact on the contents of the

secondary agriscience education curriculum by what we teach in our teacher-preparation

program, and how we deliver it. Promoting sustainability through our coursework will have a

trickle-down effect to the local high school program through our department’s agricultural

education student teachers.

The completed rainwater harvesting collection system and solar-powered distribution system

will be located directly in front of our laboratory teaching facility. UA students in courses taught

at the Campus Agricultural Center, or attending laboratory field trips heading to the animal

science units, will pass directly by the demonstration site. For example, in fall 2011, we hosted a

field trip from the residential rainwater harvesting class offered by the department of Soil,

Water, and Environmental Sciences (SWES). We explained how rainwater was collected from

our west-facing roofs, and how the water was used in drip irrigation and furrow irrigation

methods.

As a result of completing the solar energy design and installation workshop in Tucson in spring

2012, the UA faculty will incorporate the principles and practices learned from the workshop

into existing AGTM courses. Students enrolling in AGTM courses will have an opportunity to

perform tasks such as the following:

• Diagram and list the features, applications, and components of the following PV system

types: DC direct, stand-alone, grid-direct, and grid-tied with battery back-up.

• Identify various types of digital multi-meters and explain how to use them safely.

• Diagram and determine the power, current, and voltage characteristics of PV modules in

different series and parallel configurations.

• List the pros and cons of different mounting systems (ground, pole, roof, and trackers) and

determine the number of modules that can fit in a given roof space.

• Design a residential grid-direct system including the array, inverter, circuit conductors, and

overcurrent protection.

• Identify the following wires and components on schematics of residential grid-direct

systems: disconnects, inverter, equipment grounding conductors, ungrounded conductors,

grounded conductors, the grounding electrode(s), and the AC and DC system grounds.

Our plan for making these program enhancements known to UA students include posting

information about our teaching facility and AGTM courses to the UA Environment and

Sustainability Portal, the CALS webpage, and our department webpage. In regards to project


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continuation and sustainability, we have submitted a grant proposal to USDA for funding a two-

year program to provide outreach and assistance to disadvantaged farmers and ranchers in

Arizona. The topics we seek to provide include photovoltaic applications for agriculture, and

water conservation through rainwater harvesting collection systems. A similar grant proposal is

being prepared for the Bureau of Reclamation focusing on water conservation practices and

techniques serving Native American students in agricultural education programs along the

Colorado River.

EVALUATION OF PROJECT

How will we measure the impact of our Green Lab Project?

• Reduction in rainwater runoff from the south-facing 110 foot-long roof of the laboratory

building through collection and storage will result in less weed growth adjacent to the

walking areas along the front of the building due to water runoff.

• Reduction in rainwater runoff from the roof laboratory will aid in lessening the volume

of rainwater moving in the front of laboratory during and immediately following

rainstorms contributing to soil erosion down the road from the facility.

• Reduction by 40-50 gallons of potable water per week during the fall semester drawn

for cooling hot metal during AGTM 100 welding skills.

• Update of AGTM 330 Irrigation and Turf Maintenance course curriculum to reflect

additional lectures and laboratory activities featuring rainwater harvesting collection

systems.

• Project support will result in the construction and setup of eight portable demonstration

rainwater collection systems (55-gallon drums) by students in the agriculture technology

management courses.

• Conduct rainwater harvesting professional development summer workshop for

teacher/members of the Arizona Agriculture Teachers Association (AATA); 15-24

teachers per workshop.

• Train 10-15 pre-service agricultural education student teachers in rainwater harvesting

collection system principles per year.

• Update of AGTM 350 Applications in Agriculture Mechanics course curriculum to reflect

additional lectures and laboratory sessions focusing on solar energy and photovoltaic

systems.

• Introduce 12-24 AGTM students in the principles of photovoltaic residential systems per

year.

• The long term measurable difference (between 17-48%) includes energy costs related to

laboratory lighting in the facility utilities bill due to conversion of lighting fixtures in

laboratory.

• Perform assessment of student knowledge and perceptions of laboratory instruction in

photovoltaic and rainwater harvesting collection systems at the beginning of the

instructional unit and again at the completion of the unit to measure change in attitude,

knowledge, and perceptions


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IMPACTS ON ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA

We have an opportunity to demonstrate environmental sustainability to our UA students who

attend classes at the Campus Agricultural Center. Our project will combine photovoltaic and

rainwater harvesting collection. Engaging students in hands-on applications will have a positive

effect on attitude, knowledge, and self-efficacy. Signage prepared and posted will provide

information to the general public visiting our facility. In addition to our AGTM students, UA

students majoring in Agricultural Education with a goal of becoming future high school and

community college agriculture educators complete AGTM courses as part of their professional

preparation. We have an opportunity to affect the content of the high school agriculture

science curriculum in Arizona by upgrading and improving our course curriculum and skill-

development activities. Furthermore, focusing on environmental sustainability will demonstrate

to our preservice agricultural education students how to teach science, technology, and

mathematics using demonstrations and techniques learned in our teaching laboratory. Our

future goals include obtaining funding to construct a ground-mounted non-tracking solar array.

The grid-tied system will demonstrate the application of photovoltaic to off-set the cost of

providing electrical power to our teaching laboratory. These projects will provide a foundation

to base our efforts to expand our agriculture technology management major emphasis area to

include environmental sustainability.

