Maui Energy and Sustainability Design Competition Opens

Kihei Charter School Community Mentor Susan Wyche advises on sustainable landscaping, is showing three of the student managers, Nathan Galusky, Dillon Gera and Lucas Zarro techniques for measuring the site. Courtesy of ECLR.

By Sonia Isotov

Kihei Charter School’s Energy and Sustainability Learning Center (ESLC) is sponsoring a competition challenging the Maui community to design visionary energy and sustainability exhibits.

The objective of the competition is to design and create a model or working exhibit that demonstrates current or future systems of sustainable production or clean energy, food, medicines, feed, nutrients, water remediation, or carbon capture.

The competition is open to everyone on Maui: businesses, individuals, students, teachers, professionals, inventors, enthusiasts, architects, builders, designers, scientists, entrepreneurs, farmers, food developers, cooks and teams, etc.

Winning entries will be built at the Learning Center on Piikea Street in Kihei, between Azeka Plaza and the sanctuary ponds. Projects will all be managed by Kihei Charter School students and winners will be able to mentor and guide the students as they construct their projects. Eventually, the production will be open to the public for viewing.

“We are very excited to bring this experience to the school and our community. It is our hope that this hands-on demonstration will showcase how our society is now replacing fossil fuels and becoming sustainable.” said Stuart Karlan, Community Advisor, ESLC.

“We’d love to see Maui businesses come out and support this project by showcasing their own design productions and processes.” The end products will be constructed with local bamboo and “should be quite beautiful”, accordingly to Kaplan.

The submissions are being accepted through March 31. Entries will be showcased online and judged by distinguished panels of jurors. Winners will be announced April 30. Finalists will receive Learning Center and media recognition and will be included in publications and exhibitions.

Submit your entry as a pdf and/or video to ESLC@kiheicharter.org in the following
areas:

• Current and upcoming production systems: photovoltaic, wind, geothermal, biodiesel, algae or biomass to fuel, wave, hydrogen, fuel cells, etc.
• Sustainable transportation: electric vehicles and charging stations,
  energy storage systems
• Sustainable food systems: permaculture, aquaponics, edible algae (spirulina, chlorella), composting, etc.
• Sustainable landscaping
• Energy and water conservation methods for homes and businesses
• Sustainable business and industry systems

More info at www.kiheichartereslc.webs.com