THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY SCHREYER HONORS COLLEGE
THE SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING DESIGN, TECHNOLOGY, AND PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMS
SUSTAINABLE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF A LIBRARY FOR DISABLED CHILDREN OF JAMAICA
STEVEN F. MARSHALL
Fall 2008
A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a baccalaureate degree in Mechanical Engineering with honors in Engineering Design Reviewed and approved* by the following: Andrew S. Lau Associate Professor of Engineering Thesis Supervisor Thomas H. Colledge Assistant Professor of Engineering Design Thesis Supervisor Richard F. Devon Professor of Engineering Design Honors Adviser
* Signatures are on file in the Schreyer Honors College.
We approve the thesis of Steven F. Marshall:
Date of Signature
_______________________________ Andrew S. Lau Associate Professor of Engineering Thesis Supervisor
_____________
_______________________________ Thomas H. Colledge Assistant Professor of Engineering Design Thesis Supervisor
_____________
_______________________________ Richard F. Devon Professor of Engineering Design Honors Adviser
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Abstract
Jacob’s Ladder is a caring facility operated by Mustard Seed Communities (MSC) in
central Jamaica. The site is facing the large challenge of caring for 500 future residents on a limited budget and therefore are pursuing means to introduce sustainable technologies and methodologies on site which will help sustain the community. In partnership with Penn State University, MSC hopes to create a site which will be used to educate both the local and international community about how to apply sustainability to the developing world. In addition to providing for the physical needs of the site, site planners are developing appropriate sensory stimulation systems capable of meeting the needs of the many future residents.
After performing community assessments for numerous participants involved with the
Jacob’s Ladder project, a library for use by both the residents and visitors to the site was designed. The library serves as a building which will provide large-scale sensory stimulation to the residents by relying upon books and reading. In addition, the building will be used as the focal point for guests of the site desiring to learn more about sustainability at Jacob’s Ladder. Not only will the library house educational material about the projects being worked on at the site, but it will also incorporate sustainable design features including being built from a recycled shipping container, the addition of a green roof and solar array on top of the library, and relying upon passive solar designs for both lighting and cooling.
The first portion of the library was built during a trip in November 2008. Plans are in
place to finish construction of the building at which point it will be capable of being used by the current residents on site. As Penn State begins to implement more sustainable research projects on site, the supporting and educational material will be centrally located in the library where visitors will be able to observe and learn more about the future plans for Jacob’s Ladder.
Key words Mustard Seed Communities, Jacob’s Ladder, Jamaica, sustainability, sensory stimulation, library, shipping container construction, intermodal steel building unit, green roof, passive solar design
Table of Contents 1. Introduction
1
1.1 Background Material
1
1.1.1 Mustard Seed Communities Background
1
1.1.2 Jacob’s Ladder Background
2
1.2 Customer Needs Assessment
3
1.3 Project Definition
6
1.3.1 Problem Statement
6
1.3.2 Summarized Goals of the Project
7
1.3.3 Project Evolution
7
1.3.4 Project Planning
8
1.4 Importance of Sensory Stimulation
8
1.4.1 Overview
8
1.4.2 Sensory Stimulation at Jacob’s Ladder
9
1.5 Importance of Sustainability
10
1.5.1 Overview
10
1.5.2 Sustainability at Jacob’s Ladder
11
1.6 Penn State’s Involvement - Demonstration Village
13
1.6.1 Overview
13
1.6.2 Purpose
13
1.6.3 Location
14
1.6.4 Research Components
14
1.7 Shipping Container Library
16
1.7.1 Reason for a Library
16
1.7.2 Shipping Container Construction
16
1.7.3 Role of the Library
17
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2. Concept Development
18
2.1 External Search
18
2.2 Problem Decomposition
20
2.3 Concept Categories
20
2.3.1 Size
20
2.3.2 Location
21
2.3.3 Foundation
23
2.3.4 Lighting
25
2.3.5 Thermal Comfort
27
2.4 Concept Selection and Combination
3. Final Design Selection
33
34
3.1 Design Overview
34
3.2 Design Categories
35
3.2.1 Size
35
3.2.2 Location
36
3.2.3 Foundation
37
3.2.4 Lighting
38
3.2.5 Thermal Comfort
39
3.3 Roof Structure
46
3.4 Interior Layout
50
3.5 Surrounding Garden
53
3.6 Construction and Implementation of System
54
3.7 Book Drive
54
3.8 Bill of Materials
54
3.9 Suggested Improvements
55
4. Conclusion
56 - ii -
Acknowledgements
58
References
59
Image Credits
63
Appendices
66
Appendix A: Dimensioned Drawings
66
Appendix B: Customer Analysis
67
B.1: Community Assessment - January 2008
67
B.2 Community Assessment - March 2008
69
B.3 Customer Needs Evaluation - Matt Moran
70
Appendix C: Demonstration Village Future Research Components
71
Appendix D: Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) Matrix
75
Appendix E: Concept Selection Matrix
78
Appendix F: Wind Rose Chart
81
Appendix G: Roof Frame Design
82
G.1 Roof Strength Engineering Calculations
82
G.2 Bending Stress for Visually Graded Dimensioned Lumber
91
G.3 Section Properties of Standard Dressed (S4S) Sawn Lumber
92
G.4 Square HSS Dimensions and Properties
93
Appendix H: Green Roof Design
94
H.1 Percolation Test
94
H.2 Green Roof Calculations
96
Appendix I: Week Itinerary and Build Tasks
98
Appendix J: Informational Flyer for Book Drive Organizers 102 Appendix K: Dew Collection Research Testing
103
Appendix L: Detailed Project Inventory and Budget
106
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1. Introduction 1.1 Background Material 1.1.1 Mustard Seed Communities Background
Mustard Seed Communities (MSC) is a non-profit community development organization
founded in 1978 in Kingston, Jamaica by the Roman Catholic clergyman, Father Gregory Ramkissoon. With a desire to serve the spiritually, psychologically, and financially poor living throughout Jamaica, MSC began creating places in which to care for, strengthen, and empower others. MSC locations quickly began filling up with disabled and abandoned children, homeless, pregnant teenagers, and individuals afflicted with HIV/AIDS. Currently, MSC operates eighteen “caring apostolates” located across Jamaica and within other countries such as the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, and Zimbabwe.1
Recently, however, the Jamaican government has enforced a law that states that
organizations which operate children’s homes are not permitted to care for individuals above the age of eighteen because they are no longer considered children. Therefore, MSC had to begin looking for alternative solutions to caring for their young adults. As there are currently no facilities set up in Jamaica to care for these people, MSC began envisioning the creation of a new site which would be capable of housing many people from not only MSC, but other organizations who are no longer able to care for these residents above the age of eighteen. This dream has resulted in the creation of Jacob’s Ladder.
Figure 1: Residents at a MSC Caring Facility a
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1.1.2 Jacob’s Ladder Background In 2004, the Jamaican Bauxite Institute, a division of the Jamaican government, leased out 102 acres of mined-out bauxite land to MSC in a town called Moneague. Located in central Jamaica amidst the Blue Mountains, the site consists of large mined-out pits resulting in extreme topography flourishing with natural vegetation.1 With a plot of land to build their new caring facility on, MSC began approaching outside institutions, organizations, and universities for help in planning the overall site development. In 2007, MSC approached the Engineering Department at Penn State University for aid in furthering the development of the site. With help from Penn State, a vision to create a model community which demonstrated sustainability emerged. With the desire to make Jacob’s Ladder economically, ecologically, and socially sustainable, Penn State professors began recruiting students to help with the overall design.
Ocho Rios Jacob’s Ladder
Kingston Figure 2: Map of Jamaica and location of Jacob’s Ladder
Since 2007, Penn State engineering professors and students have been working on
various projects throughout the site, including waste water treatment, rainwater catchments and alternative energy. The ultimate goal for the site is to house 500 physically and mentally disabled residents along with the necessary staff to care for these residents. In addition, an agricultural
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development plan will be created alongside the residential village to provide food for the site as well as generate additional income.
However, there are a few challenges to overcome with the design of the site. As a result
of previous mining efforts, the site is defined by severe slopes and contours. This radical topography makes it difficult to build homes and infrastructure capable of caring for disabled individuals. In addition, the site is much more remote than other locations which MSC has operated. Situated in central Jamaica, Jacob’s Ladder cannot rely on some of the resources readily available to other MSC sites, because of limited availability of supplies and shipping challenges. Resources which encourage mental and physical development are limited, and therefore more emphasis is placed on the caretaker’s ability to entertain the residents.
Figure 3: Aerial View of Jacob’s Ladder b
Figure 4: Cottages at Jacob’s Ladder
1.2 Customer Needs Assessment
To identify the current problems at Jacob’s Ladder and to determine the most appropriate
solutions, detailed community assessments and customer needs analyses were performed. Trips to Jamaica in January 2008 and March 2008 were made to meet with various businesses, government officials, and MSC participants involved with Jacob’s Ladder. During these trips, interviews with the following people were conducted to determine current problems facing Jacob’s Ladder.
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Brother Anthony
Brother Anthony has been the resident director of Jacob’s Ladder since the start of the
site. He is responsible for many of the daily operating decisions and has first-hand experience with the current struggles that Jacob’s Ladder faces. Based from interviews with Brother Anthony on both trips, it became evident that MSC’s primary initial concern was to ensure that the site was capable of providing for the physical needs of the incoming residents. Because Jacob’s Ladder is just starting up, little attention has been given towards providing sensory stimulation resources for the residents.2,3
Darcy Williams
Darcy Williams is the director of the MSC site, Jerusalem!, and chairperson of the MSC
Executive Committee. During the January 2008 trip, the Penn State team met with Mrs. Williams to discuss how a well-established caring facility, such as Jerusalem!, operates. Site planners for Jacob’s Ladder plan on modeling the community off of the structure established at Jerusalem!, which has many older residents who will eventually be moved to Jacob’s Ladder. Mrs. Williams informed the team that an important component of Jerusalem! was providing opportunities for the residents to socialize with one another. In addition to a large outdoor pavilion where the residents are gathered for most of the day, a school was built on site for use by the residents and neighborhood children. With the intention of Jacob’s Ladder housing 500 residents, special attention will need to be given for creating opportunities for the residents to socialize with one another, which will foster development.4
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Jack Samwel MSC
Jack Samwel is the lead architect and site planner for MSC. During an interview with Mr.
Samwel on the January 2008 trip, the Penn State team learned more about the future plans for Jacob’s Ladder and challenges the site faces. With Penn State’s goal of making a model sustainable community, Mr. Samwel explained the current and future needs of the site. Many of these issues, including providing water and food for the site, are areas which sustainable technologies and methodologies can be directly applied. In addition, Mr. Samwel said that many of the challenges which Jacob’s Ladder faces are ones which many Jamaican families face.5
Along with the information obtained from these trips, phone interviews with MSC
representative Matt Moran were compiled over a period of one year.
Matt Moran
Mr. Moran is the liaison between MSC and Penn State University, and works at gathering
individuals and groups with an interest in sustainability to develop the site. All project ideas are assessed and evaluated by him. Mr. Moran stressed the need for a way in which to publicly showcase the sustainability projects occurring at Jacob’s Ladder. By demonstrating research efforts taking place on site, MSC would be able to attract other organizations and individuals with a similar interest.6
From these meetings and interviews, the problem statement, design concepts, and overall
solutions were developed for the project. Refer to Appendix B for further information on all interviews.
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1.3 Project Definition 1.3.1 Problem Statement
This project will investigate means in which to provide sensory stimulation to disabled
residents of Jacob’s Ladder, while simultaneously demonstrating and promoting sustainability.
Jacob’s Ladder is a remote site with the intention of becoming a facility which will house
and care for 500 disabled individuals. Due to the pressing demands placed by the Jamaican government, MSC must focus on constructing homes and infrastructure as quickly as possible to accommodate the future residents. This results in little attention being placed on the residents, and more on the physical construction of the site.
A problem that caretakers are currently facing is the disproportionate ratio of caretakers
to residents. Because Jacob’s Ladder is a remote site, it is difficult for MSC to find enough caretakers to staff the site. Additionally, as more homes are built, there will be a steady increase in the number of residents who need care. There is currently minimal focus on providing stimulation for the children that will help them develop both mentally and physically. Presently, caretakers group the children together during the day and sing to them, with few other resources to use with the residents. As the size of Jacob’s Ladder increases, this problem will grow unless efforts are made to provide resources for the children.3
The second purpose of this project is to demonstrate sustainability and Penn State’s
commitment to designing innovative and appropriate solutions for the developing world. This project will attempt to highlight sustainable solutions to problems facing not only MSC and Jacob’s Ladder, but surrounding communities in Jamaica. It will also attempt to create a system aimed at showcasing multiple design features incorporated at Jacob’s Ladder to the future guests who will visit the site.
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1.3.2 Summarized Goals of the Project 1) Provide sensory stimulation to the residents of Jacob’s Ladder with minimal reliance on external sources. 2) Demonstrate and promote sustainability through education.
1.3.3 Project Evolution
During the course of a year, the project definition was continually modified before
arriving at the current problem statement. The following chart lists the history of the project definition and includes reasons for why the project changed.
January 15, 2008: Creating a dew collection system which will provide water for use on site March 30, 2008: Utilization of dew to enhance sensory stimulation for residents on site.
June 15, 2008: Design of a sensory stimulation system for residents on site.
August 1, 2008: Design of a library and sensory garden for residents on site.
August 4, 2008: Design of a library and sensory garden to demonstrate sustainability and foster therapeutic stimulation. August 12, 2008: Design of a library to serve as the hub of a future sensory garden. The library will be be used to demonstrate sustainability.
