Green Engineering at Western New England College
The demand on the finite energy resources available to us is growing. New, efficient, and renewable energy sources are required in order to maintain our standard of living. Professionals are needed who are proficient in sustainability concepts and experts in green engineering theories to lead the world through this period of transition.
The Western New England College School of Engineering is the perfect place to learn these invaluable skills and become a leader in this critical engineering field. The School’s commitment to green engineering initiatives has led to the creation Green Engineering Concentrations in Mechanical and Electrical Engineering. Western New England College’s institution of green concepts in the design and operation of the campus supplement these programs.
Mechanical Engineering Green Concentration
The Mechanical Engineering Green Concentration will prepare you to develop new and efficient ways to collect energy from renewable sources. The program is divided into two segments, one focusing on renewable energy sources (wind, water, solar, and geothermal) and the other on energy management and how to maximize efficiency.
For more information visit the Mechanical Engineering Green Concentration page.
Electrical Engineering Green Concentration
The Electrical Engineering Green Concentration will teach you how to convert the energy gleaned from renewable sources into useable electricity. You will learn DC-AC conversation and how to pump that “clean” juice straight into the grid.
For more information visit the Electrical Engineering Green Concentration page.
Green Engineering Outdoor Lab
The Green Engineering Outdoor Lab is the workhorse of the green engineering initiatives at Western New England College. The Lab contains six 200-watt solar panels that convert the suns rays directly into electric energy and is connected to the power grid; two solar panels used to heat water in Sleith Hall; a two-kilowatt conventional wind turbine to power the ME Lab; and a weather station to measure the energy output of the sun and wind.
Green Engineering Indoor Lab
The Green Engineering Indoor Lab is the hub for all of the green engineering activities in Sleith Hall. The Indoor Lab houses the control centers for the wind turbine, solar electric and water heating panels, and the geothermal heating and cooling system. The Lab is also where students analyze the measurements produced by weather station.
Student Research Projects
Green Engineering students are making a difference on campus and in the world. Current students are working on groundbreaking wind turbine designs at FloDesign Wind Turbine (run by a Western New England College alum), outfitting the campus vehicle fleet to run on biofuels, and retrofitting campus buildings to be powered from renewable energy sources. You will have the opportunity to work on these and other exciting green engineering projects. What eco-friendly projects will you devise?
Recent and Current Projects
• Creating biofuels from used vegetable oil, cooking oil, and algae
• Testing FloDesign’s new wind turbine prototype
• Developing a geothermal heating and cooling system for Hazen Paper in nearby Holyoke, MA
• Building a geothermal heating and cooling system for the ME Lab