Here's today's update regarding Team California's (Santa Clara University+California College of Arts) completion of the Refract House for the U.S. Department of Energy's 2009 Solar Decathlon.
The countdown has begun! Our 800-square-foot solar-powered house is now being reassembled on the National Mall in Washington D.C., and our team is working feverishly to make us proud at this prestigious competition. As you know, our students are competing against 19 other teams from universities and colleges in the U.S., Canada, Germany, Puerto Rico, and Spain.
Following is a brief update on our Team's progress in D.C.
Refract House made history yesterday as it was "the first Solar Decathlon house ever to be connected with a microgrid." Richard King, Solar Decathlon Director, writes all about it in his daily journal on the official Website for the Solar Decathlon. He also notes, "Inspection Officer Tom Meyers believes the work being done by the student teams is about 10 years ahead of what is used by today's architects, engineers, and contractors," and lists as an example SCU's own bamboo structural I-joists that feature an open-web design to ease construction. Similar to the bamboo I-beams developed for SCU's 3rd place winning 2007 entry, these trestle-shaped beams have been altered to allow ducting, electrical wiring, and plumbing to run through while maintaining structural support.
At the opening ceremonies on Thursday, October 8, SCU student project manager Allison Kopf '11 will be one of only two students selected to address the crowd along with Energy Secretary Stephen Chu.
Keep up with all the Solar Decathlon news on these blogs:
School of Engineering Solar Decathlon Blog http://www.scu.edu/engineering/solardecathlon/blog.cfm
Refract House Website
http://www.refracthouse.com/
Richard King’s Daily Journal http://www.solardecathlon.org/2009/daily_journals.cfm
October 8: Opening Ceremonies, 1-2 p.m. Team California Student Project Manager Allison Kopf (SCU '11) is one of two students selected to deliver the welcoming address!
October 9-13 and 15-18: Public Tours. Team houses are open 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Monday - Friday and 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. There is no cost to attend the Solar Decathlon, and you do not need to register in advance. ALL HOUSES ARE CLOSED WED., OCT. 14. Some houses may be closed 1-2 hours on other days for competition judging and measurement purposes. http://www.solardecathlon.org/schedule.cfm
October 16: Awards Ceremony, 10 - 11 a.m.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for your encouragement, your support, and your confidence in our Team!
Heidi Williams
Communications Manager
School of Engineering
Santa Clara University
www.scu.edu/engineering
Ideate is so pleased to have provided Revit training to these creative students!
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