Projects’ Description:
1. In 2016, China announced a change in accepting recycled materials from the US and other countries. The change was a reduced contamination level in imported recycled paper. China simply was looking for cleaner materials to process. The US was unable to meet the new limit, so China was no longer willing to take recycled paper. Many US recycling companies have been working to make their processes cleaner and seeking other outlets for their paper waste. Penn State Harrisburg has not been collecting paper waste as its paper haulers can no longer make money from the material exchange. This project will focus on how to clean up the US paper recycling process.
2. 55+ communities offer retired and senior citizens the opportunity to live independently in private homes in a campus setting. The community offers smart homes for sale for seniors who choose to age in place rather than move to a multi-unit dwelling. For seniors who have disabling conditions such as Huntington’s disease, a smart home should provide smart systems and components that enable the residents to live as independently as possible. The energy and power needs of smart homes need to be met by the community. Planning on designing a renewable energy system to meet those needs would be enhanced if the energy and power requirements could be identified based on what systems and components are included in the smart homes. Can we assess energy and power needs based on the smart-home systems in the 55+ homes?
3. Number 3 is like number 2 in terms of serving the 55+ community. However, the focus here is on the use of modular design to make 55+ smart homes more flexible for their residents. Seniors’ independent capabilities diminish over time. If a 55+ resident who moves into a smart home is ambulatory and is readily able to stand, that person may no longer be able to live in that home if her/his physical conditions change. Can 55+ smart-home furnishings be designed as modules that could be added to or removed from as a person ages? Can the furnishings change while the residents continue to live in her/his home?