GROUPS INVOLVED

Our department works in partnership with the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) and the

Arizona Agriculture Teachers Association (AATA) to train university students to become

secondary agricultural education teachers. We serve the teaching profession by providing

professional development workshops/activities for Arizona agricultural education teachers

during the summer months. AATA members serve as cooperating master teachers and

supervise agricultural education student teachers during their senior student teaching field

experience. We are in a unique position to impact the teaching of sustainability in agriculture in

the Arizona high school agricultural education programs. This is accomplished through the

guided development and delivery of lesson plans by University of Arizona Agricultural Education

students during their 14-week student teaching field experience. Prior to their spring student

teaching experience, all senior agricultural education students complete a course on

Instructional Material Development (AED 460/560) during the fall semester. This is an

opportune time to introduce sustainability and methods to incorporate sustainability topics

into the student teacher’s instructional units and lesson plans as a way to incorporate science,

technology, engineering and math.


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Project Personnel and involved units

Primary Investigator

Edward A. Franklin, Associate Professor


520-940-3718 / [email protected]

Role: Project management and secure project funding and outside funding for project

sustainability and growth. Provide course instruction, curriculum development, and

professional development of secondary agriscience teachers.

Experience: Teacher education in agriculture; research in student preparation in agricultural

mechanics technology; professional development of Arizona secondary agriscience

teachers

Department Accountant

Michelle Hintz



Role: Business manager, track and handle account payables and provide statements.

Experience: Handles various grants for Department of Agricultural Education.

UA Campus Agricultural Center

Mr. Steve Husman

Director


Role: Oversees project development at Campus Agricultural Center (CAC).

Mr. Bert Settle

Lead Maintenance Mechanic, UA Campus Agricultural Center

520-621-3246

Role: Provide technical assistance in construction of photovoltaic teaching module and in

acquisition of materials and direct work of CAC maintenance.


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PROJECT TIMELINE:

SEMESTER Task/Activity Outcomes/Milestones

Spring

2012

March

February Submit full grant proposal

March Complete SEI Solar electric design

and installation workshop in

Tucson

Upon completion of course, UA

faculty will begin updating AGTM

course curriculum to reflect new

knowledge and hands-on

experiences gained from

workshop

May Complete WMG 10-day rainwater

harvesting certification training

Certification of UA faculty in the

area of Rainwater Harvesting

Collection and update of AGTM

330 Irrigation and Turf

Maintenance course curriculum

for spring 2013 delivery

Summer

2012

June Complete retrofit of laboratory

lighting fixtures (UA Campus

Agricultural Center Maintenance

Crew)

All laboratory lighting replaced

with higher lumen, less energy

consuming lighting resulting

June-August Acquisition and Installation of

rainwater harvesting collection and

solar-powered water distribution

system

Begin rainwater collection during

summer monsoon storms

June-August Construction of model classroom

demonstration photovoltaic

residential wiring model

Completed actual classroom

model of small-scale residential

wiring system

Fall 2012 September-

December

Pilot-testing of model classroom

demonstration photovoltaic

residential wiring model with

AGTM 350 class

Utilize harvested water for cooling

student welding skill projects in

AGTM 100 course

Assess changes in AGTM student

knowledge and attitude about

solar energy/photovoltaic systems

Spring

2013

January-May Pilot-testing of curriculum and

rainwater harvesting system with

AGTM 330 class

Assess changes in AGTM student

knowledge and attitude about

rainwater harvesting systems


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2012 AGTM GREEN LAB PROJECT BUDGET – UA GREEN FUND GRANT

Budget Category Funding Request ($)

Faculty and staff salaries + ERE $ 0

In-Kind volunteer time approximately 60 hours

Operations

Equipment under $5,000.00

- Replacement & installation of T-8 bulbs & fixtures in laboratory $ 1,500.00

Task Sub-total $ 1,500.00

Materials for rainwater harvesting cistern

- 110 feet of eave troughs installed on facility for collecting rainwater $ 400.00

- 2,250 gal. galvanized cistern $ 900.00

- Reinforced concrete pad $ 275.00

- Solar collector harvesting system $ 1,500.00

- SafeRain® Horizontal Diverter Valve $ 200.00

- Pole and solar mounting hardware $ 300.00

- Solar-powered DC surface pump $ 1,200.00

- Miscellaneous pipe fittings, connectors, pipe, filters $ 175.00*

- Signage for describing project $ 250.00*


Materials for model residential photovoltaic teaching station

- Solar panels (3 @ $100) $ 300.00

- Control charger $ 200.00

- SMA 770u Inverter $ 1,169.45

- 12 volt 110AH batteries (2 @ $264.40) $ 528.80

- Service entrance panel & circuit breakers $ 150.00*

- Watt-hour meter $ 75.00*

- Troubleshooting tester/multi-meter $ 85.00

- Terminal wiring boards $ 60.00*

- Conductors, outlet boxes, switches, connectors $ 150.00*

- Label maker $ 30.00*

- Lumber, fasteners, structural steel, casters, welding consumables $ 300.00


Certification Training for UA AGTM Faculty

- WMG Rainwater Harvesting System Certification Training Workshop $ 1,200.00

- SEI PV 101 Solar Training – Solar Electric Design and Installation Workshop $ 1,195.00


GREEN FUND PROJECT TOTAL $ 12,143.25

*In-Kind Donation $ 840.00

TOTAL GREEN FUND GRANT REQUEST $ 11,303.25

Documents

UA GREEN FUNDAGTM Full Proposal4.0studentaffairs.arizona.edu/uploads/greenfund/fundDescription... · member to participate in two professional development workshops: ... Controlled