Issue: Spring 2016 | Posted: April 25, 2016

1050 U.U. Drive

Engineering students assist Honduran orphanage with energy efficiency

Union University engineering students are using their skills for service. Last fall, a team of engineering students and faculty traveled to Honduras to assess the needs of an orphanage.

Randal Schwindt, professor of engineering, said the goal of the trip was to find ways to help the orphanage save money using the skills engineering students learn in class.

He said the orphanage, Orphanage Emmanuel, spends most of its funds on electricity, so the main focus of the project was reducing power consumption. Schwindt said the orphanage spends about $24,000 per month on electricity, and about $13,000 of that is for current consumption. The rest goes to pay fees brought on by changes in the government of Honduras.

Two teams of senior engineering students did work for the orphanage as their senior design projects. Erin Picard and Nathan Parke worked on solar power for the team house, while Chelsea Johnson and Seth Guiler worked on a solar water heating system.

“This is what we’re all about at Union,” Schwindt said. “Using the skills that we’re learning in service to God’s kingdom.”