The San Francisco School is a self-sufficient agricultural school in Paraguay. We sought to reduce the cost of heating a farrowing enclosure via renewable biogas. A universal design approach and interviews with on-site experts and practitioners let us assess the system for biogas output and source necessary components. Our design and cost analysis recommended a combined gas and electric heating system. Predicted heating costs dropped by at least 15% per month. Difficult aspects of the project were changed project focus, different perspectives of the project among San Francisco school staff, cross-cultural communication and the team’s remote location. From the standpoint of learning how to negotiate technology and society, the project proved a great success; but the process is challenging.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Mackoul, Patricia Anne
• Ardini, Maximilian A.

Subject

• Infrastructure
• Community
• Sustainability
• Energy

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-042913-172949

Keyword

• Renewable energy sources
• Energy conservation
• Sustainability
• Electric power distribution

Advisor

• Traver, Robert W.
• Rosbach, Derren

Year

• 2013

Center

• Asunción, Paraguay Project Center - IQP

Sponsor

• Fundación Paraguaya

Date created

• 2013-04-29

Location

• Asunción

Resource type

• Interactive Qualifying Project

Rights statement

• In Copyright