Modification: Began to realize the importance of providing a source of stimulation for children on site after talking further with MSC representatives. Modification: Although dew collection was feasible (refer to Appendix K), the cost would be too high at Jacob’s Ladder. In addition, soon after the March 2008 trip, water was provided to the site by the Jamaican government eliminating the immediate need for catching water. Modification: The system had to address the needs of all the children and their disabilities and have the ability to grow with the children and continually interest them. Modification: A second need for the site was to provide a demonstration home which would show sustainable building designs and Penn State’s involvement at Jacob’s Ladder. Modification: The scope of the project needed to be narrowed down to focus just on the library, therefore the sensory garden would supplement the final design.
Figure 5: Project evolution diagram
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1.3.4 Project Planning Community Assessment
Problem Definition
Concept Development
Final Design
Construction
Review
Figure 6: Project Structure
The project was structured in the following manner:
1.4 Importance of Sensory Stimulation 1.4.1 Overview
Anyone watching children at a playground can recognize the importance of engaging
senses at a young age. For disabled children, this need is even greater, because sensory stimulation helps encourage mental, physical, and emotional development - skills vital to helping these individuals cope with and overcome their disabilities.7
In many modern-day care facilities, workers have begun to rely on specially designed
and controlled multi-sensory rooms. Introduced in the 1970s, these rooms (often referred to as snoezelen rooms) include a wide range of objects, sounds, and smells to encourage sensory stimulation. The system is designed so that it can either have a single-sensory or multi-sensory focus, depending on the user at the time. For many, these systems calm and relieve stress, as well as reduce aggression.8
For individuals suffering from mental disabilities, sensory integration is important
because it allows caretakers to lessen or amplify the amount of sensory stimulation that each child receives. Dr. Tammi Reynolds notes that individuals suffering from mental disabilities “often have difficulty coordinating sensory input.�9 Therefore, controlled environments and interactions help patients develop skills needed to coordinate and process multiple senses.
Mentally handicapped individuals may suffer from either hyperactive or hypoactive
sensory systems. Hyperactive individuals over-process some sensory inputs and are unable to
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block out certain others. Therefore they may have difficulty with activities involving motion, such as climbing, walking, and spinning. In contrast, hypoactive individuals are unable to “amplify signals that should be heeded” and therefore are unaffected by dizziness or impairment after activities such as spinning and swinging.9
Figure 7: A child interacts with different sensory stimulation techniques used in a snoezelen room c
For those individuals suffering from physical disabilities, sensory integration can focus
on the senses impaired or on the senses that the individual primarily relies on. Common tasks which focus on fine motor movements, such as buttoning a shirt or gardening, are often used to stress common physical functions.10
1.4.2 Sensory Stimulation at Jacob’s Ladder
Jacob’s Ladder provides a unique situation because the children arriving at the site are
mostly coming from well established sites which typically have some form of sensory stimulation. Other MSC caring facilities have schools, sensory gardens, and rehabilitation centers which are used with the residents. In addition, many of these facilities are located in relatively developed regions, which lend themselves to more activity then Jacob’s Ladder’s remote location.6
As evident by their existing caring facilities, MSC believes in creating non-
institutionalized environments in which to care for their residents.6 During most of the 20th century, facilities were designed as multistory buildings capable of caring for large numbers of patients due to technological advances in medical science and building construction. This new
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trend moved further away from natural therapy techniques such as therapeutic gardens and horticulture therapy programs. In the last decade, however, it has been recognized that nature is an important component to holistic therapy and facilities are attempting to reintroduce natural sensory stimulation back into their programs.11 This new trend is one which MSC has always deemed important in the design of their caring facilities.
MSC places an emphasis on creating intimate communities for the residents and
atmospheres which promote individual discovery. Jacob’s Ladder is located in the rolling hills of the Blue Mountains and is surrounded by natural scenery. The resident’s homes are small 4person cottages, and residents are encouraged to spend their days outside with other individuals. This structure will encourage residents to interact with others who may struggle with different disabilities than their own. In doing so, the systems which the residents interact with must properly meet the specialized needs of each resident’s disability. Therefore, large-scale sensory stimulation at Jacob’s Ladder must be capable of addressing multiple types and levels of handicaps. In addition, the system must be designed such that it can grow with the residents at the rate in which they are developing.6
1.5 Importance of Sustainability 1.5.1 Overview
Jacob’s Ladder also presents a unique look at the term sustainability. The first hurdle one
notices is that the majority of people who will call Jacob’s Ladder home are disabled. Ranging from those bound to wheelchairs and beds, to those who suffer brain damage and mental disorders, Jacob’s Ladder includes a significant proportion of community members who are physically and mentally unable to care for themselves, let alone sustain an entire community. With this in mind, site planners must re-approach how they view Jacob’s Ladder’s sustainability.
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The term sustainable development is most often defined as development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.12 How does this concept apply to Jacob’s Ladder?
At Jacob’s Ladder, the current needs are providing housing and care for handicapped
individuals above the age of eighteen. This requires food, energy, water, infrastructure, and caretakers. The future needs of Jacob’s Ladder will be similar to the current needs, only on a much larger scale. As a nonprofit organization, MSC relies primarily on donations to fund many of its caring facilities.3 Site developers therefore cannot rely completely on the generosity of MSC to provide all the needs for the future generations of Jacob’s Ladder; an alternative approach must be developed.
In what ways can the monetary needs that MSC must provide for the basic operations of
Jacob’s Ladder be decreased? In essence, how can Jacob’s Ladder be made more self-sustaining? It is with these questions in mind that Penn State desires to promote and demonstrate sustainability.
1.5.2 Sustainability at Jacob’s Ladder
Sustainability encompasses all aspects of life and is typically evaluated through
economical, environmental, and social lenses.13 It is within these divisions which the sustainability of Jacob’s Ladder will be evaluated.
Economic Sustainability
When evaluating the five necessary components to the site (food, energy, water,
infrastructure, and caretakers), site developers must focus on those components which can be designed in alternative ways. Of the five components, the caretaker’s salary will be the one category which will stay a constant cost. The other four, however, can be designed alternatively to alleviate costs. Alternative energy technologies, such as solar, wind, and biofuels, are being
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investigated to provide energy to the site. Large-scale agricultural plots and water catchments are being incorporated to provide food and water needs for the residents and staff. A portion of the crops planted can also be sold for additional income, which can help cover the salaries of the caretakers. Lastly, alternative building methods will be introduced to the site to reduce typical building costs.14
Ecological Sustainability Jacob’s Ladder is situated on an abandoned bauxite mine, which means special attention must be made to ensure that the soils are capable of largescale agricultural production. Environmentally conscious technologies and techniques are being investigated for future development, which will help to provide natural fertilizers to reclaim the soil. Onefifth of Jamaica is situated on top of reclaimed bauxite mines, which makes the importance of
Figure 8: Bauxite is primarily strip mined and used to produce aluminum d
developing ways in which to sustain communities on such land relevant to the rest of the country. In addition, a fraction of the energy needs will eventually be generated by renewable sources to help reduce the dependance on fossil fuels.14
Social Sustainability
Because the community will consist of residents with a wide range of handicaps,
the overall design of the site must sufficiently meet the needs of multiple kinds and levels of disabilities. The necessary resources on site must be capable of sustaining the caring process into the future. In addition, consideration must be made for the surrounding communities and neighborhoods of Jacob’s Ladder to ensure that development of the site also betters the lives of
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those individuals. The projects and plans put forth at Jacob’s Ladder must not only empower the residents and caretakers of the site, but also empower the surrounding communities.14
1.6 Penn State’s Involvement - Demonstration Village 1.6.1 Overview
To introduce sustainability to
the site, Penn State planners began developing an area which could showcase select technologies and methodologies. After performing detailed community assessments and information gathering for Jacob’s Ladder, it became apparent that the first
Figure 9: Overlooking the Demonstration Village
challenge that Penn State must address would be the size of the project. Rather than focus all of the efforts on providing for the entire site, Penn State planners decided to focus their efforts on a smaller 15 acre portion of the site which would be referred to as the “Demonstration Village” at Jacob’s Ladder.15
1.6.2 Purpose
The Demonstration Village will be used to: 1) attract future local and international investors by showcasing small-scale pilot projects aimed at promoting sustainability; 2) serve as an educational and training facility for local farmers and community members, and; 3) test and develop practical and feasible solutions focusing on the agricultural, energy, and water needs for future development.15
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1.6.3 Location
Located on the eastern portion of the site, the Demonstration Village will be separated
from the residential sections of the site. This will allow MSC to focus on the construction of the cottages for the residents while Penn State plans the development of the research projects. At the same time, this lets MSC focus on what they have experience with and are primarily concerned about - caring for the residents.15 Figure 10 shows the placement of the Demonstration Village within Jacob’s Ladder and how it compliments the future site layout.
Proposed Homes and Structures
Future Agricultural Development
Existing Homes and Structures
Compassion Tourism Retreat Center Demonstration Village
Figure 10: Jacob’s Ladder plan for future development
1.6.4 Research Components
The Demonstration Village will consist of numerous small-scale projects used to
demonstrate sustainability in appropriate and practical applications. Both local and international visitors to the site will be able to walk through the 15 acres and observe technologies such as
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water catchments, biofuels production, sustainable agriculture, and in-vessel composting. These projects will allow students from multiple universities to work together on developing scalable technologies for the site. Figure 11 shows the proposed layout of the Demonstration Village and the various research projects which will be found on the site.16
Water Catchment High Tunnels / Greenhouses Living Wastewater Filter Alternative Housing Permaculture (Intercropping, hillside farming) Mobile Chicken Coops Indigenous Wildlife Corridor Rotational Grazing Pens Composting Facilities Biodiesel Processing Plant Vegetable Oil Holding Containers Figure 11: Overall plan for Demonstration Village
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1.7 Shipping Container Library 1.7.1 Reason for a Library
After researching various forms of sensory stimulation, it was found that it is most
effective when specifically designed to meet the needs of an individual. Therefore, methods which would be applied to a child with Down’s syndrome would be different then methods used for a child with autism. For this reason, a library was deemed the most appropriate first step at large-scale sensory stimulation because it is capable of addressing the needs of all types of disabilities. Children and young adults with mental or physical disabilities can both interact with books by reading them individually or listening to group readings from the caretakers.
A library would also allow for future construction around it in the form of a sensory
garden which could be built by mission groups visiting Jacob’s Ladder and in need of a work project. A library also reduces the dependance on external resources. Once the library is initially stocked with books, those books will then be able to sustain the residents for years to come. Constructing a library on site is a feasible task which could quickly be built and show Penn State’s commitment to the project.
1.7.2 Shipping Container Construction
After deciding that a library would be the best solution for addressing sensory
stimulation at Jacob’s Ladder, specific designs for the construction of the building were addressed. A key to green building design is the ability to use recycled materials. A recent trend has been to use recycled shipping containers for structural support in buildings. In many places, it is too expensive to ship empty shipping containers back to their supplier. In 2005, it was estimated that over 700,000 shipping containers were left sitting in U.S. ports alone. As a result, containers became readily available and relatively inexpensive compared to standard construction materials, and individuals began using them for buildings.17
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Over the past three years, stockpiles of shipping
containers have declined 25% in most ports. However, architects had already begun to recognize the benefits of shipping container construction, primarily for their strength, durability and modularity.17 Officially referred to as Intermodal Steel Building Units (ISBU) when used for building construction, shipping containers are designed to stack up to 10 containers high and can carry an interior load of up to 50,000 lbs. Intended for traveling across seas, shipping containers are capable of withstanding extreme climatic
Figure 12: Shipping containers are stacked together as building blocks to create a multistory apartment complex in London e
conditions, which makes them a suitable solution for Jamaica because they will be able to withstand hurricane force winds and rain.18
1.7.3 Role of the Library
The shipping container library will serve as the link between the sustainability research
projects at the Demonstration Village and the residential portion of Jacob’s Ladder operated by MSC. The library will do this by serving as: 1) a building which Jacob’s Ladder residents can go to during the day to read, be read to, and interact with hands-on learning activities, and; 2) the access point for which visitors to the site will go to learn about sustainable technologies and procedures.
Guests will be able to visit the library and learn about the various research projects Penn
State is pursuing. Inside there will be educational display boards and material about each research component found in the Demonstration Village. In addition, the library will include examples of sustainable technologies which visitors will be able to interact with firsthand.
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2. Concept Development 2.1 External Search
After determining the customer needs, an extensive external search was performed to
identify current designs similar to that which could be implemented at Jacob’s Ladder. Once decided upon shipping container construction as the most viable option for the library in meeting both project goals, existing shipping container designs were researched. Listed below are a few of those designs critical to the final design selection.
Shipping Container Green Roof
The shipping container in Figure 13, designed and built by
Urban Space Management out of London, is retrofitted with a green roof which serves as insulation for the building while simultaneously cleaning the air around it. Green roofs help decrease sound levels within the building (from outside sources and rain) and increase the life of the roof itself.19
Shipping Container with Vines
Figure 13: A shipping container modified with a green roof f
In Figure 14, multiple shipping containers
are connected to create a residential home. On top of the shipping containers, vines grow over the edge which serve as insulation for the walls and enhance the visual appearance of the structure. Vines growing on the walls serve a similar purpose as a green roof but often do so less expensively.20
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Figure 14: A concept design using vines as additional insulation for the structure g
Hurricane Proof Shipping Container
The structure illustrated in Figure 15 was built
as a research station for scientists in central Australia. The building is located in the middle of a rain forest and withstood a category 5 cyclone in 2006. Although the surrounding trees were damaged from the storm, the shipping containers proved that they were able to withstand hurricane force winds and flooding. This
Figure 15: An Australian research station built from containers h
picture also shows the foundation for the structure. In this design, PVC pipe, rebar, and cement pillars were erected at the corners and the shipping containers were then placed on top of them. The preparation of the foundation and mounting of the shipping containers took only a few days. This design ensured that moisture or animals from the rain forest ground were unable to get into the shipping containers.
