Leveraging the ZubaBox concept developed by Computer Aid International, the labs pack a ruggedized OptiPlex server and 10 Dell Wyse thin clients running
The thin clients require about 3 watts of electricity to run, compared with the typical 150 watts needed for a personal computer. Anywhere from three to six solar panels and batteries, along with an inverter, create a nanogrid that powers the workstations along with the equipment needed to stand up an Internet connection, sockets for recharging mobile phones, a ventilation fan and low-power lights.
According to ZubaBox's technical specifications, the container has a peak generation capacity of 700 watts to 1,400 watts (depending on the configuration) and enough to provide up to six to 12 hours of consecutive usage. (Computer Aid's version of the box uses different computing technologies inside than the Dell one, for obvious reasons; it can depend on what corporate partner it works with for an installation.)
"It has taken pressure off their parents in terms of the costs to pay the library for usage of computers and library times do not always coincide with the team kid need access to information," notes Karen Damon, manager at one of the facilities where the approach was tested.
Aside from serving as a mobile classroom, Dell believes the labs can serve as economic hubs for communities that don't have reliable access to power or Internet. The life expectancy of the thin client technology is about nine years, compared with the average three-to-five year lifespan of a typical PC. The solar panels have an estimated lifespan of 25 years.
Right now, local communities use grant money from Dell to fund the ongoing operation of these mobile classrooms, so realistically the impact is still limited as the company evaluates how to scale it.
"This has been a wonderful way for us to get into many remote areas," said Deb Bauer, director of strategic giving and community engagement for Dell, during a progress report last week about the company's 2020 Legacy of Good plan.
The first Dell-sponsored installations were in Lagos, Nigeria, and in Kensington, South Africa: together they serve 434 students and more than 40 teachers. There are at least four more deployments planned over the next fiscal year.
Dell's 2020 Legacy for Good plan aspires to help more than 3 million youth directly over the next six years. The solar classrooms aren't the only effort under that component of its program: so far, the company figures it has received more than 500,000 young people.
The company has also made other notable progress toward its 2020 goals over the past two years.
For example, it reduced the energy intensity over its product portfolio by 23.2% and averted approximately 6,700 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions through its telecommuting and teleworking initiatives. Up to 20 percent of Dell's workforce officially flexes where they work, although the Dell sustainability team figures the number is closer to 40%. The goal is 50%, so Dell is about 45% there. Approximately 11% of its new hires in fiscal year 2014 don't physically work at a Dell office.
For those companies that are moving away from this idea, here's Dell's rationale:
This flexibility is a key selling point in attracting and retaining top talent. So we must ensure we have the tools and technology we need to support team members and reimagine Dell facilities to include a greater mix of collaboration rooms, shared desks and “hoteling” areas for mobile workers.
We must also address the biggest challenges posed by flexible work—cultivating personal connections, building strong teams and managing a dispersed, global workforce. To do so, we provide ongoing training, virtual events, internal social media groups and employee resource groups where team members connect and interact. We will continue to strengthen our resources as our flexible workforce evolves and expands over the next decade.
