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P3 Research Project Search
Massachusetts Institute of Technology and their local Nepali partner, Environment and Public Health Organization, have engaged in multiple years of R&D on arsenic detection and remediation in Nepal. Since 2003, they have implemented and are now scaling up their innovative, low-cost, award-winning, household-level drinking water treatment system, the Kanchan™ Arsenic Filter. In rural Nepal, about 5 million people are affected by arsenic and/or pathogens in their drinking water. Until the dissemination of this innovation in rural Nepal, people had no alternative but to drink contaminated water.
University of Colorado at Boulder students will develop a green community in Muramba, Rwanda. The project will focus on rainwater collection for safe drinking water at relatively low cost. Other studies will include solar-powered lighting and drip irrigation. Results of this pilot project should supply enough water and energy to serve over 700 villagers; ultimately the project could affect over 12,000 people.
University of Virginia students are creating a series of ecological, modular and affordable houses through partnerships with Piedmont Housing Alliance and Habitat for Humanity. Vast resources are spent on inefficient and wasteful affordable houses, with significant negative impact on our environment and our health. The potential for reduced environmental impact from prefabricated construction is mostly unrealized in the modular housing industry today.
Ohio Northern University students will investigate solar reflective properties (albedos) of conventional concrete and design new concrete mixtures that have higher albedo values, yet are affordable, environment-friendly, durable, structurally sound, and esthetically acceptable. These new concrete mixtures will utilize a high proportion of Portland cement replacements, thus reducing greenhouse gas emissions produced by the cement manufacturing process. Their higher albedo values will also help mitigate "heat island" effect in urban areas, resulting in savings in cooling costs and improved air quality.