Figure 16 shows that shipping containers can
also be designed in ways that redefine what a standard container looks like. Shipping containers have the possibility to be professional-looking structures, which is critical for a library which will ultimately serve as a location in which visitors are taken to on site. Atmospheres can also be created which are appropriate for handicapped individuals and which foster sensory stimulation.21
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Figure 16: Wooden flooring is used to create additional living space in between two shipping containers i
2.2 Problem Decomposition
Before developing unique design Size
solutions, a black-box model was
Disabled Residents
created to visualize the inputs and outputs for the entire system. This shows
Location
Sensory Stimulation
Foundation
what design categories must be focused on to adequately develop a
Lighting Visitors
proper solution to meet the needs of
Educational Experience
Cooling
the library.
2.3 Concept Categories
Figure 17: Project black-box model
Using the categories determined from the black-box model, multiple design concepts
were created for each category.
2.3.1 Size
Shipping containers come in a few different sizes, but the most common sizes are 20’ x 8’
x 8’ and 40’ x 8’ x 8’.18 The constraints which determine which size container would be used for the library are cost and availability. A larger shipping container will provide more room for resources and be able to accommodate more people inside. Depending on the level of funding available for this project and the price of containers at the time of construction, one of the following options will ultimately be used for the final library design. • One container at 40 feet • One at 20 feet • Two at 40 feet • Two at 20 feet • One at 40 feet and one at 20 feet - 20 -
2.3.2 Location At Front Entrance
The front entrance of the site is located on the southern border of the property. It is a
high trafficked area and thus neatly maintained. There are ten homes near the front entrance which are currently used for security buildings, staff homes, and storage. Eventually, these homes will be inhabited by residents of the site. Future plans call for a small market to be built near the entrance which would attract surrounding community members to that area. Locating the library at the front entrance would help showcase Penn State’s involvement by placing a Penn State project in a prominent and visible location. In addition, the ground is relatively level, which would make situating the shipping container easier. However, because future construction will continue into the northern portion of the site, the majority of the residents would be unable to reach the library on a daily basis.
Figure 18: Front entrance
Figure 19: Buildings near the front entrance
East of Chapel
After the front entrance, the chapel and administration building are the second most
heavily trafficked area on site. All visitors and guests will typically be taken to this area which is situated at the highest point on site. By positioning the library east of the chapel, the structure will not obstruct the main view from the chapel which looks northeast towards the rest of the site. This will also place the library close to an existing clump of trees, which would provide shading - 21 -
for the structure. Because MSC desires to ultimately make this location the main contact point for visitors to the site, the library and surrounding sensory garden would help enhance the area. In addition, the Demonstration Village borders the residential portion of the site near this location. After guests make their way to the chapel, they would then travel to the library and from there directly into the Demonstration Village.
Figure 20: East of chapel
Figure 21: A clump of trees are situated to the east of the chapel
Northeast of Chapel Similar to the location east of the chapel, by placing the library to the northeast of the chapel, the structure would be most accessible to the Demonstration Village. An observation deck designed to be built near this location would connect directly to the library for easy viewing of the research projects. This location would be in front of the nearby clump of trees so that shading would not affect the structure.
Figure 22: Northeast of chapel
Figure 23: A hill borders the area between the Demonstration Village and residential portion
- 22 -
2.3.3 Foundation Cement Slab
Pouring a cement slab is a common method used in construction and has been used for
the foundation of the cottages currently built on site.3 If Jamaican workers were to pour the foundation, they would be quite familiar with this procedure. The process does require a lot of cement, which is expensive. Additionally, the final slab must be perfectly level to prevent the shipping container from rocking. This is easier if the ground is relatively level before the slab is poured.
Cement Pads
This method involves pouring three individual cement blocks at 3’ x 2’ x 1’ and situating
two of them at the front corners and one at the back side of the container. By using three pads, the shipping container would always remain stable and be unable to rock. This method would not require as much cement as the slab foundation and can be picked up and moved because it is not completely anchored in the ground. Jamaican workers are familiar with this process as well, which would allow them to easily construct the foundation on their own. However, if the shipping container is supporting a heavy load, large forces would be distributed into the back support columns, which would create stresses around the back pad. This might cause structural damage to the shipping container depending on the size of the load.
Concrete / PVC Pillars
Pillar foundations are occasionally used for shipping container construction because the
container is designed to carry heavy loads entirely on its four corners. By using pillars, the container is elevated off of the ground, which would prevent moisture from getting to the structure and would allow the container to be built easily on sloped ground. This design uses 18 inch diameter PVC pipes which are sunk 2 feet into the ground. Rebar is placed down the center - 23 -
of the pipe and concrete is then poured in to solidify the pillar. This foundation could be completed within two days; however, the concrete should be given time to cure before weight is placed on the pillars. This method would also be expensive primarily because of the PVC pipes and would require that the tops of the pillars are perfectly level and spaced the proper distance away from one another.21
Figure 24: PVC and cement pillars during construction of an Australian shipping container building j
Telephone Pole Pillars An alternative design for a pillar foundation is to use telephone poles. In a similar fashion to the PVC pillar foundation, the telephone poles would be sunk 2 feet into the ground and concrete would be poured into the hole to anchor the pillar in the ground. Depending on the availability of telephone poles on the island, this method may be cheaper then the PVC pillars.
Figure 25: Concept drawing of telephone pole pillars with concrete anchors - 24 -
2.3.4 Lighting Electric Lighting
Electric lighting would allow the library to be used 24 hours a day, and would ensure
that the interior of the building had sufficient light. The system would be connected to the public utility line upon construction, which would require a monthly cost for lighting. Public utilities in Jamaica are also unreliable and occasionally will go down for a few days. Eventually, the system could be converted to alternative energy sources to demonstrate how everyday applications would benefit from alternative energy, but for the time being it would be dependent upon public services.
Sky Light
A sky light would provide a direct source of natural sunlight for the interior of the
building. Implementing such a system would be difficult and expensive if the integrity of the roof needed to remain load bearing. After installation, the sky light would be a free source of lighting, but would limit the library to being used when the sun was shining.
Southern Facing Windows
Relying upon solar orientation, positioning the container such that windows were facing
to the south would maximize the amount of natural lighting entering the building. Orienting the long side of the shipping container from east to west would allow for maximum solar gain. Northern facing windows are also used at times to provide ambient lighting into buildings if direct lighting is not desired. Because Jamaica is located relatively close to the equator, the sun is most often positioned high in the sky and would not shine directly through the windows, which might irritate individuals inside the library due to glare. Window shades may also be applied to the windows to limit the amount of direct light shining into the building if this would be a problem.22 - 25 -
Exterior and Interior Light Shelves
A light shelf is an architectural addition to the exterior and/or interior of a building
which allows natural light to penetrate further into a room. A horizontal shelf protrudes from the wall as shown in Figure 26 and 27 and reflects light into the building. Light shelves can be placed at any height on the window, as long as there is space for the light to reflect into the building. If placed midway up a window, the light shelf will also provide shade for the bottom half of the window. However, the light shelf should be placed above eye level so that the glare off of the surface does not irritate library users. Light shelves are also desirable because they create indirect sunlight, which is more pleasing on the eye This is especially important when considering disabled individuals will be the primary users of the library.22
Figure 26: The light shelf redirects light towards the ceiling of the building creating indirect natural light k
Figure 27: Exterior light shelves l
Interior Design
Proper interior design would help maximize the amount of light the library receives
during the day. If southern facing windows are installed in the library, placing the bookshelves and educational material on the northern wall will allow the light from the windows to best shine on them. Depending on the size of the library, obstructions (wall dividers, bookshelves, etc.) should not be placed in the center of the room to prevent them from blocking light. - 26 -
2.3.5 Thermal Comfort Electric Ceiling Fan
Installing an electric ceiling fan would provide a constant source of cooling for the
interior of the building. This system, however, faces the same challenges as using electric lighting in that it would be dependent upon the unreliable Jamaican public utilities and would cost money to use. In the future it could be connected to an alternative energy source, but presently would depend upon unsustainable means.
Heat Chimney
A heat chimney, also referred to as a thermal chimney, is a design which creates natural
air conditioning within a building. There are multiple variations to the design but the guiding principles remain the same. A chimney (often painted black) is built onto a building. As the sun shines on the chimney, the air inside is heated up and escapes out the top. This draws air from inside the building up through the chimney. Along with a heat chimney, a geothermal heat exchange can be built into the house to provide colder air from the ground.23
Figure 28: Cooling method of a heat chimney with additional geothermal heat exchange m
- 27 -
Roof Pond
A roof pond consists of 6-12 inches of water on top of a structure used for both cooling
and heating a building, depending on the climate and how it is used. For cooling purposes, such as in Jamaica, an insulating cover would be rolled over the water during the day. As the building heats up, the heat rises into the roof and remains in the water. During the night, the cover is removed and the hot water is cooled off by the cold air. Roof ponds can be quite heavy and require daily supervision to open and close the cover.24
Figure 29: During the day, an insulating cover reflects outside heat as the roof pond absorbs heat from inside the building n
Figure 30: During the night, the insulating cover is removed and the heat from the roof pond escapes away from the building n
Green Roof
Green roofs are becoming more prevalent in home construction and are particularly
practical for shipping container construction. A green roof generally consists of a waterproof lining, drainage layer, filter mat, growing medium, and vegetation.25 They can be split into two categories: extensive and intensive. Intensive green roofs refer to growing mediums greater than 6 inches in depth, and extensive green roofs have growing medium depths of less than 6 inches.26 When used in shipping container construction, extensive green roofs are most common. The - 28 -
benefits of green roofs include their ability to insulate a building from temperature change and noise, and increasing the life span of the roof.25
Vegetation Soil Filter mat Drainage layer Root barrier Waterproof membrane
Figure 31: Exploded view of multiple layers of a green roof o
Tree Shading
Depending upon the final location of the library, existing trees on site would provide
natural shading for the building. To provide the maximum amount of shading, the trees would need to be located on either the east or west side of the library. In addition to providing shade, the trees would help funnel wind directly onto the container to help cool the building.
Figure 32: Concept drawing of trees providing shade for a portion of the day
Figure 33: External objects such as trees can help funnel external airflow onto the building
Light-colored Paint
Painting the exterior of the shipping container a light-colored paint would reflect solar
radiation whereas a dark-colored paint would absorb solar radiation. Because the shipping
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container will be bought used, it will need painted regardless and therefore painting it a light color would be a cheap way to help cool the library.27
Shading from Solar Panels
A second Penn State University thesis project by another member of the Jacob’s Ladder
development team will be investigating the use of alternative energy on site, and will be completed at the same time as the library. This project will rely upon solar panels and will require a structure on which to mount them. The library could serve a second purpose by using the roof as the support structure for the solar system. The solar panels would be positioned on a predetermined angle to maximize the efficiency of the panels based upon the latitude of the site. By positioning the solar panels on the roof of the shipping container, additional shading would be created for the library and wind blowing across the site would be funneled down onto the container roof to help with cooling. Such a system would require additional framing to support the weight of the solar panels.28
Figure 34: Solar panels mounted to a residential home p
Figure 35: Airflow around the solar panels
Solar Powered Fan
As solar power became more popular, manufacturers began developing commonly used
products which incorporated solar technology into them. One of these applications was the solar powered attic fan. A small solar panel (typically 10-20 watts) is connected to a standard attic fan which is then powered when the sun is shining. Because the solar panel is relatively small, the
- 30 -
cost to produce solar powered attic fans is reasonable and quickly pays itself off.29 For application in the library, such a fan would help provide direct cooling to the interior of the building.
Figure 36: Solar-powered attic fan mounted to a roof q
Figure 37: Interior structure of a solar-powered attic fan r
Positioning of Windows
To further capitalize upon the wind on site, proper positioning of the windows in the
library would naturally cool the interior of the building. A meteorological survey conducted at the site found that wind comes primarily from the northeast (see Appendix F for wind rose chart). Windows low to the ground on the windward face and windows higher up on the leeward face would force the wind to blow up and through the container.24
Figure 38: Staggering the heights of the windows forces warm air up and out of the structure
- 31 -
SuperTherm
For advanced shipping container construction, SuperTherm is a popular choice for
insulation. Originally designed as an insulating thermoceramic coating for NASA to be used on space shuttles, SuperTherm has now been adapted to be used in building construction.30 It is popular because it has an R-value of R-28.5 if sprayed on both the inside and outside and blocks more than 95% of thermal radiation. SuperTherm consists of three ceramics, two which reflect thermal radiation and one which serves as a barrier to prevent conduction between the two reflective layers.31 Although extremely efficient, SuperTherm can be expensive and would be difficult for local Jamaicans to obtain if they were interested in mimicking the Jacob’s Ladder library.
Insulation Material
R-Value
Perlite
2.7
Fiberglass boards
4.5
Urethane Foam
5.3
SuperTherm
28.5
Figure 39: Table comparing common insulation materials to SuperTherm s
Figure 40: A 40 foot container insulated with SuperTherm t
Living Walls and Green Facades
Recently gaining in popularity, green walls are walls covered in vegetation which can be
attached to the exterior of a building or left freestanding. Green walls serve a similar purpose as a green roof by acting as an additional layer of insulation for both temperature and noise control. There are two different forms of green walls: living walls and green facades. Living walls are constructed from vertical planting panels which contain a growing medium, vegetation, and a means for irrigation. Green facades are simpler and involve climbing plants, such as vines
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growing up or down the sides of buildings. This form is more cost effective, but not as efficient an insulation medium as living walls.32
Figure 41: Vines growing up the sides of buildings are a common form of a green facade u
Figure 42: An example of a living wall planted on the exterior of a residential home v
2.4 Concept Selection and Combination
To narrow down the multiple concepts to a final design, concept scoring matrices were
implemented for each design category. First, an analytical hierarchy process (AHP) was used to determine the selection criteria weighting based upon the numerous customer’s needs. An AHP ranks the relative importance of the design criteria to one another. To view the results from each AHP, see Appendix D.
