On June 8th, 2022, hosted the official unveiling of Project Eco Bus!
The Eco Bus project began in 2018, using a blend of cross-curricular experiential learning for students to transform an old school bus into a mobile work and living space!
The COVID-19 pandemic delayed the unveiling of this project from the original two-year goal to four years, however, the pandemic did not stop the momentum of completing the project.
Students from almost every field of study contributed to the bus, including students studying art, hospitality, culinary arts, math, construction, auto-shop, woodworking, engineering, science, and design technology.
Throughout this transformation, students from various subject areas devised, tested, and refined solutions to challenges and applied hands-on techniques to construct an environment where two passengers could live and work daily.
Through Project Eco Bus, students learned how to source materials at a low cost, from being donated and repurposed, then use them to create a minimalist work and living space. The Eco Bus provides home and office essentials while using the least amount of energy, ultimately reducing costs and environmental impact.
The bus has 94 square feet of living space, which expands to 110 feet with a drawbridge-style deck that folds out in less than five minutes! It uses solar panels mounted on the roof, providing 300 watts of electricity to power everything inside. Some other features of the bus include: a backup camera, a table that folds into a bed, a cooler, USB charging ports, a library, recycling and compost storage, a washroom with a sink, shower and portable toilet, an ethanol heater (students consulted the fire department for the safest heat source), and a camping stove! Students sourced products, repurposed wood, bought materials from the Habitat for Humanity ReStore and, in some cases, used donated materials.
Bishop Reding鈥檚 Eco Bus will now act as a test platform for future cross-curricular design challenges in electrical conservation, budgeting, mathematics, science, chemistry, and more. It will be used to help promote cross-curricular application of learned theories, as well as promote the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program and Specialist High Skills Major Program at the school, providing pathways for skilled trades and other rewarding career directions for students.
Congratulations to all students, staff, and sponsors who made this project a success! And a huge thanks to staff, students, parents, board dignitaries, and locals who visited Bishop Reding School for the big reveal! Check out the for more information on the project overview, design process and photos from over the years!
