Problem Statement Key Project Requirements Input Page Schedule & Resources Output Page System Testing Conclusion The general problem lies with residents who may be dissatisfied with their current energy provider and are unaware of possible alternative energy sources that might be used as a primary or backup source. Some concerns a resident may have are cost, installation, lifespan, and a comparison with their current energy costs. Residents need a tool to aide them in their research and decision on their energy supply. Estimated Personnel Effort Requirements by Task Task 1Task 2Task 3Task 4Task 5Task 6Task 7 Projected Total Actual Total (4-5-08) ABCABABCDABCABCDEABABCDE Brad Smith Ethan Wilder Graig Schadle Mukul Sabharwal Total Projected Total Project CostActual Total Project Cost Without LaborWith LaborWithout LaborWith Labor Item Cost Poster$60.00 Misc. Printing/Binding$30.00 $60.00 Team Member Brad Smith $1, $1, Ethan Wilder $1, $2, Graig Schadle $1, $1, Mukul Sabharwal $1, $2, Total $6, $8, The program shall accept a zip code to utilize the weather database to see which sources are more feasible in their area. -The program shall list feasible sources including the average costs of installation, operation, maintenance, and protection and compare them to their current utility costs. -The program shall provide generic information about each source which will be outputted. This includes the pros and cons of the source, the average life span of the source, the requirements of the sources including costs, and links to more information about the source. -The program shall take no longer than five minutes of run time, which will be measured from when the user submits all data to when the user receives the final outputs. -The program shall be designed so that multiple users can access the program at the same time with no problems. -The program shall interface to the Dec07-03 Economic Engine. The program shall take all outputs and data from the Dec07-03 Economic Engine. -The program shall be compatible with a standards-compliant web browser. (Firefox 2.0 or higher, IE 7 or higher, Safari 3 or higher) Solution The solution that has been chosen is to create a website that can meet the needs of these residents and provide a central source for alternative energy information. This would be done by providing a form that the user can intuitively access and navigate through via an internet browser. This form would ask for information regarding their current utility rates, information regarding the significant loads they have, as well as some simple information regarding the layout of the surrounding area. Using this information, as well as information gathered through research on local weather history, and regulations, the system will choose feasible sources for the user and pass them onto an economic engine. This engine, provided by Dec07-03, will calculate rates and costs for the feasible sources which will be returned to the user in a readable fashion. System Diagram Load Processor Speed Testing: -Maximum time of five minutes to retrieve results Multiple User Testing: - Can handle up to five users simultaneously Browser Compliance Testing: -Firefox, Internet Explorer, and Safari compatibility Zip Code Testing -Zip code retrieves correct weather data Alpha/Beta Testing Alpha: -Survey given to client and advisors. Any issues/bugs mentioned are addressed. Beta: -Survey given to potential customers unrelated to project. Any issues/bugs mentioned are addressed Personal Information/Login Property Information Bill Information New House Information Energy Use Information Addition Information Current and New Item Information Modify Bill Information Create Data to Fill Form Current Future No Changes Changes Addition Item User Input Form Profile Manager HTML Output Form Processor Load Processor Engine Input Page (Dec 07-03) Engine Output Page (Dec 07-03) Economic Engine (Dec 07-03) Load Database Zip Code Convertor Interaction Zip Code Location and Billing Information Load Information Common Loads City, County Formatted Information Formatted Load Information Source Code The Load Processor is the part of the project that converts the user’s load information into a format capable of being inputted into the Economic Engine. It also takes into account whether a user wishes to just use their current utility bills, wishes to replace a high power usage item, add an addition to their house, or just enter information for a completely new house. All the estimates made are over a five year span and include the average increase in power usage from year to year. The output page comes directly from the Economic Engine built by December It includes the estimated total costs, along with which pieces of equipment are used in the calculation. It also includes average maintenance and repair costs associated with the equipment. The cost is calculated over a 30 year period that takes into account the loan information and provides an analysis section that determines whether or not this setup is feasible in the current users’ conditions. After viewing this information, the user can return to their inputs and make modifications as they see fit. Alternative energy sources are receiving a lot of attention in the energy market of the world due to their clean emissions and non-dependency on oil, coal, or other resources. While the efficiency of these devices has yet to reach the level of other forms of energy, the benefit they provide to the world encourages us to continue and pursue their usefulness. This project is geared toward those who wish to explore how these alternative sources could help improve their own life. Our primary purpose was to create a user friendly internet-based form that an average user could use to better educate themselves on the feasibility of alternative energy throughout Iowa. We hope that they receive the most accurate estimate available to them. Alternative energy sources are the energy of the future. It is small projects like these that work to give public awareness of their continuously improving feasibility in a world that is working to cut their dependency on environmentally damaging energy sources.