Microgrid as a Civic Infrastructure

What role does design play in greening our electricity system? How can it address contemporary challenges at the intersection of social, environmental, and economic systems? Students at ID responded to these questions, using design to envision a more sustainable energy infrastructure — a reimagining of the electricity grid — during Carlos Teixeira’s 14-week Sustainable Solutions Workshop. The resulting design models (expressed as anatomy of infrastructure, archetypes, and action situation) were used to consider what is necessary to realize the promise of the microgrid as a civic infrastructure, one that binds communities to self-organize and holds themselves collectively accountable for making purpose-driven choices. The project received a Fast Company recognition as honorable mention in the Students Category, as well as an award from Core77. Student team: Gauri Bhatt, Zeya Chen, Samar Elhouar, Mithila Kedambadi, Mrinali Gokani Rajesh, Monica Villazon San Martin, Catherine Wieczorek, Alpha Wong, Kelvin Yu, Zack Schwartz, Veronica Paz Soldan, Siwei Sun. Faculty guidance: Azra Sungu, Carlos Teixeira.