OUR PROJECTS
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Solar PV Composting Machine (Biovator)
2023
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The Sustainability in Action Facility had procured an industrial sized composting machine to conduct research on soil decomposition and for the campus food services to reduce their waste. In part with the mentorship from Student Energy Guided Projects, SEUM worked with Powertec Solar to design and build an off-grid solar PV system to power the "Biovator". SEUM worked on the system sizing calculations, chose batteries, and conducted a site survey to determine the best location and orientation for the panels which were installed in fall 2023.
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Vertical Divider
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Vertical Divider
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Solar Heated Growth Chamber
2020-2023
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In cold, remote areas of Canada, fruits and vegetables can be expensive and inaccessible. The overarching goal of this project was to investigate the feasibility of solar heated growth chambers as a sustainable solution to address food security issues faced by remote northern communities. SEUM collaborated with the Sustainability in Action Facility and UMEarth for this project.
SEUM designed a solar heated growth chamber that uses solar thermal collectors to provide hydronic heating for a renovated shipping container. The overarching goal of this project was to investigate the feasibility of solar heated growth chambers as a sustainable solution to grow fresh produce in cold climates; this could help address food security issues faced by remote northern communities. SEUM completed a design package including:
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University of Manitoba Climate Action Plan Review
2021-2022
SEUM was contacted by the University of Manitoba Students Union (UMSU) in 2021 and asked to help review the University of Manitoba's drafted Climate Action Plan. We served as student "mentors/consultants" for UMSU and provided a written statement of our comments and critiques on the proposed strategies to improve the university's sustainability.
Experimental Lakes Area Projects
2019-2020
In 2019 SEUM was given the opportunity to work on two different projects at the International Institute of Sustainable Development's Experimental Lakes Area (IISD-ELA). The IISD-ELA is a world-renowned research center located in western Ontario. Their cutting-edge work focuses on researching and monitoring water quality through the use of several small “experimental lakes” in the area. In the 1960s and 1970s, IISD-ELA researchers used these lakes to determine the cause of rampant eutrophication and algal blooms that were occurring in freshwater lakes around the world.
Our mission was to support the IISD-ELA through their transition to more sustainable energy generation and increased efficiency.
Our mission was to support the IISD-ELA through their transition to more sustainable energy generation and increased efficiency.
Heat Loss Study
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One of the projects SEUM performed for the IISD-ELA facility was a heat loss study. Our project’s scope was focused on hot water pipes running underneath one of their cabins. We compared multiple pipe insulation options using heat loss calculations performed at a variety of outdoor temperatures based on local weather data. Once complete, a heat loss report was submitted to ELA that contained our calculation results, a pipe insulation recommendation to increase energy efficiency, and a cost analysis.
Electrical AnalysisSEUM also performed an electrical analysis to provide the necessary information for IISD-ELA to evaluate investing in clean power infrastructure to mitigate climate change and potentially reduce energy costs. We analyzed the historical performance of their solar photovoltaic and battery storage system to draw conclusions about the cost and benefit of installing additional solar and storage capacity to displace diesel generation. We reported the facility’s electricity use and made recommendations for how to integrate renewable electricity generation to meet future demands.
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International District Energy Association Video Contest
2020
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In 2020, the International District Energy Association held a Campus Energy Student Video Contest that called for students to create a short video highlighting the energy plant for their campus. We took part in this contest and produced a video on YouTube that has since received the most likes and views in the history of the competition!
This was a 2 month project that first involved tours of the University of Manitoba’s energy plant and a visit to a hydroelectric generating station. We then worked with staff at the energy plant to understand how heating and air conditioning is provided at the university, how different methods are used to reduce heat loss, and how it could be more energy efficient during cold Canadian winters. Once our video was submitted we spent countless hours networking to promote our video for energy education and we were featured on both local radio and the local news! |
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University of Manitoba Mini Summit
2019
In 2019, Student Energy University of Manitoba hosted a one-day mini summit to share information from the London 2019 Student Energy Summit. Here, a guest speaker presented about energy and how climate change is affecting Indigenous communities. We also organized a climate change "hackathon" challenge, with guests from the environmental industry volunteering as judges and awarding solar panel powered light bulbs to the winners.
