Not just a load of hot air

Student society Engineers Without Borders (EWB) have been commended for their contribution to Warwick’s green vision, namely by constructing a wind turbine.

The University was commended at 2011’s Green Gown Awards largely thanks to the society’s efforts.

EWB members designed, built, and installed the turbine, and connected it to the grid so that it could help power an Estates maintenance building in an effort to lower Warwick’s carbon emissions.

The Green Gown judging panel praised the project as an example of how students can collaborate with their University’s Estates team to participate in beneficial projects.

It provided students with a technological challenge, taught them about issues such as planning permission and health and safety regulation, and created something that the Engineering Department can now use to drive their research into renewable energy technologies.

Andrew Wooldridge, a fourth-year Mechanical Engineering student, presided over the project. He said the turbine was a 1kW design by Hugh Piggott.

“This particular design was chosen due to how simple it was to produce and its current use in developing countries.”

He added that the turbine had also been built to demonstrate “how easy it could be to change lives in remote villages with no access to electricity.

With the installation of one of these turbines, people could have lighting to enable them to work and learn at night.”

EWB are looking to get involved in an upcoming project to build a water pump to help level out the lakes near Lakeside.

Although no details could be confirmed as of yet, Wooldridge suggested that they were looking at “renewable ways to power it, such as wind or solar power”.

The turbine is located near Cryfield Pavilion by Leighfield Drive.