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Introduction
Introduction
Grand Valley State University’s Sustainable Agriculture Project (SAP) is an innovative project that helps students learn hands-on about sustainability and farming. The SAP has outgrown its facilities by expanding its services to the surrounding community. As the services, functions, and interests at the SAP continue to expand, it is important to grow the infrastructure to accommodate these changes. Stakeholders within the Grand Valley community have pushed for a new sustainable building to house student and community activities. This project seeks to design a building that is functional, aesthetically pleasing, and completely sustainable.
https://www.gvsu.edu/cms4/asset/E1C67F41-C618-56D0-58AEC2992A67FB82/ichallenguth-1320_1[1554300840].jpg
Image of New City Neighbors, a community partner for the SAP. https://newcityneighbors.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/new-cuty-cafe-youth.jpg
Background Information
Background Information
The SAP has been described as a “physical place and a scientific station, where students can go to research plants, the environment, human-environmental interaction, systems thinking, and community” (Grand Valley State University, 2022).
The current infrastructure at the SAP is not accommodating to the goals laid out for future plans. A new facility is needed on the SAP in order to facilitate these new and exciting developments. The foundation of this project will be the implementation of sustainable design elements used in and around the structure of the building and the environmental considerations during the building, use, and longevity of the building.
Our project seeks to expand the SAP beyond its current use by creating an event barn where students and community members can come together for a multitude of activities, such as classes and other community events. The goal is to make the SAP a place where both the Grand Valley and local surrounding communities can come together, learn, enjoy themselves, the environment, and ultimately create a more diverse and inclusive environment.
Photos of Example Spaces
Roca Berry Event Barn - Roca, Nebraska
https://rocaberryfarm.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/190606.Pioneer_Barn.7988.jpg
The Kendeda Building - Georgia Institute of Technology
https://fluxwerx.com/projects/the-kendeda-building-for-innovative-sustainable-design-georgia-institute-of-technology/
Sustainable Possibilities and How They Would Be Implemented
Solar Panels
Solar Panels
Solar energy at the SAP will allow the building to capture its own energy, give us educational opportunities, and potentially even monetary possibilities. The two main factors which must be accounted for in regards to solar and the sun are the directional positioning of the panels, as well as the vertical angle to which you set your panels. Since the sun tracks over the equator, facing panels towards true South will allow the SAP’s panels to get the most energy output from the sun. To provide for the SAP’s energy needs and have a zero or negative energy footprint, we came to a very rough estimate of the SAP’s energy usage would compare the facility to an average-sized US home.
The SAP won't be in constant use as a residential space so there will be downtimes and periods of high use. Our intentions are to connect the new solar implementations to the power grid which will allow the building to draw more energy when needed and send energy back during downtimes. Another impactful resource we have as students at GVSU is the university's link to Consumers Energy and the possible grant and informational opportunities it could present in the future.
Green Roof
Green Roof
Beyond aesthetic appeal, implementing a vegetative roof provides a building with a natural waterproofing feature (“What is a Green Roof”, n.d.). Green roofs can be productive or purely functional. Productive green roofing can include practices such as rooftop crop production or more specifically agrovoltaics–a practice that involves growing crops underneath solar panels. Some plants such as those in the brassica family can withstand low light conditions and prosper in agrovolataics (“What is Agrovoltaics?”, 2019). Production can come in other forms such as the growth of pollinators. In a farm setting, this may prove to be highly beneficial as it provides an educational opportunity but also supplements the local ecology. Our prototype model features blue-green raised beds and agrovoltaics.
Blue Roof
Blue Roof
The blue roof and green roof work in harmony. Our goal when making sure the SAP had a blue roof in its plans was to create a process that was both educational and beneficial to the SAP overall. Blue roofs use their gardens located on the roof to naturally store water temporarily. Any water that leaves the temporary storage of the soil is then engineered to be collected into drainage pipes. Then leads to rain barrels that can both store and filter out the water for future uses and consumption. Adding this feature will prove to be one of the key showcases of how modern structures can find creative ways to harness their environment beyond what most are doing today. Beyond making a statement, this extra water supply will be very beneficial to the sap.