Next, all the design concepts for each category were given a score from 1-5 (5 being the
highest) for each criteria. These individual scores were then multiplied to the final weighted values found in the individual AHP’s. These new weighted scores were then totaled for each criteria and a final value was determined. The concepts with the highest weighted scores indicate that they were the ones most appropriate for the final design. To view these extended concept selection matrices, refer to Appendix E. By considering the rankings found from the concept combination matrices, the final design was selected.
- 33 -
3. Final Design Selection 3.1 Design Overview The final design for the shipping container library consisted of one 20’ x 8’ x 8’ container located directly beside the chapel. Windows, air vents, and a door were built into the container. The standard cargo doors will remain closed upon completion of the library and the
Figure 43: Current shipping container library at Jacob’s Ladder
installed door will act as the means to enter the library. A ramp will be built outside of the library to accommodate for residents in wheelchairs.
The library relies upon daylighting as the primary source of light, but has plans to
incorporate an electric light in the future. In conjunction with a second Penn State University thesis project, six solar panels will be mounted to the roof of the library.28 In addition, a 25 watt wind turbine will be situated behind the library. To insulate the shipping container, a green roof will be built on portions of the roof. In addition, air vents and windows were strategically placed to utilize natural breezes on site to help cool the building. A solar-powered attic fan will also be installed in the wall to provide additional cooling. For one week in November 2008, six Penn State students and faculty traveled to Jacob’s Ladder to begin construction of the library. During the week, the container was primed and painted, windows and doors were cut into the walls, bookshelves were built inside, and the green roof frame was begun. Due to heavy rains, the foundation was unable to be poured prior to
- 34 -
arrival of the shipping container to the site. Rather, a temporary foundation was constructed for the build week and the small cement pad foundations will be poured at a later date.
Several elements of the final design remain to be completed. Within the container,
educational display boards outlining plans for future sustainable development at Jacob’s Ladder will be mounted on the wall. The electrical components for the solar panels and wind turbine will also be located on the wall, along with an informational display board describing how alternative energy sources work. Bookshelves line the bottom half of the container and will hold books which were donated to the project. Over two thousand books were donated from schools and churches across the state of Pennsylvania and will be shipped to Jamaica in the near future.
Because the library is built beside the chapel, an adjacent sensory garden and reading
area will be built for the residents. This garden will be capable of expanding as the number of residents increases. Mission groups will be able to contribute to the project and build small portions of the entire garden.
3.2 Design Categories 3.2.1 Size
After contacting Cubic Inspirations, a leading Jamaican shipping container architecture
firm, it was found that there was a current lack of shipping containers on the island. This meant that the price of containers had increased, therefore limiting the size shipping container which could be afforded. A 20 foot used steel shipping container was finally sourced from Duane Marzouca Equipment Company LTD in Kingston, Jamaica. A week prior to the build trip, MSC had planned for five 40 foot shipping containers to be shipped to Jacob’s Ladder for storage purposes. This process required them to rent a crane to unload the shipping containers. Therefore, the shipping container to be used for the library was planned to arrive at Jacob’s Ladder on the same date as the MSC containers. This eliminated the need for Penn State to rent a crane to place the container at the proper location. - 35 -
3.2.2 Location
To provide the greatest accessibility for the future residents and visitors at the site, it was
determined that it was most important for the library to be built in a central location on site. Future resident’s homes will be built surrounding the administration building and chapel. Therefore, the library was placed bordering the chapel. The specific location was then given to the Jacob’s Ladder administrators because they had best knowledge about the current development and infrastructure on site.
The library was placed adjacent the chapel and connecting parking area. As seen in
Figure 44, the library is located beside the main entrance to the chapel. The northern face of the chapel will ultimately be made out of windows and will therefore overlook the rest of the site. Therefore, it was important that the library was placed out of the direct line of sight for the chapel. Placing the library on the eastern wall of the chapel ensures that the shipping container does not obstruct the main view.
The library is bordered by a
stone wall on the western side and a
Chapel
Demonstration Village
Road
road on the eastern side. A small
Chapel Entrance
strip of land between the wall and
Admin. Building
road will eventually be converted
Library
into the small sensory garden and
Entrance
reading area for the residents.
Wall
Future plans for enlarging the sensory garden will also be feasible
Figure 44: Location of Library
given the chosen location. These gardens will help enhance the surrounding area which will eventually be the focal point of Jacob’s Ladder.
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By placing the library at this location, Penn State’s research efforts will be prominently
displayed to visitors who may have an interest in sustainability and would therefore like to get more involved. The library is situated near the border to the Demonstration Village and will therefore serve as the entrance point for visitors coming to learn about Penn State’s research projects. It was also important for the library to be centrally located because it will house an alternative energy charging station for an onsite electric golf cart. This vehicle will be parked beside the library throughout the day to charge while staff are working inside the administration building.28
3.2.3 Foundation
Because of the heavy rain, Jacob’s Ladder staff constructed a temporary foundation
consisting of concrete blocks and steel I-beams to support the shipping container. This temporary foundation supported the library for the entire build week and plans were made with MSC staff to build a permanent foundation in the near future.
Figure 45: Due to sloped ground, a temporary foundation elevates the container off the ground
Figure 46: Concrete blocks and steel I-beams were used to temporarily support the container
To replace the foundation, two jacks will be inserted underneath the container to lift it off
of the temporary foundation. Next, concrete pads will be poured underneath each corner. Each pad will be 2’ x 2’ and sunk 8 inches into the ground. Due to the sloped ground, the back corners will remain close to the ground while the front corners will be elevated 2 feet. - 37 -
3.2.4 Lighting
Because electricity costs are expensive, current daily
operation at Jacob’s Ladder is during daylight hours from 6 am-6 pm. Therefore, current use of the library will only happen during the day and will not need lighting at night. To maximize natural sunlight, the orientation of the buildings was aligned so that the main axis of the building
Figure 47: Plexiglass windows provide lighting inside the library
was situated from east to west. This results in sunlight having to travel the least distance (8 feet) inside the building. Two 5’ x 3’ hinged plexiglass windows were placed along the southern wall. Unlike many windows at Jacob’s Ladder, the plexiglass windows allow the library to be used even if the windows need to be shut because of rain.
Because Jamaica is located near the equator, the sun is positioned high in the sky for most
of the year. Therefore direct sunlight into the windows will not be as big of a concern and placing them on the southern wall was most appropriate. The windows were also placed on this wall because it is the side facing the administration building and direction which visitors will be arriving to the library. This allows guests to see inside the library as they are approaching the building, inviting them to step inside.
Figure 48: The windows and door in the library are facing towards the entrance of the site, which allows visitors to see inside the library as they approach the structure. Also shown are the chapel (beside library) and administration building (far left). Both structures are still under construction. - 38 -
If Jacob’s Ladder staff decide in the future that they would like to use the library at times
when daylighting is insufficient, then a simple electric light can be installed inside. This light fixture can receive electricity from the solar and wind powered charging system built into the library.
3.2.5 Thermal Comfort Airflow
By situating the library next to a solid wall of the chapel, wind will be forced to blow
onto the container and through the vents and windows. Two 5’ x 10� vents on the windward side of the building were placed 3 inches from the floor of the container. These vents consisted of two downward sloping boards permanently attached inside a wooden frame. Plastic mesh was attached to the outside of the vent to help prevent rain from getting inside the library. On the opposite wall, the two windows were placed 3.5 feet above the floor. This design forces cooler air into the bottom half of the container while pushing warmer air up and out of the interior of the library. Together, these designs help provide airflow over both the inside and outside of the shipping container. Having a constant source of airflow also removes unwanted smells and paint fumes which may form inside the structure.
Figure 49: One of the windows along the south wall of the library
Figure 50: One of the air vents along the north wall of the library
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Figure 51: Upon completion of the chapel, wind will be reflected off of the enclosed chapel wall (represented by white stripes) and funneled into the vents of the library
Figure 52: Inside the library, cool air will blow in through the vents forcing warm air up and out through the windows on the opposite wall
Solar Panel Array
Working in conjunction with the second Penn State University thesis project, the library
will serve as a support structure for solar panels on the roof. The 260 watt array will be combined with 400 watts from a nearby wind turbine to charge the electric golf cart on site. The panels will be centered on the roof and cover a span of 14’ x 4’. Being slightly elevated off of the roof, the panels will funnel wind down onto the roof to cool the regions not covered by the green roof. In addition, they will shade the exposed roof from direct sunlight.28
- 40 -
Figure 53: Concept rendering of solar panels attached to the roof of the library
Figure 54: Wind Turbine which will be located behind library
Solar-Powered Attic Fan
To provide cross ventilation within the container, a solar-powered attic fan will be
mounted on the western face of the container. A 20 watt solar panel will be mounted on the roof to power the fan. The breeze will blow perpendicularly to the wind entering from the vents.
Air Vents Fan
Windows Figure 55: Solar Powered Attic Fan fitted inside container wall
Figure 56: Cross ventilation within library
- 41 -
Green Roof Overall Design
To provide insulation on the top of the container, which will be most directly affected by
the sun, a green roof will be built. The combination of soil and vegetation will act similarly to standard building insulation. However, due to the weight of the soil, a limited portion of the roof will be covered. The majority of the exposed roof will then be shaded by the solar array. The green roof will include an 8 inch border of soil and plants around the perimeter of the roof. The cross-section of the green roof will consist of a waterproof barrier, drainage layer, filter mat, soil, and vegetation.
Original plans for the green roof called for 2” x 6” cross beams to be bolted to the roof of
the shipping container. This was because the green roof layers would be placed directly on the shipping container roof, and bolted cross beams would then provide the necessary support. However, after obtaining the shipping container, it became evident that due to large dents in the roof, the cross beams would either have additional loads on them because they would be pulling the roof up, or would be unable to span the entire distance because the dented roof was interfering with them.
The redesign of the roof eliminated the need for the cross beams to be bolted to the metal
roof. Rather, ½” plywood would be attached to the underside of the wooden frame on the roof. The green roof layers would then be placed into these enclosed compartments free from sitting on the container roof. Not only does this design lessen the loads created on the cross beams, drainage also became simpler.
Because the roof is dented, rain easily puddles in various spots. If the entire roof were
covered with a waterproof membrane and water managed to get underneath, it would be unable to escape because it would not be exposed to the sun and wind. The redesign allows for rain to
- 42 -
land on the container roof and does not prevent puddling. With the center of the roof under the solar panels exposed to the wind, when water does form it can be blown off and dried by the sun. Because the roof is made from corrugated sheet metal, grooves run along the length of the container to allow the rain that lands on the metal roof to run underneath the green roof compartments to the 20 foot sides and into gutters.
Figure 57: Water will run in the grooves of the roof created by the corrugated sheet metal
Figure 58: Final assembly of green roof with solar array
Rain landing in the green roof compartments is then filtered through the soil and into the
drainage layer. Plastic lining will cover the bottom piece of plywood and force the water to run off into holes drilled into the side support walls. Drainage holes are also drilled just above the soil layer to prevent water from puddling up on top of the soil and therefore washing out the vegetation. Plastic mesh lines each drainage hole to prevent the green roof medium from escaping. These drainage holes then send the water directly into the gutters.
- 43 -
Figure 59: Water falling on the green roof drains through holes drilled in the side boards and into the gutter, while water landing directly on the container roof drains underneath the elevated green roof compartments into the gutter
Percolation Test
After deciding that a green roof would be a critical component of the library, initial tests
were performed during the November 2008 trip to determine the percolation rate of the soil on site. (Percolation rate refers to the time it takes water to filter through a given amount of soil.) Determining the percolation rate of the soil being used in a green roof is important because it allows for precise design of the drainage. If the percolation rate is too low, then the soil is too clayey and fine gravel must be mixed with the soil. By comparing the percolation rate with rainfall data for the region, the acceptable percolation rate can be determined. Confirming that the green roof soil has a high enough percolation rate ensures that water will not puddle on the roof, especially during hurricanes and heavy storms.
- 44 -
Using meteorological data obtained by the Jamaican Water Resource Authority from the
Moneague rainfall station, the green roof was designed for a 30 year - 24 hour storm. After conservative estimations, this equated to a drainage rate of 7 min/inch.33
During the November 2008 trip, soil was taken from a region on site where plants and
soil would ultimately be taken for construction of the green roof. From the percolation test and observations made by local residents, it was found that the soil would be capable of draining at a proper rate for the green roof. Refer to Appendix H for the detailed procedure of the percolation test and involved calculations.
Green Roof Medium Layers
The waterproof barrier was
made from 6 mil black plastic and was
Soil / Vegetation for Green Roof
wrapped around the ½” plywood used
Library
as the bottom support for the green roof. Next, ½” - ¾” diameter gravel was used for a 1” deep drainage layer.
Figure 60: Aerial view of location of soil and vegetation which will be transplanted to the green roof w
This gravel was obtained from a leftover pile of gravel on site, originally used for lining the road and parking lot. The filter mat consisted of non-woven weed control fabric and the soil was taken from a location 200 feet from the library on the top of a slope, as seen in Figure 60. The original soil depth of this area was 3 inches. Low growing vegetation from the same area will be transplanted to the roof in combination with native Jamaican grasses. Grass seed will be purchased from a local garden center and planted on the roof. Figure 63 shows corresponding depths for each layer of the roof. A 4 inch soil depth will be sufficient for the grass and low growing vegetation root structures.34
- 45 -
Figure 61: Soil and low growing vegetation found on site which will be used for the green roof
Figure 62: Additional low growing vegetation on site which will be used for the green roof
Native grass and low growing vegetation 4”
Soil Non-woven weed control fabric ½” - 1” Gravel 6 mil plastic lining
1”
Figure 63: Cross-section of green roof medium layers
3.3 Roof Structure
Because the roof will support both the green roof and solar array, an integrated support
structure was designed to brace both loads. Shipping containers are designed to bear all of their load on the corner vertical supports. Therefore, the roof frame was designed so that it distributed all the weight on the roof to the four corners. The support frame was built using 2” x 6”’s based upon calculations to determine the corresponding beam sizes for the total load. (For full
- 46 -
calculations, refer to Appendix G.) A 20’ x 8’ rectangle frame was built around the perimeter of the roof. Seven cross beams were then used to span the inside of the frame. The five cross beams closest to the center were spaced 3’6” away from one another and used to support the solar array and narrow green roof along the border. Two additional cross beams were placed 8” from either end and used to support the green roof along the 8’ span. To permanently attach the wooden frame to the shipping container, two cross beams will be attached into the roof with 4 ½” lag screws where the container roof is relatively flat.
