1). For awareness and vision, my team will define a clear project statement to maintain sustainability as a focal point and as a constant reminder for the team to remain focused. Since we are trying to see how the Lehigh University campus can benefit from a more efficient solar panel, we would ask students and faculty on campus what sustainability means to them through gathering and analyzing data from OIRAS and the Office of Sustainability in order to gauge the interest of the student population on campus regarding renewable energy. Then we would collaborate with clubs on campus like Lehigh REC to raise awareness of the possible benefits/plans of PCM and photovoltaic panels.

For baseline analysis/assessment, my team needs to clearly identify the purpose of the project, the results we expect to achieve in a certain amount of time, the potential customers and stakeholders, and potential locations where the PCM and photovoltaic panels could be installed. Then we will set clear outcomes for the 3 paired students, each team measuring the PCM properties, PCM engineering design, and thermocouple and data acquisition through experiments. We would then analyze the data from those experiments and come together as a team in order to draw conclusions and find areas of improvement.

For creative solutions, we would need to analyze the data from the experiments to determine whether or not Calcium Chloride Hexachloride can be used as a PCM for photovoltaic panels. If we can prove that it can be used as a PCM, we can begin designing a space on the photovoltaic panels at Goodman campus to install the PCM and then track data gathered and determine whether PCM can be used in alternative ways, such as in buildings in order to keep heat inside (lowering its cost of energy). If we can not prove that Calcium Chloride Hexachloride can be used as a PCM, we would either modify the Calcium Chloride Hexachloride to suite our needs on the photovoltaic panels or research other materials that has the necessary properties needed to be used as a PCM for photovoltaic panels in order to increase efficiency.

For deciding on priorities and devising a plan, we would develop a schedule before performing the experiments, outlining what we hope to measure and the results we hope to achieve. Then we would keep track of the progress of the experiments, analyze the results to see if any improvements are needed, and debrief in the weekly meetings to keep everyone informed of any issues, concerns, or alternative methods of approach.

2). The three metrics of success for the environmental stewardship pillar is measuring the increased efficiency of photovoltaic panels through implementing the PCMs, quantifying the amount of energy from fossil fuels and the amount of greenhouse gases avoided through the implication of photovoltaic panels with PCMs, and determining how willing Lehigh’s decision-makers will be to adopt these new photovoltaic panels after seeing the high efficiency rates. The three metrics of success for the social equity pillar is measuring how installing these more efficient solar panels will influence Lehigh student’s views and behaviors (Will it reduce eco-anxiety? Will they become more interested in climate change and energy?), calculating the impact of our project and our insights on the community (both on campus and outside of campus), and evaluating the improvements of the student’s standard of living due to the university’s energy cost saving due to the results of our project (possibly investing in a better student education on energy awareness and sustainability). The three metrics of success for the economic prosperity pillar is assessing the reduction of costs for the university through using more efficient solar technology, determining additional alternatives for PCM such as integrating it to other mechanical systems to decrease energy demand for cooling, and researching whether this project can cause economic growth.

3). With the design strategy, we can use an integrated design process to serve as a framework to approach our project collaboratively, use regenerative design to equip a particular system with the capacity to revitalize its own energy source, and use systems thinking to view the interdependent characteristics of what we are doing, identify the root causes of reoccurring problems in our design, and flag unintended consequences. With the buy strategy, photovoltaic panels are a renewable resource and we can use safer materials as the PCM rather than other more toxic materials. With the make strategy, we can use resource efficiency to ensure that only necessary materials were used in our design (to remain good stewards of the environment) and use addictive manufacturing to add the PCM component to already existing solar panels. With the sell strategy, we can apply the leasing model for our project, since leasing is a current business model for solar panels. With the disposal strategy, we can use a take-back program to ensure the panels with spent PCM are collected and repurposed (reducing waste) and use deconstruction and disassembly to ensure that parts and components could be extracted for the value they retain.