Clarkson University Local Energy Efficient Food and Waste Management Facility

What innovation can help communities (state, city, town, college campus, company, etc.) build for the future and adapt to a changing planet? Students at Clarkson University have taken an unusual approach in their innovations to help communities build for the future and adapt to a changing planet. They focus on food. Most engineering students don't consider the application of their high-tech creativity for food production, but a team of students have proven that they can gain energy resources from food waste and grow leafy green vegetables year round, even in the cold and dark climate of northern New York. The new student designed, built and operated pilot-scale greenhouse system uses high efficiency LED lighting and an aeroponic growth system. A biomass-solar thermal heating system and an anaerobic digester for cafeteria waste are integrated with the greenhouse to create a closed-loop, energy efficient and zero-waste system that contributes to Clarkson's sustainability efforts. Collectively, these coupled systems represent an approach to maximize mass and energy efficiencies as the "waste" resources are shared among the building facilities.