8”
8”
8”
2ʼ4”
3ʼ6”
3ʼ6”
3ʼ6”
3ʼ6”
2ʼ4”
8”
Figure 64: Wooden 2” x 6” support frame
To frame out the green roof compartments, additional 2” x 6”’s were used to create an 8”
border around the entire frame. Plywood a half-inch thick will then be attached to the underside of the green roof compartments to support the green roof medium layers. The solar array will be supported by an additional 2”x4” frame which will be built off of the inner cross beams.
- 47 -
The 20’ x 2” x 6” wooden beams however were not strong enough by themselves to distribute the load entirely to the corners. To provide additional support, the shipping container’s 20’ rectangular hollow steel side
Figure 65: The support frame was constructed on the ground and will be placed on the roof once the final foundation is complete
rail beams were used to support the weight. This will only work however if the wooden beam and steel beam are touching one another to simulate the two acting as one beam. The corrugated steel roof of the container is welded to the steel side rails and therefore creates a small weld bead the entire way along the perimeter. To compensate for this weld bead, small plywood shims will be attached to the bottom of the wooden frame to ensure that the two beams are resting on one another.
Weld Bead
Weld Bead Plywood Shim
Figure 66: Plywood shims attached to the underside of the support frame ensure that the wooden and steel beams remain touching with the weld bead running in between the two
- 48 -
Figure 67: Weld bead on the roof of the container
The final design consideration for the roof was to evaluate the walls of the container. The
corrugated steel used for the walls does not specifically bear any of the load on a container, but does provide rigidness for the entire structure. By cutting windows and a door into the container, the structural integrity of the walls was jeopardized. To compensate, two things were done. First, the frames which were used to hold in the windows and door doubled as a way to increase the strength in the walls. Second, interior 2�x4� vertical supports were placed along the 20 foot span directly underneath the steel beam. Because the door frame provided vertical support on the one side, only one additional vertical support was added on the south side. On the northern face, two vertical supports were each placed 2.5 feet away from the center of the wall.
Figure 68: Frame of the door acts as an interior vertical support
Figure 69: Two vertical supports along the northern wall provide additional support for the roof
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3.4 Interior Layout
Figure 70 shows an aerial view of the inside of the library. Upon entering the container
after its completion, one will immediately see the Penn State display boards on the opposite wall outlining plans for future development and describing the sustainable design elements incorporated into the library. On their left, visitors will be able to observe the multiple components required for generating electricity from the solar panels and wind turbine. This will include the batteries, inverter, charge controller, disconnects, and breaker box.
Air Vents Penn State Display Boards and Material
Windows
Bookshelves Solar Electrical Components Figure 70: Internal arrangement of library
The electrical components were elevated above the vents to ensure that rain would not
accidentally fall on them. A poster beside these components will demonstrate how the system works as a whole. Surrounding the bottom half of the library are bookshelves which will house the books for the residents. A book shelf directly beside the door will also hold additional books from floor to ceiling.
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Because daylighting is used to light the interior, items which will be used most often
were placed opposite the windows so that they would be best lit. This included all of the educational display boards and material. In addition, the inside of the container had to create an environment conducive for larger groups gathering inside to learn about the sustainability projects. By using the entire 20 foot wall, multiple people are able to gather inside and read the boards comfortably.
Figure 71: Current status of inside the library, northern wall
Figure 72: Concept rendering of inside the library with books, display materials, and electrical components
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All additional space was used for bookshelves for the residents. Because of the large
number of residents, the staff and children will not actually read the books inside the library but rather take them outside to the attached reading garden. Therefore, it was not important to create a space inside where people could read the books for extended periods. However, a small table and chairs can be placed at the far end of the library if individuals desire to remain inside while using the books.
Figure 73: Current status of inside the library, southern wall
Figure 74: Concept rendering of inside the library with books along the southern wall
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3.5 Surrounding Garden
To provide an area for reading the books to the residents and to help enhance the
appearance of the surrounding area, a sensory garden will be built adjacent the library. Figures 75 and 76 show the current area surrounding the library and a concept of what the garden surrounding the library may look like in the future. This sensory garden could be expanded to include multiple design elements to engage the senses based upon the needs of the future residents. MSC is planing on building pavilions nearby the library which will provide additional space for caretakers to read to the residents.
Figure 75: Current status outside the library
Figure 76: Concept rendering of finished library with attached sensory garden and reading area
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3.6 Construction and Implementation of System
From November 22-28, 2008, six Penn State students and faculty traveled to Jacob’s
Ladder to begin construction of the library. Prior to the build team arriving at Jacob’s Ladder, MSC staff constructed the temporary foundation on site on which the shipping container was placed. This ensured that the build team could begin construction and modification of the container immediately upon arrival. For the majority of the week, the site experienced periodic rain showers that made it more difficult to perform certain tasks such as painting. Out of consideration for the residents, tasks which involved noise were scheduled for during the day. For a detailed itinerary of the work completed during that week, see Appendix I.
3.7 Book Drive
To provide resources for the library,
multiple book drives were organized across the state of Pennsylvania. Neighborhoods, churches, and schools (elementary, middle, and high schools) were all involved in donating books to the project. From these efforts, 2075 children books were collected. In the spring of 2009, the books will be shipped to Jacob’s Ladder. Refer to Appendix J for the informational material
Figure 77: Donated books are packed in boxes to prepare for shipment to Jamaica
which was used to publicize the book drives.
3.8 Bill of Materials
Appendix L provides a detailed listing of all materials needed for construction of the
library as well as their costs. In total, the library cost ~$3,200 to construct after receiving donated - 54 -
materials from both Mustard Seed Communities and Penn State University. Funding obtained from the International Journal of Service Learning in Engineering in partnership with the Jimmy and Rosalynn Partnership Foundation and Penn State University’s the Africana Research Center, the Schreyer Honors College, and the Alliance for Earth Science, Engineering, and Development in Africa were used to cover the project costs.
3.9 Suggested Improvements
Because some materials were donated by MSC, the final design of the library was slightly
modified to accommodate the donated materials. For example, the windows which were donated were originally intended to slide up and down within a frame. However, because the final design called for the windows to be able to open entirely, the windows were modified such that the window opened on a hinge. This created problems when attempting to create a watertight seal around the window. Ideally it would be best to buy supplies and use them for their original intention; however, with a limited budget and supplies donated from MSC, modifications to the materials was the most cost effective solution. After completing the build week, another change which would have been made to the final design would be to weld metal framing around the openings in the wall and then attach the wooden frames inside the metal frame. Because the walls are made from corrugated sheet metal, the window frames do not rest flush against the wall. Rather, small pockets where water can run are created. For construction of the library, rubber bicycle tubing was used to seal the space between the metal and wood and then caulk was applied around all edges. The original intention for the window frame was to allow the water to run in them, but have them designed such that the water ran to the outside edges. While checking the container after a heavy rainstorm the night before the build team left, it was found that water still managed to leak inside. For the time being, plastic lining was placed over the windows to prevent further water
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from entering the library. This leaking will be further addressed on the next build trip. In addition to silicone caulking, applying a spray foam insulation to the window frames may have helped prevent leaking.
Another problem with the windows was that they ended up using more lumber than
originally expected. The primary reason for using a shipping container was to take advantage of using recycled materials which would reduce the need for supplies such as concrete and lumber. However, because the container was being built as a library, a significant amount of lumber was needed simply for the bookshelves.
Originally, SuperTherm as an insulation option was ruled out because it would be
expensive and difficult to obtain for most Jamaicans. However, using a green roof as the insulating method for most shipping container homes would be impractical. The green roof was applicable for the library because not only was it used to cool the building but it was also used to educate guests about various sustainable designs. The actual effectiveness of the green roof as an insulating layer will be determined once it is finally assembled during the next build trip. If shipping container construction were to be used for future buildings at Jacob’s Ladder, SuperTherm may be a more feasible scalable solution.
Although unpreventable, the constant rain created problems when painting and priming
the container. Because the outside of the container has yet to be painted, ideally this should be performed when it is not raining.
4. Conclusion
Design and construction of the shipping container library successfully met the two
project goals of promoting and demonstrating sustainability efforts at Jacob’s Ladder and providing a source of sensory stimulation for the residents.
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The library will educate visitors about how green designs such as alternative energy,
green roofs, and alternative building methods can be applied to their own lives, and marks the first on-the-ground commitment by Penn State to MSC. As more Penn State students and faculty begin work on projects at Jacob’s Ladder, the library will be able to accommodate the supporting material for these new research projects. In addition, the library will help centralize Penn State’s efforts on site and will eventually be the access point from which guests will be able to visit the Demonstration Village.
The library meets the second project goal by serving as an appropriate large-scale sensory
stimulation system at Jacob’s Ladder. Books can be used as a developmental tool regardless of the level or type of disability, and are capable of growing and adapting with the residents. Specialized forms of sensory integration can then be built upon the library, such as a sensory garden. Because the library will be stocked with donated books and materials, the library will minimize the amount of external resources needed to meet the needs of the residents. Although the library was not completely finished during the November 2008 build trip, plans are in place to finish construction of the building during the upcoming semester. The progress which was made during the build trip was significant in solidifying the relationship between MSC and Penn State and will be built upon in the years to come.
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Acknowledgements
The author would like to thank Eric Sauder and Dr. Neil Brown for their continued
support throughout the project and assistance in ensuring that the library was able to be built in an appropriate and timely manner. For their support, cooperation, and guidance in developing feasible solutions for Jacob’s Ladder, the author would like to thank Matt Moran, Father Gregory Ramkissoon, Clyde Ramkissoon, and Brother Anthony.
For technical assistance and academic supervision on various components of the project,
the author would like to thank Dr. Robert Berghage, Dr. Louis Geschwinder, Professor Andy Lau, and Professor Tom Colledge.
For their cooperation and eagerness to help construct the library, the author would like to
thank the members of the build team, including Andrew Grim, Andrew McLean, and Vaughn Climenhaga.
For their support and generosity in donating to the book drive, the author would like to
thank Mr. Robert Swatner and the students, faculty and parents of Hempfield School District, Connie Grow and Zion Lutheran Church of Landisville, Linda Lobach, and Linda Marshall. The author would also like to thank the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Partnership Foundation, the Schreyer Honors College of the Pennsylvania State University, the Department of Mechanical Engineering of the Pennsylvania State University, the Africana Research Center, the Alliance for Earth Science, Engineering, and the Development of Africa (AESEDA), and Mustard Seed Communities for providing funding and donations to physically implement this project.
Lastly, for those who provided support, feedback, editing, and encouragement
throughout the project, the author would like to thank Leah Ruth, Keith Hodge, Kathleen Snyder, and Lois Abdelmalek.
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References 1.
Brown, Neil, Steven Marshall, and Eric Sauder. "Mustard Seed Communities." Jacob's Ladder: A Sustainable Community for Disabled Individuals of Jamaica. Vol. 1. Oct. 2008. 2.
2.
Brother Anthony. Personal interview. 5 Jan. 2008.
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Brother Anthony. Personal interview. 12 Mar. 2008.
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Williams, Darcy. Personal interview. 4 Jan. 2008.
5.
Samwel, Jack. Personal interview. 4 Jan. 2008.
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Moran, Matthew. Telephone interviews. Nov. 2007 - Nov. 2008.
7.
Johnson, Hilary. "Foreword." Foreword. Sensory Stimulation : Sensory-Focused Activities for People with Physical and Multiple Disabilities. By Hilary Johnson and Susan Fowler. London: Jessica Kingsley Limited, 2006. 9.
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"Snoezelen." Wikipedia. 22 Aug. 2008. The Wikimedia Foundation. 14 Sept. 2008 <http:// en.wikipedia.org/wiki/snoezelen>.
9.
Reynolds, Tammi. "Mental Retardation: Physical Therapy and Sensory Integration." Gulf Bend Center. 2008. 14 Sept. 2008 <http://www.gulfbend.org/poc/view_doc.php? type=doc&id=10368&cn=208>.
10. Hatch-Rasmussen, Cindy. "Sensory Integration." Autism Research Institute. 2008. 10 Aug. 2008 <http://www.autism.com/families/therapy/si.htm>. 11. Epstein, Mark. "The Garden as Healer." Landscape NW. 1998. The Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce. 7 Sept. 2008 <http://www.djc.com/special/landscape98/10037844.htm>. 12. "What is Sustainable Development." Development Education Program. 2001. The World Bank Institute. 22 June 2008 <http://www.worldbank.org/depweb/english/sd.html>.
