Solar Powered Air Compressor
(SPAC)
Green Air
Is
Clean Air
Courtesy of Energyquest.com
Jennifer B. Helmly
What is a Solar Powered
Air Compressor?
An easily accessible free air
compressor that is used to
inflate car and bike tires,
powered by a solar generator.
Tire Pressure 101
• Not many people know it, but it is important to
check tire pressure at least once a month.
• Low tire pressure creates heat and friction on
the road, which creates a drag, and forces
vehicle to work harder.
• Not properly inflating
tires can be costly for
the environment, and
your wallet.
Blogcarparts.blogspot.com
Why is Tire Inflation Important?
• Cuts down on CO2 emissions by 1.5
tons a year
(cmu.edu)
• Saves Money
• Decreases risk of car accident
Fact
Filling your tires once a month can save you:
3% on Fuel
Consumption a Year
(Fueleconomy.gov)
AND
10 Cents a Gallon
Wheelsneeddeals.com
Fact
A Carnegie Mellon University study showed
that:
Americans drive roughly 12,242 miles a year at
22.5 miles a gallon, and pay an average of $3 a
gallon.
Proper tire inflation can save you 3% on gas a
year...about $432.
(cmu.edu)
Introducing
Solar Powered Air
Compressor
SPAC
Simple Sketch
of proposed
SPAC Unit
Easy Implementation
–Low Cost
–Small Project Size
–Easy Construction
–No major change to infrastructure or
campus
Implementation
• Project is of a fairly small scale and one unit
could be completed and installed within
roughly one week by a private contractor.
• Will need to order pre-fabricated stainless
steal base pieces.
• Level Concrete Base will need to be poured.
Basic Materials Used
•
•
•
•
•
Solar Panel Kit
Air Compressor
Galvanized Pole
Stainless steel sheet metal
Concrete
SPAC Benefits JCCC
• Keeping proper tire pressure dramatically decreases
CO2 emissions.
• Free air for inflating vehicle/bike tires.
• Provides more of an incentive for campus goers to
ride a bicycle to JCCC.
• Awareness of importance of tire pressure to save
money, emissions and prevent accidents.
SPAC Benefits JCCC
-Bike Share Program
-Students/Faculty
Currently Riding
Bicycles to Campus
Highsnobiety.com
Survey of 20 Students
When asked if they would use SPAC
Yes
Maybe
Don't Care
5%
15%
80%
Locations
• In less populated parking areas of selected
parking lots.
• Near bike racks.
• Frequently traveled areas of campus.
Proposed Campus Locations
(Jccc.edu)
Proposed Campus Locations
• Sports Parking Lot
• Galileo Parking Lot
• Clock East Parking Lot
• Parking to the east of East Parking Garage
• Commons Courtyard
• Courtyard between Carlson Center and Library
Living Walls
.
Apartmenttherapy.com
The Exterior of the base will be
made out of a stainless steel
“mesh” that will hold a living
wall
Benefits of Living Wall
• Foliage pulls CO2 out of air creating cleaner air to breathe
• Aesthetically Pleasing
• Increases bee activity which
promotes pollination
(Sempergreen.com)
• Will use indigenous plants
that use naturally supplied
water.
Courtesy of Center for Ecology and Hydrology
Awareness Campaign
• SPAC/Tire Inflation Awareness Ad’s on
Campus Televisions.
– Free Air
– Importance of checking air pressure once a
month
– Potential savings from having proper air pressure
– Safety
– Decrease CO2 emission
– Locations
Estimated Budget
G-2000-Pi SolG-2000-Pi Solar Generator $2000
Zumbador.com
Estimated Budget
Rolair JC10 Air Compressor $300
Rolair.com
Estimated Budget
• Galvanized Pole
$60
• Sheet Metal
$300
• Miscellaneous Expenses
$200
• Labor
$1000
Estimated Budget Total
• $4000 Per SPAC Unit
• 6 Units at $4000 a piece =
$24,000
Pro’s of SPAC and Proper Tire Inflation
• Can decrease CO2 emissions by 1.5 tons per
vehicle a year by reducing consumption of
gasoline.
• Can save roughly $400 a year.
• Safer Driving
• Living Wall
Sms3.org.uk
Resources
JCCC Logo. 2012. Johnson County Community College, Overland Park. JCCC.edu. Web. 18 Nov.
2012
JCCC Map. 2012. Johnson County Community College, Overland Park. JCCC.edu. Web. 18 Nov.
2012
Living Wall Photo. Apartmenttherapy.com. Web. 18 Nov. 2012
“Environmental Advantages to Living Green Walls.” Sempergreen.com. Sempergreen.com. Web.
19 Nov. 2012
Pollinating Bee Photo. Center for Ecology & Hydrology, Europe, 2012.
Solar Panel Cartoon. Energyquest.ca.gov. Web. 19 Nov. 2012.
Gerson, Bruce. “Save Gas, Money and the Environment with Properly Inflated Tires.”
Cmu.edu. Cmu.edu. 21 Sep. 2009. Web. 25 Nov. 2012.
“Keeping Your Car in Shape.” Fueleconomy.gov. Fueleconomy.gov. 21 Nov. 2012. Web. 25 Nov.
2012.
Kid Robot Fixed Gear Bike Photo. 2007. Highsnobiety.com. Web. 26 Nov. 2012.
Rolair JC10 Photo. Rolair.com. Web. 25 Nov. 2012.
Solar Generator Photo. Directvoltage.com. Web. 25 Nov. 2012.
Tire Pressure Photo. 19 Mar. 2012. Blogcarparts.blogspot.com. Web. 28 Nov. 2012.
Save Gas Photo. 2012. Wheelsneeddeals.com. Web. 28 Nov. 2012.
CO2 Footprint Photo. 8 Mar. 2010. sms3.org.uk. Web. 28 Nov. 2012.