Included in the following text contains student perspective of what a portable classroom could be like in the future. Using various eco-friendly technologies such as a green roof, more energy-efficient lighting as well as utilizing more renewable materials such as wood, soya based foam, torrefied wood and laminated wood, this classroom could be a very good replacement to conventional portable classrooms. This portable classroom also contains technologies that are profitable to students; these include incorporating natural light to a classroom, using brighter and more vivid lighting as well as strategic class layouts.
Paperless Classroom
In this project, a new technology using E Ink© is introduced, a technology, we think, will eliminate the use of paperwork, books and pencils in classrooms. This technology consists of a featherweight electronic display hooked to a small scale computer to process simple tasking such as word processing, email, calculator, Wi-Fi for light web browsing as well as network support. This means when a student needs to grab his pre-university Biology manual, he can select it from his E Ink© surface, be able to clearly read the manual and write some notes on the surface at the same time. As for teachers, they can give courses on a big scale E Ink© instead of using a standard blackboard.
SIP Panels
Our portable classrooms are framed completely with soya ESIP panels. Stronger and greener than conventional stud walls, these panels are made using two OSB panels sandwiched to a piece of 3 1/2", 5 1/2", 7 1/4" or 9 1/4" soya foam board. These panels are proven to be more energy efficient* and require 25% less lumber than conventional stud walls. They also have better structural properties than standard stud walls.
*Based on a study conducted by Dr. Tony Shaw, an R-17 value SIP wall house used 33% less energy than an identical house using R-19 fiberglass walls. The fiberglass wall home also had 68% more air leakage than the SIP house.
Results from : http://www.thermapan.com/
ESIPS : http://www.energysips.com/
Lighting
Our portable classroom integrates natural lighting through skylights at every eight feet. We also decided to use an LED lighting technology. LED`s combine energy efficiency and durability, therefore being a cost effective alternative to fluorescent or incandescent lighting.
LED vs. CFL vs. Incandescent
Type of lighting
LED
Incandescent
CFL
Life
50 000+ hours
+/- 1200 hours
+/- 8000
Watts
(equivalent to 60 watt bulb)
6-8 watts
60 watts
13-15 watts
Kilo-watts of Electricity used
(30 Incandescent Bulbs per year equivalent)
(Price per year based on $0.10 per KWh)
329 KWh/yr
($32.85)
3285 KWh/yr
($328.50)
767 KWh/yr
($76.70)
Comparison chart results from: http://www.mrbeams.com/index.asp?PageAction=Custom&ID=2
LED’s are installed in the unit as strips and are installed into slotted MDF panels found at the ceiling.
Green Roof System/Living Walls
A green roof using trays has been added to the roof of our portable classroom. These trays are made of 100% recycled polymer; therefore being a recyclable source. It is also an eco-friendly investment and a way to integrate students into more green habits.*
On the south side of the unit, we find a wall covered with vegetative materials. This living wall uses the same materials as the green roof.
*Smarter LEED Choice 21+ points
Site consulted: http://www.agreenroof.com/index.html
Torrefied Wood
The exterior of the unit is recovered of one hundred percent torrefied wood. Available through various companies such as Maibec, torrefied wood consists of hardwood treated at high temperatures without chemicals. Removing all of the humidity from the wood, this non-toxic method of treatment is very effective against mould and twisting. It is available in a wide array of tints due to the fact that the darkness of the wood will depend on what temperature the wood is treated.
Linoleum Flooring
Linoleum flooring is an eco-friendly flooring made from recycled wood flour, pine resin, linseed oil as well as other renewable materials. This biodegradable product has a life-span of forty years and is anti-microbial.
Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning
The portable classroom is heated through tankless water heating technology. Combining the technology of heated flooring as well as tankless water heating, this system has significant advantages over conventional water heating. The classroom ventilation is a forced air system combined with air conditioning.
Holistic approach to learning
The layout of the classroom in this portable unit is very flexible. With round tables which can be detached to create 4 desks per table, the classroom can be organized into rows as well as in groups of four. Each desk contains an E Ink© surface on which students can write notes, draw diagrams, read manuals as well as download last night’s homework from the portable E-Ink surface.
Since the classroom is made very narrow, every student benefits from being close to a window where natural lighting can enter, whether it is a wall window or a skylight. This benefit has been proven to help students concentrate in class*.
*Test scores increased as much as 26 percent among students who learned in classrooms filled with natural light, according to a study by Heschong Mahone Group of Sacramento, Calif. that looked at 20,000 students from California, Colorado and Massachusetts in 1998 and 2002.
This classroom is designed so every student has their own space, therefore giving him a feeling of ownership, eliminating influences onto vandalizing his or her own space.