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13. "Sustainability." Wikipedia. 3 Sept. 2008. The Wikimedia Foundation. 5 Sept. 2008 <http:// en.wikipedia.org/wiki/sustainability#environmental.2c_social_and_economic_ cooperation>. 14. Brown, Neil, Steven Marshall, and Eric Sauder. "Jacob's Ladder Overview." Jacob's Ladder: A Sustainable Community for Disabled Individuals of Jamaica. Vol. 1. Oct. 2008. 4. 15. Brown, Neil, Steven Marshall, and Eric Sauder. "Demonstration Village." Jacob's Ladder: A Sustainable Community for Disabled Individuals of Jamaica. Vol. 1. Oct. 2008. 6. 16. Brown, Neil, Steven Marshall, and Eric Sauder. "Proposed Research Components." Jacob's Ladder: A Sustainable Community for Disabled Individuals of Jamaica. Vol. 1. Oct. 2008. 8. 17. "Why Use ISBU?" Intermodal Steel Building Units & Container Homes. 2008. ISBU Association. 2 Oct. 2008 <http://www.isbu-info.org/why_use_isbu.htm>. 18. "Container Design." Container Handbook. Vol. 1. 2008. German Insurance Association. 6 Sept. 2008. <http://www.containerhandbuch.de/chb_e/stra/index.html>. 19. "Green Energy: Part L Compliance." Container City. 2007. Urban Space Management. 25 Aug. 2008 <http://www.containercity.com/part-l-compliance.html>. 20. "Cargotecture." Hybrid Seattle. 2006. 26 Aug. 2008 <http://www.hybridseattle.com/>. 21. "Building a shipping container home." Shipping Container Home. 2008. Earth Science Australia. 26 Aug. 2008 <http://earthsci.org/education/fieldsk/container/container.html>. 22. "Green Building Primer: Lighting: Daylighting." Sustainability at Williams. 2008. Williams College. 21 Aug. 2008 <http://www.williams.edu/resources/sustainability/green_ buildings/lighting.php?topic=day>. 23. "Solar Chimney." Wikipedia. 22 Sept. 2008. The Wikimedia Foundation. 28 Sept. 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/solar_chimney>.
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24. "Green Building Primer: Passive Solar Design: Passive Cooling." Sustainability at Williams. 2008. Williams College. 21 Aug. 2008 <http://www.williams.edu/resources/sustainability/ green_buildings/passive_solar.php?topic=cooling>. 25. "About Green Roofs." Green Roofs for Healthy Cities. 2005. 26 July 2008 <http:// www.greenroofs.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=26&itemid=40>. 26. "Types of Green Roofs." 2007. Minnesota Green Roofs Council. 26 July 2008 <http:// www.mngreenroofs.org/types>. 27. Lightle, Kimberly. "Solar Energy, Albedo, and the Polar Regions." Beyond Penguins and Polar Bears. Oct. 2008. The Ohio State University. 30 Nov. 2008 <http://beyondpenguins.nsdl.org/ issue/column.php?date=october2008&departmentid=professional&columnid=professional! science>. 28. Sauder, Eric M. "Development of an appropriate solar and wind hybrid charging station for electric vehicles in developing countries." Thesis. State College, Pennsylvania. 29. "Solar-Powered Attic Fan." ToolBase Services. 2008. National Association of Home Builders Research Center. 21 Oct. 2008 <http://www.toolbase.org/Technology-Inventory/HVAC/ Solar-Powered-Attic-Fan>. 30. "SuperTherm: NASA Thermoceramic Technology." SuperTherm Europe Group. 2008. Superior Products International II, Inc. 14 Sept. 2008 <http://www.supertherm.sk/eng/ supertherm-uvod.html>. 31. "Supertherm Insulating Paint." Enercheck Systems, Inc. 30 June 2007. 30 Sept. 2008 <http:// www.enerchecksystems.com/suprthrm.html>. 32. "Green Wall." Wikipedia. 14 Aug. 2008. The Wikimedia Foundation. 5 Aug. 2008 <http:// en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_wall>. 33. Jamaican Water Resources Authority. Moneague Rainfall Station: Monthly Rainfall from 1951-1980. Raw data.
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34. Berghage, Robert. "Jamaica Green Roof." E-mail to the author. 17 Nov. 2008. 35. "Our Island Jamaica." 2008. Water Resources Authority. 11 June 2008 <http:// www.wra.gov.jm/dynaweb.dti?dynasection=jamaica&dynapage=our_island&phpsessid= fa3db0f643f99c5b988a40b3df16e678)>. 36. Design Values for Wood Construction: National Design Specification Supplement. Revised 1991 ed. Washington, DC: American Forest & Paper Association, 1991. 20. 37. Design Values for Wood Construction: National Design Specification Supplement. Revised 1991 ed. Washington, DC: American Forest & Paper Association, 1991. 10. 38. Steel Construction Manual. 13th ed. New York: American Institute of Steel Construction, 2005. 1-92. 39. Florida Department of Environmental Protection, UF-IFAS Leon County Extension (Natural Resource Management) and Riversprings Middle School. Percolation Test. 29 June 2006. 40. "Hurricane Ike: Rain Rate." Relief Web. 8 Sept. 2008. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. 1 Dec. 2008 <http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/asaz-7jcbdj? opendocument>. 41. Brooks, David. "Water / Part 2. The Approaches." 3 Mar. 2006. The International Development Research Centre. 12 Feb. 2008 <http://www.idrc.ca/en/ev-5077-201-1do_topic.html>. 42. Beysens, Daniel. "Dew Harvesting." E-mail to the author. 20 June 2008.
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Image Credits a.
MSC Children. Digital image. My Father's House. Mustard Seed Communities. 6 Nov. 2008 <http://www.mustardseed.com/home/myfathershouse/index.php>.
b. Aerial View of Jacob's Ladder. Digital image. Google Earth. Google. 12 Apr. 2008 <http:// earth.google.com/>. c.
Child in Multisensory Room. Digital image. Multisensory Room. Blossomland Learning Center. 2 Nov. 2008 <http://www.remc11.k12.mi.us/blc/multisensoryroom.htm>.
d. Jamaican Bauxite Mining. Digital image. Hydro. 25 May 2004. 1 Dec. 2008 <http:// www.hydro.com/en/press-room/news/archive/2004/may/16555/>. e.
Container City II Balconies. Digital image. Container City Gallery. Urban Space Management. 9 Oct. 2008 <http://www.containercity.com/gallery.html>.
f.
Shipping Container retrofitted with a Green Roof. Digital image. Green Energy: Part L Compliance. Urban Space Management. 9 Oct. 2008 <http://www.containercity.com/part-lcompliance.html>.
g. Concept Drawing Shipping Container Home. Digital image. Hybrid Seattle. 26 Aug. 2008 <http://www.hybridseattle.com/>. h. Shipping Container Home. Digital image. Earth Science Australia. 26 Aug. 2008 <http:// earthsci.org/education/fieldsk/container/container.html>. i.
Shipping Container Home Flooring. Digital image. Earth Science Australia. 26 Aug. 2008 <http://earthsci.org/education/fieldsk/container/container.html>.
j.
Shipping Container Home Foundation. Digital image. Earth Science Australia. 26 Aug. 2008 <http://earthsci.org/education/fieldsk/container/container.html>.
k. Light Shelf Theory Diagram. Digital image. Adapted from Architectural Record. 18 Oct. 2008 <http://archrecord.construction.com/resources/images/0512lutron2.jpg>.
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l.
Exterior Light Shelf. Digital image. Sustainability at Williams. Williams College. 12 Oct. 2008 < http://www.williams.edu/resources/sustainability/green_buildings/>.
m. Solar Chimney. Digital image. Wikipedia. The Wikimedia Foundation. 28 Sept. 2008 < http:// en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Solarchimney.jpg>. n. Roof Pond Heating Cycle. Digital image. Adapted from Passive Solar Architecture: Heating. Arizona Solar Center. 28 Sept. 2008 <http://www.azsolarcenter.com/design/pas-2.html>. o.
Components of a Green Roof. Digital image. Roofing Systems. Triton Chemicals. 10 Nov. 2008 <http://www.triton-chemicals.co.uk/prode1.php>.
p. Residential Solar Array. Solar Energy. Heliotropics. 10 Nov. 2008 <http:// www.heliotropics.com/Solar%20Energy.html>. q. Solar-Powered Attic Fan. Got2BeGreen. 12 Oct. 2008 <http://got2begreen.com/greenlifestyles/greening-your-home/solar-powered-attic-fan/>. r.
Cutaway View of a Solar-Powered Attic Fan. Sustain Ability. 12 Oct. 2008 <http:// www.sustainabilitynh.com/products.php?product=solar-star-solar-fans>.
s.
"Typical R-Values." Chart. Sizes. 9 Sept. 2003. 1 Dec. 2008 <http://www.sizes.com/units/ rvalue.htm>.
t.
Shipping Container applied with SuperTherm. Container DOE Report Houston. Eagle Coatings. 1 Dec. 2008 <http://www.eaglecoatings.net/breakingnews.htm>.
u. Vines Growing on Building Wall. My Life on Craft. 1 Dec. 2008 <http://mylifeoncraft.com/? cat=5>. v. Elevated Landscape Technologies Living Walls. Canada Blooms: ELT Green Roofs & Living Walls. Green Thinkers. 1 Dec. 2008 <http://www.greenthinkers.org/blog/2007/03/ canada_blooms_elt_easy_green_r.html>. w. Moran, Matt. Aerial View of Jacob's Ladder. Digital image.
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x.
Plant Growth in Soil. Soil Information Online. Shelby County Soil Water Conservation District. 12 May 2008 <http://shelbycountyswcd.org/soil%20survey%20online.htm>.
y. Sheep Grazing on Mountainside. Picasa. Google. 12 May 2008 <http:// picasaweb.google.com/>. *All non-credited images are property of Steven Marshall and Eric Sauder. Computer-generated graphics were created using Google SketchUp and Adobe Photoshop.
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Appendices Appendix A: Dimensioned Drawings
Figure 78: South face of the library
Figure 79: North face of the library
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Appendix B: Customer Analysis B.1: Community Assessment - January 2008
The first community assessment to gather information and data about current and future
needs for Jacob’s Ladder took place January 2-9, 2008. During this trip, numerous interviews and meetings were arranged from which the following information was gathered to define the needs and goals for this project:
January 4: Interview with Jack Samwel Jack Samwel - Lead architect and site planner for MSC
MSC
My Father’s House - Kingston, Jamaica
During this interview, the travel team found that MSC’s next priority is to design and
construct ten more homes to house future residents. However, funding was limited and construction was delayed until MSC received donations specifically for the project. It became clear that the cost for the entire Jacob’s Ladder project will be a large concern in the future, so any ways to reduce the site’s operational cost should be a priority. Mr. Samwel also explained that he is the primary designer for the cottages used in MSC sites and is in charge of the overall infrastructure design for Jacob’s Ladder. Any projects Penn State plans on implementing at the site will need to be examined by Mr. Samwel.5
January 4: Interview with Darcy Williams Darcy Williams - Director of Jerusalem! and chairperson of MSC Executive Committee Jerusalem! - Kingston, Jamaica
Jerusalem! is one of MSC’s most well established caring facilities. Because the site is
located in Spanish Town, a heavily populated city just outside of Kingston, a school was built on site which is used by both the residents and community children in the area. The Ministry of Education assists MSC by providing some of the funding for teacher’s salaries. After meeting the
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residents of Jerusalem! it became apparent that sensory integration would need to be a priority at Jacob’s Ladder because residents moving to the new site would be used to some form of sensory stimulation.
Outside of school, the children are brought out of their homes during the day to socialize
with other residents and to receive specialized training. Those residents who are capable of physical work are assigned to separate regions of the site (kitchen, farm, etc.). Depending on the task and individual, varying levels of supervision are needed. Those who are physically unable to move around the site spend most of their time in the outdoor pavilion and spend time working with the caretakers and volunteers. The one complaint caretakers have about the pavilion is that they wish it were meshed in because of the insects. Having large windows and openings in these structures are key in allowing airflow for the residents, because only one of the rooms on site had air conditioning.4
January 5: Interview with Brother Anthony Brother Anthony - Resident director of Jacob’s Ladder Jacob’s Ladder - Moneague, Jamaica
Brother Anthony is in charge of overall maintenance and operation of Jacob’s Ladder.
This involves seeing that there is enough food and water for the site and overseeing the future directions for Jacob’s Ladder. While describing conditions on site, Brother Anthony noted that they receive heavy fog for 5 hours every night. The site never goes more than 2 weeks without rain, and most of the time the rain comes in heavy bursts.2
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B.2 Community Assessment - March 2008
The second community assessment trip took place from March 9-15, 2008. During this
trip, the travel team stayed primarily on site at Jacob’s Ladder to perform surveying, site layout mapping, and dew collection research projects. The following information was obtained relating to this project.
March 12: Interview with Brother Anthony Brother Anthony - Resident director of Jacob’s Ladder Jacob’s Ladder - Moneague, Jamaica
Brother Anthony explained that the caretakers and residents rely heavily upon two
outdoor pavilions which have been built on site. During the day, caretakers take the residents outside to the pavilions and sing to them as a group due to a lack of resources. The caretakers have expressed to him that it is difficult to properly meet the needs of the 32 residents currently on site and that it will be more difficult as more residents are transferred to Jacob’s Ladder. Because of this, Brother Anthony has begun to construct a small meditation garden for the children that currently includes a small path leading to a bench. He thinks it would be a good idea to incorporate a larger therapeutic garden for the children to help them develop.3
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B.3 Customer Needs Evaluation - Matt Moran
Matt Moran - MSC Liaison between Penn State University and MSC Jamaica
Since August 2007, Mr. Moran has served as the MSC representative to Penn State as
students and faculty began designing for Jacobâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ladder. After the two community assessment trips to Jacobâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ladder, project ideas were pitched to Mr. Moran to gauge their feasibility and appropriateness. Mr. Moran was excited about the possibility of a sensory garden to be built on site and the ability to incorporate mission groups into building portions of the garden. In August 2008, Mr. Moran relayed the idea of a library to MSC Jamaica planners, including Jack Samwel and Father Gregory Ramkissoon. MSC staff thought the construction of a library on site would be beneficial in the future development of the site and would help link the work done by both Penn State University and MSC.6
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Appendix C: Demonstration Village Future Research Components Water Catchment Research
A large problem facing rural farmers of
Jamaica is the ability to collect water for agricultural purposes during the dry season, which stretches from December to April.35 The typical approach to overcoming this problem is to build a concrete water catchment. However, for poor rural farmers, concrete is too expensive as a
Figure 80: Demonstration Village proposed water catchment
building material, and is therefore not feasible to use in water catchment design. To address this problem, a water catch will be designed for the Demonstration Village to investigate new materials for lining the catchment surface with the goal of eliminating the need for concrete. In combination with a solar-powered pump, the water will be piped to various portions of the Demonstration Village for irrigation purposes.16
High Tunnel Research
High tunnels, similar to greenhouses, are
used in tropical regions to control the environment by regulating rainfall and monitoring integrated pest management. Two 30â&#x20AC;&#x2122;x100â&#x20AC;&#x2122; high tunnels will be built on site to research the effect that high tunnels have on crop yield in Jamaica. An integrated water catchment
Figure 81: Demonstration Village proposed high tunnel system
will be built for the high tunnels to supply water for irrigation.16
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Alternative Housing Construction
To monitor the various pilot projects, an
office building will be constructed that will demonstrate hurricane resistant building techniques. The roof will harness the buildingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s water needs, and a living filter will be used to treat the wastewater generated from the office.
