Worked with client, Central Coast Grown (CCAN) to build the SLO City Farm, a sustainable and eco-friendly facility on open land in San Luis Obispo. Researched benefits to green building. Presented proposal to CCAN employees and managers about the possible use of Alternative Energy for the SLO City Farm

1. Emily Krebs, Lisa Baird, Will Reichenstein

2. Help SLO City Farm "move towards economically viable,
environmentally sound, and socially responsible food
systems" (CCAN, 2012)
• Three areas: Sustainable building
materials,alternative energy solutions, and water
and waste management practices
• Display of a sustainable facility
• Financially, socially, environmentally and
economically sustainable

3. • Lower costs/high return on investment
• Improved worker productivity
• Higher market value
• Tax benefits
• Lower utility demands
• Improved overall quality of life
(Kats, 2003, p. 2-8)
http://regionbuilders.com

4. • Edna Valley
• First commercial straw bale building in CA
• 16" thick walls made of rice straw bale
o No need for mechanical cooling or heating
• Added tourist
attraction
(Claiborne & Churchill, 2008)

5. • San Luis Obispo
• First LEED certified synagogue in the world
• Building includes: solar power, natural ventilation,
photovoltaic electrical system, motion detector
lights, concrete and straw bale walls, non-toxic paint
and carpeting
(Congregation Beth David, 2012)

6. • Berkeley, CA
• Used for environmental
education
• 860 sq. ft. interior space
• 450 sq. ft. covered outdoor
patio classroom space
• Building includes: solar design, straw bale exterior
walls, recycled wood framing, recycled glass
counter tops, natural linoleum floors and a
photovoltaic electrical system
(City of Berkeley, 2012)

7. (City of Berkeley, 2012)

8. • Located locally in San Luis
Obispo
• Lists benefits/sustainability
positives for each product
• Retail sale of products
as well as in-house
construction
• Products include:
o cabinets, counter tops,
flooring, paints and
finishes, tile, and water
conservation options
(Green Goods, 2011)
Green Goods

9. • San Luis Obispo
• Recycled local
green waste from
trees
• Design and engineering expertise
(Pacific Coast Lumber, 2012)
Pacific Coast Lumber

10. Alternative Energy
"Energy derived from sources that do not
use up natural resources or harm the
environment"
(Princeton University, 2012)
• Wind power
• Solar power
• Biodiesel
• Solar Food Dryer
• Bicycle Power Generator

11. HowDoes Wind PowerWork?
• Generateselectricity at 9 mph
• Wind-turbine’s rotor turns a shaft
and this speed is increased by a
gearbox
• Turns a generator, which converts
the rotational energy to electricity
• Converts from low to high voltage
• The electricity is distributed
(BP, 2012)
http://www.mywindpowersystem.com

12. How much land is needed?
The ordinance which controls the construction of wind
turbines in San Luis Obispo County currently allows
windmills to be placed on parcels that are an acre or larger
An average windmill, represents roughly about 3.5 acres
http://www.ubergizmo.com

13. Wind Power
Positive impacts
• Relieves the stress on reliance of fossil fuels
• Revolutionary
• Become a leader in Alternative Technology by other
organizations
• Possibilities of federal tax credits
• Negative impacts
• Expensive
• Does the farm have space for large windmills?
• “Eye-sore”
• Permits from SLO? Compliance with city ordinances and
policy

14. Solar Power
• Clean electricity
• Utilizing the sun's power
• Cutting costs and helping the environment
http://miriadna.com

15. Solar Panels
• Solar technology is made out of silicon
• Electrical current when struck by light
• Electrons in the silicon that move when exposed to light
and create a current
Possible Places to put Solar Panels?
http://inhabitat.com

16. Biodiesel in Farm Machinery
• Made from renewable, biodegradable sources
• Blend with petroleum and can use in diesel engines
• Reduces emissions of air pollutants and greenhouse
gases
• Biodegradable and essentialynon-toxic

17. Solar Food Dryer
• Uses direct and indirect solar
heating, combined with
airflow and vent controls
• Prime season runs from May-
October
(SunWorks Technologies, 2012)
http://www.rootsimple.com

18. Bike 4 Power
• The Pedal-A-Watt bicycle stand creates energy
that may be used to power lights and/or other
small appliances
• For example, a laptop only draws 70 watts so
one 20-minute workout could run the laptop for
over an hour
 Possibilites for SLO City Farm
• As a part of the tour
• Multiple bikes runningto create power
(Convergence Technologies, 2012)

19. Water and Waste
Management
 Reduce:
 Spring-loaded taps
 Low-flush toilets
 Water storage tanks—reduce
“pumping water”
 Unheated water in bathrooms
 No disposable cans/bottles—
use taps instead
 Minimizing energy use: solar,
wind, water, etc.
(Maho Bay Eco-Resort, 2012)
http://www.austinlakepumps.com

20. Water and Waste
Management
 Reuse
 Waste treatment plant
 Water pressure reduction
 Faucet aerators
 Gray water use
 Grouping plants with same water needs
 Recirculating cooling systems—if applicable
 Drip/deep root irrigation
 Xeriscape landscaping
(Environmental Protection Agency, 2012)
graywater.wiki.usfca.edu

21. Water and Waste
Management
 Recycle
 Compost
 Use recycled products (building materials)
http://www.maho.org

22. Sustainability Menu

23. SLO City Farm Brochure