Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Lasell Smart Meter Project

It has taken a lot of work to get to this point but the Lasell College Smart Meter Project is almost ready to go live. This effort started last summer when VP Ostrow and I wrote a grant to the Tomfohrde Foundation asking for support to install a network of electricity meters in our dormitories. Electricity usage in Butterworth, Bragdon, Forest, and Woodland Hall will be measured by the meters on the minute time scale compared to the monthly time scale we currently have. The data will provide an opportunity for innovative research projects in many areas of study at Lasell including economics, psychology, and environmental studies. Students will examine electricity pricing structures and demand loads in Environmental Economics. Students in the psychology department are researching techniques to modify building occupant behavior.

Below John Audet (left) and Bud Hinkle (right) of Tradesmen of New England LLC, are at Lasell today programming the new controllers and meters for the Lasell Smart Meter Project.

Friday, March 5, 2010

Knotty the Turtle

On Wednesday the most inspiring guest came to my Leadership class to speak with students about living with cystic fibrosis. She shared her life in numbers comparing what she categorized as the good and the bad. Her perspective on life was so uplifting. Despite the many bad things she has had to endure, she has managed to maintain a focus on the good things in life she has been able to do such as traveling to 7 countries and starting her own business called Knot Clothing.

After class I was showing our guest the turtles in the Environmental Science Lab and she asked if they had names yet. They did not. Later that evening I decided that I should name the turtles to honor this inspiring young woman. She was quite proud of her business, Knot Clothing, so I decided to borrow names from her company image. Rather than "The Turtles", these little reptiles will now be called Knotty, Nice, and Chick Magnet. Knotty is the dominant turtle in the tank frequently seen biting at the other turtles. Nice is the runt in the litter as she is almost 10 grams lighter than the other two turtles. Chick Magnet, named after my favorite belt in her clothing line, likes to sun on the floating dock taking in the rays of the heat lamp. He is calm and cool.

While great progress has been made to improve conditions for people living with cystic fibrosis, it is still clear after listening to our guest that more has to be done. This disease needs to be controlled or better yet cured. Students in my Leadership class have been working to help support the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in the quest to control and cure CF. We are organizing a campus walk on April 13th to raise money for the organization. Already we have over 25 walkers registered. Members of our campus community are encouraged to join us. Visit www.tinyurl.com/lasellcf and click Join My Team to register.