California State University, Sacramento
IN-1: Innovation 1

The Sustainable Technology Optimization Research Center (STORC) is a highly collaborative teaching and learning model. It encourages innovation and teamwork among administration, faculty and student populations from multiple educational disciplines, representing various campus interests, by promoting, supporting, and housing ongoing sustainable technology research projects within a common functional space. Because numerous research projects coexist within the same functional footprint, knowledge of various technologies is easily acquired and transferred. Those working on STORC-related research projects quickly recognize how dissimilar technologies might be configured to contribute to the enhanced performance of other technologies. As a practical living laboratory and a multi-disciplinary center for learning, STORC synergistically enhances research outcomes and student learning experiences. Interdisciplinary participation in STORC includes professors and students from Natural Science and Mathematics, Engineering and Computer Science, Social Science and Interdisciplinary Studies, and from various administrative offices such as Environmental Health and Safety, Risk Management, and Facilities Management. STORC is an example of Sac State’s ingenuity in furthering research and education, and is redefining traditional models of knowledge acquisition and transfer, and exemplifies every aspect of high-quality leadership that Sacramento State strives to instill in its faculty, staff and students. Vision: To be an international resource for practical, scalable, and financially viable solutions in the area of sustainable technologies that are suitable for private and/or public sector operations related to the management of energy, food, water and waste.

At present, more than five sustainable projects are in various stages of operation at STORC. Sustainable projects in operation, in various stages of construction, or under consideration include: • Wind Aerators: Wind aerators can be used to oxygenate agricultural ponds. These can be constructed using a variety of techniques. Items needed to build such systems are plentiful (e.g., waste drums, small vehicle axles, diaphragm pumps, etc.). As simple as this seems, the big challenge is in creating a system that actually addresses real-world O2 demands in agriculture and aquaculture operations. • Solar Space Heaters: Building solar space heaters for homes/out-buildings, using air and/or water and passive heat transfer techniques is an idea gaining momentum with DIYers. Old car radiators can be used for heat transfer once the water has been sufficiently heated by the sun. Also, old, tempered glass such as shower doors, are easily obtainable, and can be used to trap and amplify solar energy. • Hydroponic Gardening Systems: This is a very fascinating concept, and an amazingly efficient crop production concept when combined with aquaculture and photo-electric systems. • Water Filtering Systems: A properly designed, passive system using 55 gallon drums can filter contaminated water very efficiently and inexpensively. • Electric Power Generation Systems: Constructing small solar arrays for running well and pond pumps on remote properties. • Electricity Producing Wind Turbines: Vertical axis or traditional propeller driven wind turbines can be constructed using materials that are readily available for little or no cost.