Figure 82: Demonstration Village proposed office
The building will introduce new and cheaper methods and materials for construction.16
Permaculture Design
Permaculture attempts to identify the
various components of an overall agricultural system and observe how the multiple components interact. For the Demonstration Village fruit trees, cover crops, and root crops will be planted together in a polyculture manner. In doing so, the various plants benefit from one another when
Figure 83: Permaculture is an attempt to mimic nature through human endeavors x
properly planned and maintained. In addition, hillside farming will be investigated to help develop feasible agricultural solutions to planting on steep slopes left from mining efforts. Currently, â&#x2026;&#x2022; of Jamaica has been or is currently being mined for bauxite. Therefore, many small farmers across the island deal with problems associated with planting on abandoned bauxitemined land. Techniques demonstrated at Jacobâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ladder will be used to educate these small farmers to help them find practical solutions to their problems.16
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Mobile Chicken Coop
To reclaim the soil, mobile chicken coops
will move across the site based upon a fixed rotation pattern. The chickens will help maintain the vegetative growth on site and provide natural fertilizer for the soil. In addition, they will help control pests and insects in the agricultural plots. A portable fence will surround and move along
Figure 84: Demonstration Village proposed mobile chicken coop design
with the chicken coop which can be manually moved or attached to a tractor.16
Indigenous Nature Corridor
A separate parcel of land will be sectioned
off and left as the natural habitat so as to observe the difference before and after implementation of the Demonstration Village. This plot of land will also attract the indigenous wildlife of the area.16
Rotational Grazing Pens
Figure 85: Location of nature corridor at Jacobâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ladder
Portable electric fences for goat and sheep will be moved around the site in a rotational grazing pattern to help reclaim the soil. These pens will also be located closer to the cottages on site to enhance sensory stimulation for the residents. Working in collaboration with the mobile chicken coops, these livestock will help control thicker vegetation on site.16
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Figure 86: Goats and sheep will be the primary source of livestock on site y
Composting Facilities In collaboration with hotels in Ocho Rios, hotel kitchen waste will be collected and transported to Jacobâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ladder. Here it will be used in small-scale in-vessel composting operations in which the output can be used to reclaim the soil. The system will involve manually rolling drums of organic waste material
Figure 87: Demonstration Village proposed composting facility
down a concrete chute. 16
Biofuel Processing Plant
Cooking oil will also be obtained from
the hotels in Ocho Rios which will then be used in a small-scale biodiesel processing plant. This biodiesel will be used to fuel an on-site truck which will transport caretakers back and forth to their communities. The biodiesel truck will also serve as an advertising medium for Jacobâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
Figure 88: Demonstration Village proposed biofuel processing plant
Ladder. By working in collaboration with hotels in the tourism district of Jamaica, Jacobâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ladder will eventually include a small ecotourism and compassion tourism sector which will help educate international visitors about the importance of sustainability. 16
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Appendix D: Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) Matrix Size
Location
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Foundation
Lighting
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Thermal Comfort
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Appendix E: Concept Selection Matrix Size
Location
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Foundation
Lighting
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Thermal Comfort
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Appendix F: Wind Rose Chart 6 Wind Rose Chart Longitude -77.097, Latitude 18.304
Percent of Total Wind Energy (Blue) and Time (Gray): Circle Center = 0.0% Inner Circle = 15.0% Outer Circle = 30.0%
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Appendix G: Roof Frame Design G.1 Roof Strength Engineering Calculations Wooden Roof Frame J 8”
A
B
C
D
E
F
G H
I
8” K 8”
2ʼ4”
3ʼ6”
3ʼ6”
3ʼ6”
3ʼ6”
2ʼ4”
8”
Green roof will be built within the 8” compartments along the perimeter of the frame Assume all wood to be Hem Fir at Grade 3: Bending stress (fb)= 500 psi *See Appendix G.2 to determine bending stress for visually graded dimensioned lumber Green Roof: Gravel layer: 1 in Soil layer: 4 in
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Beams A,B,H,I W
x Individual Loads of Components on Roof: 3 Gravel: 105 lb/ft 3 Soil (assume completely saturated with rain): 125 lb/ft Total Load: 3 * [8 ft * (8/12) ft * (1/12) ft] = 46.67 lb Gravel: 105 lb/ft 3 * [8 ft * (8/12) ft * (4/12) ft] = 222.22 lb Soil + Rain: 125 lb/ft Total: 268.9 lb Distributed Total Load: 2 268.9 lb / ((8/12) ft * 8 ft) = 50.42 lb/ft Multiply by span distance between cross beams (1.75 ft): 2 * (4/12) ft = 16.8 lb/ft ~ 20 lb/ft 50.42 lb/ft Free Body Diagram:
20 lb/ft
RA
RB 8 ft
Determine Reaction Forces: ΣMA = 0 = RB * 8 ft - 20 lb/ft * 8 ft * 4 ft RB = 80 lb ΣFy = 0 = RA + RB - 20 lb/ft * 8 ft RA = 80 lb
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Shear Diagram:
V = 80 lb - 20 lb/ft * x Moment Diagram:
2 M = 80 lb * x - 10 lb/ft * x Determine maximum moment: Mmax = M(4) =160 lb-ft Convert to lb-in Mmax = 160 lb-ft * 12 in/ft = 1920 lb-in Determine required section of modulus (Z) for beam using Flexura Formula: Z = M / fb Z = 1920 lb-in / 500 psi 3 Z = 3.84 in Find corresponding lumber nominal size from Appendix G.3: 2x4
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Beams C,D,E,F,G: P
P
W
W
x Individual Loads of Components on Roof: 3 Gravel: 105 lb/ft 3 Soil (assume completely saturated with rain): 125 lb/ft Solar Array: 500 lb W: Total Load: 3 * [13 ft * (8/12) ft * (1/12) ft] = 75.83 lb Gravel: 105 lb/ft 3 * [13 ft * (8/12) ft * (4/12) ft] = 361.11 lb Soil + Rain: 125 lb/ft Total: 436.94 lb Distributed Total Load: 2 436.94 lb / [13 ft * (8/12) ft] = 50.42 lb/ft Multiply by span distance between cross beams (3.5 ft): 2 * 3.5 ft = 176.46 lb/ft ~ 180 lb/ft 50.42 lb/ft P: Total Load divided by number of cross beams (D,E,F): 500 lb / 3 = 166.67 lb Beam Load divided into because solar array contacts beam at two points: 166.67 lb / 2 = 83.33 lb - 84 lb
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Free Body Diagram:
84 lb
84 lb 180 lb/ft
180 lb/ft
RA
RB 8 in
8 in
2 ft 6 ft 8 ft Determine Reaction Forces: ΣMA = 0 = RB * 8 ft - 140 lb/ft * (8/12) ft * (4/12) ft - 84 lb * 2 ft - 84 lb * 6 ft - 140 lb/ft * (8/12) ft * (8 - 4/12) ft RB = 198.33 lb ~ 200 lb ΣFy = 0 = RA + RB - 140 lb/ft * (8/12) ft * 2 + 84 lb * 2 RA = 198.33 lb ~ 200 lb
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Shear Diagram:
Moment Diagram:
Determine maximum moment: Mmax = M(4) =207 lb-ft Convert to lb-in Mmax = 207 lb-ft * 12 in/ft = 2484 lb-in Determine required section of modulus (Z) for beam using Flexura Formula: Z = M / fb Z = 2484 lb-in / 500 psi 3 Z = 4.97 in Find corresponding lumber nominal size from Appendix G.3: 2x5
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Beams J,K Within container, two vertical supports were placed along each 20 foot wall. For simplicity, assume these supports act as one single support in the center of the wall.
T
T
P
P
P
P
P
T
T
x Loads on Beam: T = Reaction force from beams A,B,H,I T = 80 lb P = Reaction force from beams C,D,E,F,G P = 200 lb
RA
0 l 80 b lb 80 lb
20
lb 0 20
l 20 b 0 lb 20 0 lb 20 0 lb
80
80
lb
Free Body Diagram:
8 in
8 in 3 ft
RB
RC
3.5 ft 3.5 ft 3.5 ft 3.5 ft
3 ft
20 ft Determine Reaction Forces: ΣMA = 0 = RC * 10 ft - RB * 20 ft - 80 lb * (8/12) ft - 200 lb * 3 ft - 200 lb * 6.5 ft - 200 lb * 10 ft - 200 lb * 13.5 ft - 200 lb * 17 ft - 80 lb *19.33 ft - 80 lb * 20 ft R C = 2 * RB RB = 330 lb ΣFy = 0 = RA + RB + RC - 80 lb * 4 - 200 lb * 5 RA = 330 lb RC = 660 lb
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Shear Diagram:
Moment Diagram:
Determine maximum moment: Mmax = M(10) =563.4 lb-ft Convert to lb-in: Mmax = 563.4 lb-ft * 12 in/ft = 6761 lb-in Determine the allowable moment for the steel side rail: Left top side rail: 60 x 60 x 3 mm Square Hollow Structural Steel (A500 Gr B) Yield Strength (fy): 250 MPa Z = .755 in3 Right top side rail: 4.5 mm thick â&#x20AC;&#x153;Uâ&#x20AC;? welded continuously to 4.5 mm thick angle, both pieces made from Rolled High Tensile Steel (A36 Gr 50) Yield Strength: 330 MPa
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Determine allowable bending stress (use left top side rail because of lower yield strength): fb = 0.6 * fy = 0.6 * 250 MPa fb = 150 MPA Convert to psi: fb = 150 MPA = 21760 psi Determine the allowable moment for the steel beam: *See Appendix G.4 to find Z for Square HSS 3 M steel = Z * fb = .755 in * 21760 psi M steel = 16428.8 lb-in Determine required section of modulus (Z) for beam using Flexura Formula: Z = M / fb Z = 6761 lb-in / 500 psi 3 Z = 13.5 in Find corresponding lumber nominal size from Appendix G.3: 2 x 10
However, if the wooden beam and steel beam are in contact with one another across the
entire span, the two beams can be considered as one. It was found that the allowable moment for the steel beam was ~2.4 times greater than the maximum moment generated by the applied loads. Therefore, a 2 x 6 wooden beam will be sufficient.
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G.2 Bending Stress for Visually Graded Dimensioned Lumber 36
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G.3 Section Properties of Standard Dressed (S4S) Sawn Lumber 37
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G.4 Square HSS Dimensions and Properties 38
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Appendix H: Green Roof Design H.1 Percolation Test 39 Items needed: • Coffee Can
• Hammer
• Ruler
• Soil
• Marker
• Liquid measuring cup
• Watch
• Bucket
• Nail
Preparing the coffee can: • Take the coffee can and make sure one end is completely open. • On the opposite end, punch numerous holes into the bottom. There should be enough holes
4”
that when water is poured through, the can does not obstruct the flow, but can still support the soil. • Take a ruler and measure 4” from the coffee can end with holes punched through. • Mark this height with the marker. • The coffee can should now look like the above illustration. Measuring the percolation rate: This test will measure the percolation rate of the soil for both dry and wet conditions. 1) Obtain soil from a portion of land undeveloped on site with vegetation currently growing in it. (This should be similar soil to that which will be used for the green roof.)
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2) Fill the coffee can with soil until it reaches the 4â&#x20AC;? line. Make sure that the soil is compacted in the can. 3) Measure 500 mL of water. 4) Pour water into soil and let it drain through the holes in the bottom of the coffee can. Collect water in a bucket and time how long it takes for water to drain through soil. 5) Measure volume of water collected and record. 6) Pour collected water back into soil and let it drain through the holes in the bottom of the coffee can a second time. Collect water in a bucket and time how long it takes for the water to drain through the soil for the second time. 7) Measure volume of water collected and record. Initial volume of water (mL) Volume of collected water (mL) Dry Run Time for water to drain (s) Volume of collected water (mL) Wet Run Time for water to drain (s) 8) Divide the time for the water to drain by the volume of water collected for both the dry and wet run. Convert this number from s/mL to min/in. *Procedure adapted from process outlined by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection
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H.2 Green Roof Calculations 33 30-yr (1951-1980) Monthly Mean Rainfall for Jacobâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ladder 250 220
Rainfall (mm)
200
207
181
150 100
204
113
50
72
78
Feb
Mar
150
148
131
125
121
Jul
Aug
0 Jan
Apr May
Jun
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Month Design for a 30 yr - 24 hr storm: Between 1951-1980, the highest monthly mean rainfall occurred in May with 220 mm of rain daily. Assume that for a 30 yr - 24 hr storm, all 220 mm of rain falls in a single hour. Determine corresponding drainage rate: Convert mm to in: 220 mm = 8.66 in Divide into minutes in an hour: 60 min / 8.66 in = 6.97 min/inch ~ 7 mpi *For reference, Hurricane Ike which occurred in September 2008 dumped a maximum rainfall of approximately 50 mm/hr which equates to ~ 30 mpi.40 Therefore, designing the drainage rate of the green roof soil for 7 mpi is conservative.
During the build trip from November 22-28, 2008, two members from the build team
collected soil samples from the location which will be transplanted to the green roof. The soil in this area was only 3 inches deep before reaching limestone, which would be an acceptable depth for the green roof. Following the procedure outlined in Appendix H.1, the drainage rate for the soil was determined for both dry and wet conditions.
