GREEN ENERGY MANUFACTURING LABORATORY DEVELOPMENT FOR STUDENT LEARNING EXPERIENCE ON SUSTAINABILITY

This paper discusses the development of a green energy manufacturing laboratory for student learning experience in the emerging fields of renewable energy and green manufacturing. The development involves a creation of a series of experiments to stimulate discoveries and developments that promise to sustain a wave of new technological innovations on energy and manufacturing throughout the world. The needs for engineering students and practicing engineers to understand sustainability concepts and concerns have been noted by educators, scientists or engineers and all engineering students need to become versed in sustainability ideas. This paper describes key factors in enhancing the ability of future engineering graduates to better contribute to a more sustainable future, preserving natural resources and advancing technological development. Two main components are used to incorporate sustainability into the green energy manufacturing laboratory, including: (1) renewable energy and (2) manufacturing energy efficiency. The efforts presented in the paper also include life-cycle assessment, development of innovative thinking skills, better understanding of sustainability issues, and increasing students' interests in the engineering and technology programs. A concluding section discusses laboratory development for student hands-on learning experience within the context of a project. The paper will present the how it establishes its long-term sustainability and support through a variety of mechanisms including the energy mission, the award of federal grants, program projects, private foundation support, partnerships, and university-based investments. The GEM/Institute/Community College research model and the supporting the hardware, software and middleware are being installed, developed and enabled by the joint project between two universities in the nation.