Purdue’s Sustainable Energy Club brings clean energy to campus – Purdue Exponent

Purdue Sustainability Energy Club: A Report on Local Initiatives for Global Goals

Introduction

The Sustainability Energy Club (SEC) at Purdue University has initiated several projects aimed at promoting a sustainable future, directly contributing to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This report outlines the club’s mission, current activities, and future objectives, with a specific focus on their alignment with key SDGs.

Core Mission and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

The primary mission of the SEC is to educate the community and advocate for the widespread adoption of sustainable energy at Purdue University. These efforts are in direct support of several SDGs.

• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy: The club’s activities are centered on promoting and implementing renewable energy sources.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: By starting with local community events like the farmers market, the SEC aims to create a model for sustainable campus and community infrastructure.
• SDG 13: Climate Action: All projects are designed to reduce carbon emissions and promote climate literacy, including advocating for a formal Climate Action Plan for the university.
• SDG 4: Quality Education: A core tenet of the club is to educate the public and provide hands-on training to students, fostering the skills necessary for the future green economy.
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: The club engages in research and development of innovative sustainable technologies, such as hydroponics and off-grid housing.

Key Projects and Initiatives

Demonstration at West Lafayette Farmers Market

The SEC concluded the farmers market season with a practical demonstration of renewable energy, directly supporting SDG 7 and SDG 11.

1. Eight pairs of solar panels were installed at the market.
2. The installation provided clean energy for one vendor, KNOW Eatery, a sustainability-conscious vegan restaurant.
3. Co-president Andrei Kudinov noted that the array could save approximately six pounds of carbon emissions per hour, a tangible contribution to SDG 13.

Campus-Wide Sustainable Energy Projects

The SEC is engaged in multiple projects to advance sustainable infrastructure and innovation on campus, aligning with SDG 7 and SDG 9.

• Wind Turbines: The club plans to implement wind turbines to provide a consistent renewable energy source during winter months when solar efficiency is reduced.
• DC House: A research project involving a house run entirely on solar power is underway near Armstrong Hall. This initiative will provide valuable data on energy savings and off-grid living.
• Hydroponics Research: The club conducts research on soil-free plant cultivation, contributing to innovative agricultural solutions with potential applications for food security and space exploration.

Strategic Objectives and Advocacy

Educational Outreach and Accessibility

A significant goal for the SEC is to demystify sustainable technology and promote its accessibility, which supports SDG 4.

• Operations Manager Eddie Petrenko emphasized the feasibility of clean energy, stating that the equipment used at the farmers market was sourced from Amazon, with solar panels costing as little as $60.
• The club actively trains new members, including freshmen, to set up and manage these systems, demonstrating that specialized expertise is not a barrier to entry.

Policy and Institutional Change

The SEC is actively working to influence university policy to align with global climate targets, a key component of SDG 13.

• According to SEC Secretary Abhitej Kanuri, the club’s policy branch is developing a climate action plan for Purdue University, noting it is the only Big 10 school without one.
• The club advocates for the integration of sustainable energy education into the curriculum to prepare engineers for future industry demands.

Conclusion

The Sustainability Energy Club at Purdue University serves as a proactive model for student-led action in support of the Sustainable Development Goals. Through practical projects, educational outreach, and policy advocacy, the SEC is making measurable contributions to SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 13 (Climate Action). Their work demonstrates that localized, grassroots efforts are fundamental to achieving a broader, global transition to a sustainable future.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article discusses the initiatives of the Sustainability Energy Club (SEC) at Purdue University, which directly or indirectly connect to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The primary focus on renewable energy, education, and community action aligns with the following goals:

• SDG 4: Quality Education: The article highlights the SEC’s mission to educate people about sustainable energy. It mentions their role in training students and preparing future engineers for a world reliant on renewable energy, which is a key aspect of education for sustainable development.
• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy: This is the most central SDG in the article. The club’s projects, such as powering a farmers market with solar panels, planning for wind turbines, and researching a solar-powered DC house, are all direct actions towards promoting and implementing clean energy.
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: The SEC’s research projects, including the development of a DC house to gather data on energy savings and experiments with hydroponics, contribute to scientific research and innovation in sustainable technologies.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The club’s ambition to power the entire Purdue campus with sustainable energy is an effort to make their immediate community more sustainable, resilient, and environmentally friendly.
• SDG 13: Climate Action: By implementing renewable energy solutions, the SEC is taking direct action to combat climate change. The article explicitly mentions the reduction of carbon emissions as a result of their work and their efforts to create a climate action plan for the university.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the activities described, several specific SDG targets can be identified:

1. Target 4.7: “By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development…” The article states that a key mission of the SEC is “to educate people on how simple and accessible sustainable energy can be.” Furthermore, it notes that “Purdue needs to have systems in place to produce engineers who know how to work with that kind of energy,” directly linking the club’s activities to education for sustainable development.
2. Target 7.2: “By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.” On a local scale, the SEC is working towards this target. Their goal is to “power the entire farmers market, and eventually, Purdue, with sustainable energy.” The project to cover “the roof of every building on Purdue campus… with solar panels” is a clear initiative to increase the share of renewable energy.
3. Target 9.5: “Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities… encouraging innovation…” The club’s work on a “DC house… to help the club research energy savings with their own data and observations” and their research with “Hydroponics, plants that are grown without soil,” are examples of hands-on scientific research and innovation at the university level.
4. Target 11.6: “By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities…” The Purdue campus can be seen as a micro-community. The SEC’s efforts to transition the campus to renewable energy sources would directly reduce its environmental impact, particularly its carbon footprint.
5. Target 13.3: “Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation…” The SEC’s work addresses this target on multiple fronts. Their educational outreach combats “stigmas that many people hold towards clean energy.” Moreover, their effort to create a “climate action plan for Purdue” is a direct attempt to build institutional capacity for climate change mitigation.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article mentions and implies several indicators that can be used to measure progress:

• Reduction in Carbon Emissions (Mentioned): The article provides a specific, quantifiable indicator for climate action. It states, “With just this array, in one hour, we’ll probably save six pounds of carbon emissions.” This serves as a direct measure of the environmental impact of their solar panel project.
• Number of Renewable Energy Installations (Mentioned): Progress can be measured by the number and type of installations. The article mentions the club “set up eight pairs of solar panels” and is “planning on implementing wind turbines on campus,” which are concrete, trackable outputs.
• Development of Institutional Climate Policy (Mentioned): The existence of a climate action plan is a key indicator of institutional commitment. The article notes that the SEC’s policy branch is “working on a climate action plan for Purdue,” making the creation and adoption of this plan a measurable outcome.
• Share of Renewable Energy in Campus Energy Consumption (Implied): The ultimate goal to “produce most of the energy, if not all, to run the campus” with solar panels implies that a key indicator is the percentage of the campus’s total energy consumption that is generated from renewable sources.
• Number of Students Engaged in Sustainability Education (Implied): The club’s mission to educate and its open invitation (“Anybody can join, you don’t have to know anything”) imply that an indicator of success for their educational goals would be the number of students who join the club, participate in their projects, and are educated on sustainable energy.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: purdueexponent.org