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Initial volume of water (mL)
500
Volume of collected water (mL)
470
Time for water to drain (s)
17
Volume of collected water (mL)
440
Time for water to drain (s)
35
Dry Run
Wet Run
From this test, it was found that the drainage rate for the dry soil was 0.07 mpi and wet
soil was 0.14 mpi. These values are too low because the soil was not properly compacted during the percolation test and water was able to flow through more easily. However, these values do suggest that the soil is capable of draining at a suitable rate for use in the green roof. In addition, site directors noted that the site has never severely flooded during heavy rain storms. Therefore this soil will be suitable for use in the green roof.
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Appendix I: Week Itinerary and Build Tasks Below is the weekâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s itinerary covering a summary of the main tasks completed during the trip. In addition to the tasks listed below, soil surveys were conducted throughout the week.
Saturday, November 22 2:30 pm - All members of the build team arrive in Montego Bay, Jamaica. 4:30 pm - Build team stops at a hardware store in Ocho Rios to determine available materials and supplies for use during the week. Price quotes are taken for all possible needed materials but no supplies are bought because exact details of the container must be determined after examining it. 6:15 pm - Build team arrives at Jacobâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ladder and unloads bags. Next, the shipping container was inspected and modifications to the overall design were made.
Sunday, November 23 7:30 am - The build team meets with Brother Anthony to discuss plans for the library and to determine what materials are available on site. Tools and supplies are gathered from around the site and a work site is created underneath the chapel. 11:00 am - While half of the team constructed a tent over the roof of the container to prepare for working in the rain, the other members of the team drove into the nearby town of Moneague to check out supplies available at the local hardware store. Specialty items were not available so the team drove back to the hardware store in Ocho Rios to buy supplies. A local trucker delivered the larger materials such as lumber back to the site.
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3:30 pm - After returning with the materials and completing the tent structure, the build team began cleaning the container surface from rust to prepare for priming. The roof of the container was particularly bad and required lots of work to remove the rust. 4:30 pm - To prepare for installing framing on the inside of the container, the inside was
Figure 89: Using tarps, a tent was erected over the container to allow the roof to be painted during the rain
primed next.
Monday, November 24 8:30 am - While half of the team begins putting on the first coat of paint to the interior of the container, the other half of the team gathers up additional supplies on site. Brother Anthony showed the team various donated materials including windows, doors, and gutters which could be used for the library. 10:30 am - While two members of the team head to the Moneague hardware store to pick up additional
Figure 90: Using both a reciprocating saw and an angle grinder, the openings in the container were cut out
supplies, the other four members begin cutting out the opening for the door. The wooden frame for the door is constructed and markings for where the windows and air vents will be located are marked on the container.
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2:30 pm - While the door opening continues to be cut, other members begin priming the roof of the library. 5:00 pm - The opening for the door is completed and framing for the door begins. Cutting the openings for the windows begins next.
Tuesday, November 25 7:00 am - As the framing for the windows are being worked on, the openings for the air vents begin to be cut. In addition, the first layer of paint is applied to the roof. Figure 91: Designing the frames for the windows of the library
10:30 am - Two members of the team head to the Moneague hardware store to pick up additional supplies. Meanwhile, construction of the first bookshelf and interior support frame are built. These are built into the window frames to help provide rigidness for the walls. 2:30 pm - The air vents along with necessary framing are built after the openings are cut into the wall.
Figure 92: Constructing the air vents
6:00 pm - Touch-up painting is added to sections of the roof. In addition, a second coat of paint is painted on the inside walls and ceiling.
Wednesday, November 26 7:00 am- Construction of the air vents continues as the rest of the bookshelves are framed on the inside. Framing for the green roof support structure is also begun.
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1:00 pm - Rubber waterproof lining and caulking is added to all openings in the walls. The outside framing of the windows is then attached. 3:00 pm - The green roof frame is completed and placed on the ground beside the container. During the next trip, the green roof will be completed along with the solar array and at that point placed on the roof of the library.
Thursday, November 27 6:30 am - The final bookshelves are built inside and finishing details are made. 9:00 am - The build team took a day off and traveled to Ocho Rios to allow team members to experience the cultural aspects of Jamaica. 8:30 pm - The container and work site is cleaned and supplies are taken back to the tool shed.
Friday, November 28 6:30 am - Final pictures are taken of the library and a short film is made which will be used to inform individuals who donated books where the books will ultimately be going. 9:00 am - After a successful build week, the car is packed and the team heads back to the airport
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Appendix J: Informational Flyer for Book Drive Organizers
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Appendix K: Dew Collection Research Testing
During the March 2008 trip, numerous dew collection projects were performed to
determine the feasibility of implementing a large-scale dew collection system on site. The following tests were performed and found that low-cost dew collection techniques are not practical.
Vertical Mesh Wall
A stretch of 12â&#x20AC;&#x2122; x 20â&#x20AC;&#x2122; woven plastic mesh was
stretched vertically between two pillars at the highest point on site and aligned perpendicularly to the wind blowing on site. Relying upon wind to blow dew into the mesh, water then forms on the mesh and drips in to a gutter situated beneath the mesh. This technique is used primarily in the mountains along the coast of South America and relies upon sea breeze
Figure 93: A dew collector consisting of plastic woven mesh stretched between two pillars of the chapel
to carry the fog into the dew collectors. Although the test dew collector was situated at a location with high winds, the system did not collect significant amounts of water.41
Materials Testing
After determining that vertical mesh walls were unable to collect significant amounts of
water, observations were made on site to determine what materials naturally collected dew. Galvanized steel (corrugated and flat), painted steel (corrugated and flat), car metal, and plastic were all tested at approximately 45 degree angles located in the same area.
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Figure 94: Galvanized corrugated steel
Figure 95: Painted corrugated steel
Figure 96: Plastic
In addition, a hole was dug in the ground, lined with a plastic bag, and anchored with a
large stone in the center. This methods attempts to utilize the colder temperature in the ground to attract the dew. After performing these small-scale projects, it was found that car steel and plastic were the materials most likely to have dew form on them. The plastic dew collector had the best measurable results and produced 10 ml/ft2.
Ramped Plastic
After determining which materials were most prone to collect water, large-scale dew
collection systems were designed using plastic bags. Two 20 foot wooden beams were angled at 30 degrees and lined with plastic trash bags in between them. The first system was pulled tight to provide a taught plastic surface, and a second system was left to sag in the center. Both collectors had a plastic surface area of 36 ft2. It was found that neither collector design were capable of catching water because the dew was unable to form on the plastic bag material.
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Figure 97: Ramped plastic dew collector with sag in the center
Figure 98: Ramped plastic dew collector pulled tight across
Upon completion of the dew collection research projects, it was determined that dew
collection at Jacobâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ladder is not feasible when relying upon inexpensive materials. After the trip, Dr. Daniel Beysens of the International Organization for Dew Utilization was contacted to determine the cost of high tech materials developed for dew collection. Dr. Beysens is working on two different materials which they have used successfully throughout Europe and parts of India. The first is a special foil with properties ideal for dew formation and the second is a paint which can be applied to surfaces to increase dew formation. However, the costs to cover the entire shipping container in foil would be ~$725.00 and in paint ~$525.00 before shipping costs.42 This high cost made dew collection an impractical solution for Jacobâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ladder.
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Appendix L: Detailed Project Inventory and Budget
Project
Materials
Quantity
Cement Foundation Sand Gravel / Stone 20' Shipping Container Trucking and crane service Sandpaper Sponges Container Metal Primer Weatherproof Paint Spray Paint Paint Thinner 2” x 4” (for frame) Windows Plexiglass windows 3” Hinges 2” x 4” (for frame) Air Vents 1” x 4” (for angled boards) Fine plastic mesh 2” x 4” (for frame) Door Wooden outside door 4” Hinges Entrance 2” x 4”s (for ramp support) Ramp ½” plywood (for ramp surface) 1” x 5” (for bookshelf) 2” x 4” (for bookshelf support) Library Children's Books Interior Metal Primer Paint ½” - ¾”" Gravel (from site) Soil (from site) Weed control fabric (non-woven) 6 mil black plastic Blue plastic tarp Grass Seed Green Roof Low growing vegetation 2" x 6"s (for frame) ½” plywood Gutters Downspout Rainhead
16 - 20 kg bags .7 m^3 1.3 m^3 1 1 16 sheets 4 1 - 3.9 liter can 1 - 3.9 liter can 4 cans 3 cans 7 -12’ 4 8 6 - 12’ 2 - 10’ 12 ft2 6 - 12’ 1 2 4 -12’ 1 - 4’ x 8’ 13 - 16’ 8 - 12’ 2075 1 - 3.9 liter can 1 - 3.9 liter can 3 ft3 12 ft3 150 ft2 250 ft2 20’ x 25’ enough to cover 36 ft2 enough to cover 36 ft2 2 - 20' & 9 - 10' 2 - 4’ x 8’ 4 - 10’ 2 - 8’ 2
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Provided by: PSU MSC x x x
Price
x x x
$0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $2,056.37 $493.53 $19.20 $1.13 $28.62 $28.62 $13.84 $17.16 $70.00 $0.00 $0.00 $60.00 $15.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $3.39 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $80.00 $0.00 $28.62 $28.62 $0.00 $0.00 $16.99 $26.23 $23.75
x
$15.00
x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
x
$0.00
x x x
$126.67 $25.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
x x
Fasteners
3” screws 4” screws 2” screws ¾” screws 1 ½” lag screws
150 2 - 1 lb boxes 24 150 100
x x x x x Total
*Prices recorded as $0.00 were donated materials
Tools Used: Circular Saw Paint Brush Rollers Paint Trays Hammer Drill Screwdriver Wheel Barrow
Chisel Caulk Gun Wrench Set Angle Grinder Reciprocating Saw Safety Glasses Gloves Square
- 107 -
Level Tape Measure Rope Ladder Bucket
$0.00 $15.78 $1.55 $0.00 $0.00 $3,195.07
Vita
Steven F. Marshall 1301 Hyde Park Drive, Lancaster, Pennsylvania 17601 (717) 314-9972 iamspud5@gmail.com www.personal.psu.edu/sfm5007
Education Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 2008 Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering Certificate of Community Service and Engineering Schreyer Honors College, University Park, PA, 2008 Honors In Engineering Design Thesis Title: Sustainable Design and Construction of a Library for Disabled Children of Jamaica The University of New South Wales, Sydney, AUS, 2007 Participant of Energy Tomorrow Study Program
Work Experience Jacob’s Ladder PSU Development Team Leader Haddon, Jamaica, 2007 – Present • Designed site layout for 100 acres, including village design of 115 homes for physically and mentally handicapped individuals • Public relations between Mustard Seeds Community, Penn State, Jamaican Bauxite Institute, and University of Technology Jamaica • Projects focused on sustainable development, rainwater catchment, alternative energy (solar, wind), sustainable agriculture (high tunnel research, composting), biofuel production, sustainable building design, wastewater treatment (vegetated sand filter), and sensory design • Developed public relation materials and project website • Presented Penn State’s plan for future development at Jacob’s Ladder to the Prime Minister of Jamaica • Traveled to Jamaica three times to perform community assessment, information gathering, and implement build projects Environmental / Sustainability Education Research University Park, PSU, May 2008 - September 2008 • Developed teaching structure for High School environmental educational material revolving around Zero Energy Homes • Material will be used at a PSU PA High School Teachers Workshop designed to promote environmental education
Community Assessment Research University Park, PSU, December 2007 - October 2008 • Created and taught educational material on community assessment to Penn State engineering students • Material incorporated into class required for engineers pursuing “Engineers and Community Engagement” minor at Penn State United Campus Ministry Leadership Team University Park, PSU, August 2005 - April 2008 Vice President (August 2005 - May 2007) Treasurer (May 2007 - April 2008) • Ran leadership meetings and presented organizational updates to supporting congregational board members • Organized service trip to gulf states for hurricane clean-up four times, 350+ people; extensive communications and planning experience • Organized a barn dance four times, 600+ people; public relations and planning experience PULSE Worship Band President University Park, PSU, January 2008 - December 2008 • Formed organization as a freshman; organizational and leadership experience Theatrical Lighting Internship Lancaster County Bible Church, Lancaster, PA, May 2006 - August 2006
Grants Received • George Settlemyer Fund for International Agriculture Experiences, April 2008 • International Journal of Service Learning in Engineering - Carter Academic Service Entrepreneur Grant, February 2008 • Schreyer Ambassador Travel Grant, April 2007, December 2007, February 2008, April 2008, November 2008 • Schreyer Honors College Summer 2008 Research Scholarship, May 2008
Awards • Humanitarian Engineering: Community Engagement Award, April 2008 • College of Engineering Dean’s List, 5 semesters • Nominated for Penn State University LaMarr Kopp International Achievement Award, December 2008 (decision pending)
Presentations • ”Sustainable Development for Jacob’s Ladder”, Mustard Seed Communities Annual Benefit Luncheon, New York Hilton Hotel, 28 September 2008
International Experience Tanzania , Samaritan Village Orphanage Arusha, May 2007– June 2007 • Worked with local carpenters to build a cooking facility for the orphanage • Tutored children in elementary grade schoolwork Australia, The University of New South Wales: Energy Tomorrow Sydney, Darwin, Cairns & Alice Springs, June 2007 - August 2007 • Traveled throughout Australia studying alternative energy, sustainable development, and conservation Jamaica, Pennsylvania State University: Jacob’s Ladder Development Team Kingston & Moneague, January 2008, March 2008, November 2008 • Performed two community assessment trips to aid in development of Jacob’s Ladder • Organized and ran a build trip to construct a library out of recycled shipping containers with the addition of a green roof and solar array Jordan, Pennsylvania State University: Department of Crop and Soil Science Amman, Madaba, Petra, & Aqaba, May 2008 • Traveled across Jordan studying the effects that human civilization has had on natural resources throughout history as well as the impact which natural resources have had on the development of civilizations