Blog #1: Pre-Project

Ever since I was part of the Energy Team in middle school with Mr. Thomas, it has been of the utmost importance to me that, as a society, we can reach some sort of environmental sustainability. So, when the opportunity arose for me to dedicate three weeks to the Bio-Barn I jumped right on it. I think the idea of a completely off-the-grid learning environment is interesting. This past year, with COVID, I have had a lot of class time outside, and, in classes where that was possible, I think the students and teachers alike were able to create a learning space conducive to learning, respect, and most importantly, fun. This, coupled with the culture of environmental sustainability that the creation of the bio-barn would foster, makes this an extremely intriguing project for me. Working with Nick DiGiorgio and Cris Harris, the leaders of the bio-barn planning, as well as Giuseppe Ferrato and Faris Danan as partners, we plan to make a wind turbine that can produce sufficient power for the barn site to remain autonomous from the rest of the school. By making this turbine, we are not only trying to benefit the barn but also trying to set an example of what Hawken’s energy should and needs to look like in the future. The essential question that we need to answer is how cost and time-effective we can make the production of the turbine while still being sturdy enough to last once we have left Hawken.