Biomedical Engineering major Pedro Menezes de Castro Miranda ’26 is researching energy efficiency in Founders Residence Hall as part of Elizabethtown College’s Summer Creative Arts and Research Program (SCARP).
Working closely with Professor of Engineering Brenda Read-Daily this summer, Menezes de Castro Miranda is exploring the possibility of transitioning Founders Hall’s resistive heating system to a more sustainable geothermal or cogeneration system with the goal of helping Etown’s Department of Facilities Management assess the financial feasibility of this hypothetical initiative.
Title of Research
Energy Conservation at Elizabethtown College
Student Researcher
Pedro Menezes de Castro Miranda ’26 (Biomedical Engineering)
Faculty Mentor
Dr. Brenda Read-Daily, Professor of Engineering
What are you researching?
Menezes de Castro Miranda: In 2022, the Department of Facilities Management at Elizabethtown College conducted energy audits and facility assessments to identify which campus buildings consumed the most electricity and where improvements could be made. Founders Hall stood out due to its inefficient resistive heating system, which drives up electricity demand and costs.
This research focuses on evaluating the feasibility and financial implications of replacing that system with either a geothermal or cogeneration system. I’m analyzing utility data, estimating return on investment, and identifying potential funding opportunities to support the transition.
What is the most interesting aspect of this research?
Menezes de Castro Miranda: I find it interesting to learn about the history of Founders Hall and how its current heating system functions. Looking into how geothermal and cogeneration systems work has also deepened my understanding of sustainable energy solutions.
What are you hoping to accomplish through this research project?
Menezes de Castro Miranda: My goal is to estimate the cost and return on investment for installing a geothermal heating system in Founders Hall and provide Facilities Management with data that could support long-term energy-saving decisions.
Talk about working with your mentor. How have they helped you throughout this experience?
Dr. Read-Daily helped me organize my research, set clear goals, and guided me on how to approach complex calculations and data analysis. Her direction has been essential in keeping my work focused and productive.
Hear from the faculty mentor – Dr. Brenda Read-Daily
“This project is important because it has the potential to save the College energy and money. Founders Hall uses energy-hogging resistive heating leading resulting in a high energy bill. Pedro is going to estimate the required size of a geothermal system for Founders and what its payback period is. This information will help the Facilities Team determine if it is a project worth pursuing in the future.”
