Humboldt State University

AT Projects

CCAT AT Projects

CCAT has a wealth of appropriate technology topics avaiable on this web site, categorized as shown on the right. If your question is not answered here, check the HSU Library's online appropriate technology catalogue .

Appropriate Technology Project Topics:

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Recently Added Projects:

Natural Building Test Wall

A student from ENGR 305 is building an educational natural test wall that will then be used as an information kiosk for students and the community to benefit from. The wall will also serve CCAT as a weather test wall for future natural wall construction projects such as tool sheds and benches. Further information of the project is available in http://www.appropedia.org/CCAT_Natural_Wall_Construction

Natural Building Test Plaster

When the natural building test wall is completed, another student from ENGR 305 will to compare and test different natural plasters by applying them to the wall. Materials considered for plasters are clay, gypsum and lime.

Cold Box

A cold box for CCAT's kitchen is being designed and built. Researches on the construction methods, materials, and budget have been carried out. Currently materials are being collected and complied for producing an insulated, functioning cold box. Emphasis on aesthetics and design are considered. This is part of ENGR 305 class.

Remediation Zone

Two students from ENGR 305 are focusing on CCATs North-Eastern Slope. Various alternatives of planting and slope retaining/supports are being studied along with selection of different bushes, flowers, and shrubs. A properly designed wall will be built along with beautification and further strength by plants and flowers.

Appropriate Technology Kids Zone

A project have been chosen by two students of ENGR 305 to create a "kid zone" at CCAT with a demonstration where kids can see how appropriate technology works. This display will be hands-on where a child can use their own power to operate an electronic device. The importance of this project is to plant the seed in a child's mind of understanding how human power is simple, yet can be utilized in so many ways. The hands-on display will be durable and able to withstand regular abuse from kids. For more information please visit http://www.appropedia.org/CCAT_kid_zone.

Clothes Drying System

A bamboo framed clothes drying system is being designed and built to develop an efficient and effective process and/or method for CCAT to dry its clothing. This project will address the challenges of the rainy and damp climate of Humboldt County in an environmentally friendly way. As a part of ENGR 305 the project will be completed by May end 2009.

Bamboo Project

Some of the bamboo in CCAT’s garden is being used to build a room divider. The divider will be 6 feet tall and a little over 6 feet across. The screen part would be silk or paper with some poetry about bamboo in traditional Filipino script. We also expect that space on paper/silk screens could be printed with signage and information regarding the different methods of harvesting, propagating, and transplanting the bamboo found at CCAT. This project is also undertaken by an ENGR 305 student.

Grey Water Marsh

A student from ENGR 305 is working to provide CCAT with a fully functioning low-maintenance grey water treatment and irrigation system. The area around the marsh will be terraced and landscaped with native or naturalized non-invasive vegetation. Signage will be placed at key locations describing the various actions and functions being performed by the system. The marsh is located in the front yard of CCAT and is obvious from the street and 14th street parking lot.

Rain Water Catchment System

A student from ENGR 305 is working on the design and implementation of a rain water catchment system connected to CCAT’s roof. The tank is proposed to be located on the north side of CCAT building and provide water for CCAT gardens and future green house in front of CCAT building.

Take Bake the Tap HSU!

Some of the students in ENVS 410 are working on a project to reduce the number of single-use plastic water bottles on the HSU campus and encourage local tap water consumption.

Short term goals of the project are to educate students on the campus about the problem and set a foundation for a long term campaign for reduction. They want to encourage the use of reusable water bottles; this will help our campus to be more sustainable. This is expected to be encouraged by the use of local tap water and drinking fountains on campus. The long term goals are to apply for a grant, which would go to further educations and retrofitting water fountains with filters.

At this stage, CCAT is funding the awareness and educational campaign.

Seed saving project

Based on the personal initiative of a student from PSCI 464 a seed saving project is under process.

Though CCAT maintains over 96 herbs on site and frequently practices organic vegetable gardening as well, there is currently no consistent methodology for seed saving, and the infrastructure necessary to maintain different types of seeds is not well developed. The project is aimed to assist CCAT in further serving as an educational clearing house for the community by researching different seed saving methodologies, developing a handout or guideline for how to save seeds in Humboldt County (including certain varieties of plants that do well here and where seeds for these plants can be found), and developing the basic infrastructure necessary to preserve and store seeds.

In line with CCAT’s principles, as many materials as possible will be locally sourced and salvaged or recycled. This will help to ensure that the project not only costs as little as possible, but also exemplifies CCAT’s founding mission as much as possible.

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