Green Walls, Orchids and Other Cute Little Things

In the College Building at Ag Progress Days there will be a demonstration house utilizing green roof and wall technologies.  I wandered over to the site where it will be built but I was a week early.  I did see several green walls erected with moth orchids growing from them.  Can't wait to see what is build for APD.

Walking back to my office I saw this little Smart Car parked outside the greenhouse.  It is an official Office of Physical Plant (OPP) vehicle and a far cry from the ubiquitous blue vans I normally associate with the OPP emblem.  Things are changing. There are green buildings on campus, green roofs and a lot of other green technologies in place including the use of biodiesel fuel in all of the College of Ag Sciences farm machinery.

And just yesterday I found myself face to face with one of Penn State's hybrid research vehicles which utilizes hydrogen fuel cells.  The 10,000 psi pressure rating on the cell label was a bit frightening but I suppose you really have to push that gas in there is you want enough to drive a couple hundred miles.

I wonder how long it will be until we see a hydrogen celled combine in the field?

A Big Crane Appears at the Arboretum

Progress continues on the development of the Arboretum at Penn State. This big crane was busy lifting roof trusses. The big circular walkway is evident in the picture. This will be near the center of the H.O. Smith Botanic Gardens. You can find more images on the College of Ag Sciences Flickr site.

Time flies and so does the pace of construction.

Penn State Research on Energy

This video on energy research on Penn State's YouTube channel gives a fine overview of range of research underway in this area. One of our Agricultural and Biological Engineering faculty members, Tom Richard, is featured in the program. Tom also is the Director of the Penn State Institutes of Energy and the Environment. The College of Ag Sciences is actively involved in research and application of renewable energy resources. 

I'm working on an article for the new issue of Penn State Agriculture on community-based energy projects and how the College of Ag Sciences is help communities sort through and apply technology in this area. That issue will hit the streets in early August.

Stay tuned!