Campus Center for Appropriate Technology (CCAT)

New mission for 2012

"We are dedicated to sustainability and strive to show that treading lightly on the earth is both practical and rewarding. We collect and share information on appropriate technology, while providing hands-on learning opportunities (CCAT House)." This quote is the new message those interested in appropriate technology are sending the community they reside in. Whilst the goals have not really changed, the current program aims at ensuring a better hands-on learning experience. The CCAT house residents want to show how important the Earth is. Showing this importance through projects, experimenting and creativity is also personally rewarding.

What is the meaning behind Appropriate Technology? The term "appropriate" indicates that such technology stabilizes the environment socially and meets the needs of the residential community economically. Appropriate Technology (AT) describes a way that we can come together and provide sufficient hands-on human qualities and ideas without damaging the Earth's finite natural resources. To determine if a certain technology is good for proper use, the CCAT House wants to study causes of prospective problems. Is the technology item built locally or made up of local materials from the community? Is it able to be built from scratch or at least to be properly managed, with a limited supply of certain training? Can the technology built be used for the future generations? Is there harm to humans or the environment while producing it or when it comes into use? Any benefits? Good or bad? Affordable? The CCAT House seeks answers to all these possible questions and even the hypothesis. If a solution balances the benefits and harms of the hands-on built technology, it is approved as appropriate.

AT in action: CCAT's yurt

For thousands of years, nomadic herders of Central Asia have used yurts. Traditional yurts are portable and easy to break down. Their walls are made of latticed sections covered by felted wool that can be easily disassembled.

"CCAT’s yurt, however, is a permanent structure. With a weatherproofed canvas roof and wooden walls, it is not made for easy disassembly. This yurt was constructed in the late 1970s as part of a class comparing round-structure cultures to square-structure cultures. Andy Alm, Tom Balderston and Rod Huffsmith, then students in the class, spearheaded the project. It is based on designs by Lynn Charney and the Coxes.

The CCAT yurt’s interior features an off-grid lighting system including:

• Solar PV panel to generate electricity
• A battery for electrical storage
• Energy-efficient LED light bulbs

This Lighting system was designed and installed in fall of 2006 by an HSU engineering graduate student class, Development Technology." This was taken from the lower part of the board outside of the CCAT Yurt.

What's the background of the CCAT House? The Campus Center for Appropriate Technology is a live-in demonstration home and educational center for appropriate technology and resource conservation. CCAT is a registered non-profit organization and is the home for three students who live in the house and direct the program for one-year periods. We are located on the Humboldt State University campus. Motivated by an ethic of “education by example,” CCAT offers tours, workshops and opportunities for hands-on involvement to university students and the general public. Approximately 18 part-time student employees keep operations going. A student-funded, student-run organization, CCAT has been operating for about 32 years now. They continue to serve as an living laboratory, giving students the opportunity to learn hands-on by designing, creating and testing numerous appropriate technologies, green-building designs, and sustainable-living techniques. Although the house has been through its fair share of obstacles and speed bumps, the students seem always to push through and prevail so that they can help educate the world about appropriate technology.^[2]

Come Volunteer! CCAT is always busy building new projects and maintaining existing ones. Here are listed some of the things you can do while volunteering.

1. Gardening
2. Groundswork
3. Painting signs
4. Work on appropriate tech projects, and get a free lunch to boot.

Are you interested in working for the CCAT House? Co-Directors are needed to help assist on projects.^[3]

Taking a strong active role in the community is something the CCAT house always wants to do. Welcoming new people makes it that much better to get involved with others. Networking is a great way to make new friends and meet local people around the community.

Bayside park farm spring internship

Everyone is interested in some kind of productive work that pays off in the long run. Go ahead and give time to make your resume better by getting involved with the Bayside Park Farm. An internship is an outstanding way to gain experience in the workforce.

CCAT has partnered with Appropedia to bring over 30 years of student based appropriate technology solutions to the world. Please see the pages categorized below.