On August 17th, members of Team Ontario unveiled their new solar house.
“We can’t have a sustainable community if it is not ecologically smart, and if we don’t provide resources for the future,” said Carleton President Rosaeann O’Reilly Runte. “This is an example of collaboration, leadership and resilience. It is a privilege for Carleton to participate in this project.”
Soon, the team will ship the house to California to compete in the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2013 competition.
Shares Chris Baldwin, the grad student project leader, “It took more than 1.5 years for undergrad and grad students from Carleton, Algonquin and Queen’s to design and build this house. We’re pretty proud of the end result.”
The Decathlon challenges 20 collegiate teams from around the world to design, build and operate solar-powered houses that are cost-effective, energy-efficient and attractive. There are only two Canadian teams competing. The main purpose of the competition is to demonstrate that net-zero, solar homes are feasible, affordable and desirable while also developing the next generation of building professionals.
You can watch the following video featuring Baldwin and Carleton Engineering Professor Cynthia Cruickshank describing the project last spring.
The 940 square foot, $300,000 home features a master bedroom, one bathroom, a multipurpose room that can be used as an office or second bedroom, and a combined kitchen/living room/dining room. Designed to be ‘net zero’, the home will utilize various solar and energy efficient technologies to produce at least as much energy in a year as it will consume. Students began designing the building in the summer of 2011 by brainstorming its architectural appearance, running simulations and performing structural analysis. Construction began in September 2012 at Algonquin College’s campus in Perth, Ontario, where the students were able to complete most of the main structure and conduct a test move. In May of 2013, it was relocated to Algonquin College’s Ottawa campus for completion.
The Solar Decathlon 2013 will be held at the Orange County Great Park in Irvine, California, where the Solar Decathlon will be the main attraction for the XPO, a clean, renewable, and efficient energy exposition. The competition and public exhibit will take place Oct. 3-13, 2013.
You can follow the latest updates from Team Ontario by visiting their website, ontariosd.ca or through their Facebook page.
Check out the story in the Ottawa Citizen of the unveiling event on August 17th.
Monday, August 19, 2013 in Grad Student Research, News
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