Native Plant Garden
Native Plant Garden
Having a native plant garden be part of our building has a multitude of benefits. In terms of sustainability, native plant species are more favorable for supporting local wildlife, including insects such as bees and butterflies, amphibians, reptiles, and mammals (Ecolandscaping). There will be room on the roof and in the backyard area of the building which will help support the bee population at the SAP while simultaneously adding an aesthetic feature to be enjoyed. Having the native plant garden will also provide an educational opportunity where the SAP can teach visitors about the native plants of Michigan and how implementing native plants helps the ecosystem.
Double Pane Windows
Double Pane Windows
An important design element in our event barn is the incorporation of a large number of windows. A majority of the walls are made of glass windows. Having large windows allows visitors to see the beauty of the farm and its ecosystem while also saving money on utilities like electricity and heating and cooling. Large windows increase the natural light and save on the cost of lighting the building during the daytime. Double-paned windows are more effective at keeping in the warm air in the winter and do the opposite in warmer months. This keeps in the cool air and lowers the energy and gas use from heating and cooling. The benefits from energy-efficient windows could cut your energy costs by up to 20% (Aspen window).
Our Prototype Model
Our Prototype Model
Reference List
Reference List
4 differences between commercial and residential solar power—A1A Solar. (n.d.). Retrieved March 23, 2022, from https://a1asolar.com/4-differences-between-commercial-and-residential-solar-power/
Grand Valley State University. Sustainable Agriculture Project - Grand Valley State University. (2022, February 17). Retrieved March 1, 2022, from https://www.gvsu.edu/sustainableagproject/
Green roofs and solar power – biosolar roofs are smart green infrastructure. Livingroofs. (2019, October 29). Retrieved March 2, 2022, from https://livingroofs.org/green-roofs-solar-power/
Nexamp, T. (2020 , November 18). How Many Solar Panels Do I Need?. In Nexamp. Retrieved February 27, 2022, from https://www.nexamp.com/blog/how-many-solar-panels-do-i-need
Rooftop detention (blue roofs). megamanual.geosyntec.com. (n.d.). Retrieved March 23, 2022, from https://megamanual.geosyntec.com/npsmanual/rooftopdetentionblueroofs.aspx
“The Energy Saving Benefits of New Windows: Home Improvements Blog.” Aspen Windows , 20 May 2021, https://aspenwindows.com/the-energy-saving-benefits-of-new-windows/.
Tilt & Azimuth Angle: Finding the optimal angle to mount your solar panels. Unbound Solar. (2020, January 22). Retrieved March 22, 2022, from https://unboundsolar.com/blog/solar-panel-azimuth-angle
What is a Green Roof—Technical Preservation Services, National Park Service. (n.d.). Retrieved March 22, 2022, from https://www.nps.gov/tps/sustainability/new-technology/green-roofs/define.html
What is Agrivoltaics? (2019, February 13). UArizona Research, Innovation & Impact. https://research.arizona.edu/stories/what-is-agrivoltaics
“Why Native Plants Matter.” Ecological Landscape Alliance, 2 Aug. 2017, https://www.ecolandscaping.org/native-plants/.
Meet the Team
Scott VanDrunen
Scott VanDrunen
Senior pursuing a B.S. in Environmental and Sustainability Studies emphasizing the built environment and sustainable food systems with a minor in Digital Studies
Quoc-Khanh Nguyen
Quoc-Khanh Nguyen
Senior pursuing a B.S. in Environmental and Sustainability Studies with an emphasis and certificate in sustainable food systems and a minor in Anthropology.
Mailyn Miller
Mailyn Miller
Senior pursuing a B.S. in Psychology and a minor in Environmental and Sustainability Studies.
Hunter Griggs
Hunter Griggs
Senior pursuing a B.S. in Environmental and Sustainability studies with an emphasis in energy systems, along with a certificate in both Geographic Information Systems and Environmental Remote Sensing.
Elizabeth Greiter
Elizabeth Greiter
Senior pursuing her B.A. in Environmental and Sustainability studies with an emphasis on the built environment and a certificate in Sustainable Urban and Regional Planning.
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