Vandergrift holds a unique place in history as the first worker-owned community in the United States. A bold and visionary initiative by its founder, George McMurtry, Vandergrift has proved to be a successful community that has weathered the times. Today, 113 years later, Vandergrift is posed to once again capture McMurtry’s spirit of boldness and vision with a proposed use of ionic polymers immersed in the Kiskiminetas (Kiski) River to generate ‘clean’ electricity for Vandergrift.

At this point you may be asking what the heck ‘ionic polymers’ are? Depending on your age and scientific knowledge, it can prove to be a challenge! You may still be puzzled after you read an explanation. The simplest explanation is that it is using plastics as a power source. Now you know, right? What it really boils down to is Dr. Lisa Mauck Weiland, Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Pittsburgh. She is an expert in smart materials, developing them for different uses. In this particular case she wants to use plastics known as ionic polymers to develop electrical current. It is a bold and visionary idea. And guess what, Vandergrift is the area that will host the tests.

Vandergrift is staying true to its history. Already forging ahead as a ‘green’ community and looking to build for the future, the choosing of Vandergrift to test this new concept is a natural step. Vandergrift already has made history and to this day stands as a monument to the creativity of its founder. Now, it seems once again the community could be in the forefront of sustainability in the United States.

A laboratory energy harvesting device

Last Monday (July 28th), The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette had a story on this amazing venture into the future. You can read the full story, “The Thinkers: Pitt professor looking for power in polymers” here: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08210/899996-115.stm

Another earlier story was in the Winter 2008 edition of the University of Pittsburgh’s “Pitt Magazine”. You can read “The Greening of Vandergrift” here at: http://www.pittmag.pitt.edu/winter2008/feature3.html

The story has hit the blogs and here one you can visit: Roland Piquepaille’s “Emerging Tech” blog at: http://blogs.zdnet.com/emergingtech/?p=995

Also, visit the University of Pittsburgh Swan School of Engineering Department Mechanical Engineering Project web page for more technical details at: http://www.engr.pitt.edu/mechanical/faculty-staff/weiland/esw/projects.html