Service-Learning Projects in Passive Solar Heating through the Sustainable City Year Program
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Date
2019
Authors
Rempel, Alexandra R.
Banks, Megan
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Oregon
Abstract
Service learning engages students with community partners in creating products for public benefit,
allowing students to learn field research and design communication methods while contributing their
time and expertise. From 2017-19, the University of Oregon Passive Heating Seminar has collaborated
with the Sustainable City Year Program to provide schematic passive heating designs to three climatically
distinct cities: Mediterranean Albany, sunny semi-arid La Pine, and coastal Dunes City, Oregon. These
projects have provided specific sites, motivated clients, and authentic problems to students while
promoting passive heating use in realizable, publicly-visible projects. In 2017, the City of Albany
requested designs for a senior center sunspace, a community greenhouse, and park restrooms that would
allow parks to remain open for events during cooler months. Schematic designs and performance
estimates then allowed Albany to begin fundraising for construction. In 2018, the City of La Pine
requested designs for a City Center, a community greenhouse, and a balcony sunspace prototype for
multifamily housing. The City Center is currently under development, and the balcony sunspace projects
supported acquisition of federal funding for further research. Dunes City, in turn, supported by a JPB
Foundation grant, worked with students in 2019 to develop passive heating designs for disaster-relief
shelters in the event of a catastrophic earthquake and tsunami. Together, these projects have allowed
regional leaders to explore and develop their communities’ interests in passive solar heating as they strive
to create resilient communities, while simultaneously promoting students’ awareness of their own
potential as designers to support such efforts.
Description
13 pages