Skip the Grid: Bringing Power to Navajo Nation Students

Author(s) Information

Colette Burd, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis ObispoFollow

College - Author 1

College of Architecture and Environmental Design

Department - Author 1

Construction Management Department

Degree Name - Author 1

BS in Construction Management

Date

6-2024

Primary Advisor/Subject Matter Expert (SME)

Joseph Cleary, College of Architecture and Environmental Design, Construction Management Department

Abstract/Summary

Skip the Grid is an annual joint initiative facilitated by the non-profit Heart of America involving California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly) students and faculty, and SOLV Energy. The Skip the Grid project brings power and lighting to Navajo Nation families with school-age children by installing a self-contained solar battery system. Completed from March 24th through March 28th of 2024, this year the Skip the Grid project brought photovoltaic energy systems with solar panels, a battery, lights, and outlets to 24 homes, benefiting over 100 students in the Consolidated School District within the Navajo Nation. For the past 3 years, Cal Poly students have used Skip the Grid as an interdisciplinary senior project, working with other majors to make the installations and planning processes more efficient. This specific senior project included two different objectives. The first was to create a clear pre-task plan; the pre-task plan is a guide for how and when to physically install the solar panels, batteries, and lights during the installation process. The second objective was to develop a toolbox pack-out checklist to ensure all PPE, tools, and materials were packed for the trip and readily available before and after each mobilization.

URL: https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/cmsp/789