Endurnýting affallsvatns jarðvarmavirkjana

Inspiration

We were greatly inspired by Icelandic nature and the possibilities of national self-sustainability in the face of a crisis such as this pandemic.

What it does

We want to make Iceland more sustainable when it comes to food production and energy usage. We want to help Iceland produce more fruits and vegetables instead of importing them, making it less dependent on other countries and more prepared to tackle difficulties in importation that might arise during a crisis. With more greenhouses we could produce more healthy local produce with a smaller carbon footprint than meat, poultry, fish, or imported greens. We want to use warm water that would otherwise be dispelled into the ground or ocean making our energy use even more efficient. The greenhouses would create jobs both regarding their construction and operation.

How I built it

By researching relevant information online and contacting experts within the field of energy and greenhouse ergonomics, gathering information regarding the hot water used to heat up greenhouses, and the amount used over a year.

Challenges I ran into

Researching and contacting energy firms and greenhouses was difficult, due to the bulk of the project having taken place over the weekend when no one was available to contact.

The financial side of the project was also difficult to roughly estimate due to the lack of general information regarding the cost of land and resources to complete the project presentation.

Accomplishments that I'm proud of

Finishing within the given time limit. All of the work we are submitting has been done over the course of this weekend, everything from coming up with the idea to its development.

What I learned

We learned a great deal about researching for real-world projects, conducting field research as well as online.

What's next for Endurnýting affallsvatns jarðvarmavirkjana

To continue the project we will need formal verification from the geothermal power plants regarding the amount and temperature of the water that is dispelled and fully design the greenhouses and their controls. Of Course we will need to secure fundings and apply for permits.