YCAF Zinsser Greenhouse Solar Project

Project Description

I was previously involved in the first cycle of grants that Hastings received from Bloomberg Philanthropies. I received a $1200 grant and, with the help of my friends, successfully installed an underground irrigation system that connected the greenhouse to a nearby, natural water source. When a second round of grants came around, I wanted to receive funding in order to put this system to use, along with installing additional systems to seamlessly provide water to the greenhouse and other nearby plots. I got in touch with two adults that worked in the Zinsser Gardens and had some experience with similar projects: Brooks Ballard and Mihai Cuibus. They connected me to a fellow Hastings High School student, Sam Kastner, who happened to be working on a similar project. Together, we were able to successfully complete our goal of providing water to the greenhouse and other garden plots by installing a solar system on top of the greenhouse. 

Outputs Produced

• Water provided to 5+ of the plots surrounding the greenhouse 

• 2 Solar energy systems put into use at the greenhouse 

• Seamless water access available for the 3+ people that use the greenhouse 

• 3 spigots implemented into the gardens for people to use

Outcomes Resulting

• Visibility. The project demonstrates to the many people who work in the garden that green energy can be installed to limit greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution, thus keeping our air clean and slowing the effects of climate change. We anticipate our system will influence other gardeners, or any persons walking through Zinsser gardens, to use solar power. This might include using solar power in their garden plots, or even in their own homes.

• The solar power system, as well as solar energy in general, is relatively low-maintenance, since it has no moving parts and works on its own.

• The system installed is energy-independent and will consistently provide the greenhouse and nearby plots with water, regardless of the state of the power grid. 

Process

1. Connected with Brooks Ballard, Mihai Cuibus, and Sam Kastner. Used the solar-powered system that Mihai had previously installed in his own plot of land as a model of what we were going to install at the greenhouse. 

2. Ordered all of the needed parts for the solar powered system.

3. Installed the solar panel, batteries, controllers, pump, and the rest of the parts for the solar-powered system into the greenhouse. 

4. Connected the newly installed system to the existing PVC irrigation system

5. Laid PVC pipes down through plots close to the greenhouse in order to take water to other plots as well, not just to the greenhouse. 

6. Added spigots to the ends of the PVC pipes, creating accessible water for the greenhouse and nearby plots, powered by the solar panel system. 

In the near future, we hope to add additional solar-powered systems and PVC-pipe irrigation to plots across the garden to provide access to water to many more plots, not just the ones near the greenhouse. This too would be powered by solar energy. 

Lessons Learned

• I’ve learned the value of leveraging other people's expertise when working towards a common goal. 

• I’ve learned the importance of giving back to your community and making measurable impacts that help people. 

• I’ve learned how vital it is to have strong communication between a group of people working together to do something.  

Students Involved

• 1 Project Leader aged 15-24

• 4 Total Project Participants (excluding leaders)

• 3 Project Participants aged 15-24 (excluding leaders)

Thank You's

First, thank you to Bloomberg Philanthropies, which provided th funding for this project.

Thank you also to Sam Kastner for joining the effort to get this project done. Your work to communicate what was needed during crucial steps of the process and your help with the installation at Zinsser kept the project moving forward and is greatly appreciated.

A huge thank you to Mihai Cuibus. Without you, this project would not have been possible. The expertise you provided when dealing with the intricacies of the solar panel system was very much needed and appreciated.

Lastly, thank you Brooks Ballard for connecting Sam, Mihai and me. Your general oversight of the project was very helpful and ensured that we continued making strides towards our goals and helped get the project completed.