6/20/02

Janet L. McCoy/Cheryl Cobb, 334.844-9999

AU STARTS WORK ON NATIONAL COMPETITION TO BUILD SOLAR HOUSE

AUBURN -- Auburn University students on Thursday (June 20) began work to build and operate a solar-powered home of their own design in an intercollegiate national competition this fall on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

The multidisciplinary team of students and faculty from the College of Architecture, Design and Construction and the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering will compete against 13 other universities from across the nation in the Solar Decathlon, to harness the power of solar energy.

For eight days -- beginning Sept. 25 -- student teams will compete to power a modern lifestyle -- including a 500-square-foot home, a home-based business and a solar powered electric car -- using only energy from the sun.

Like its athletic counterpart, the Solar Decathlon will consist of 10 contests that test a wide range of skills, ranging from lighting to energy balance to design and livability graphics and communication.

The event is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy, with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and private sponsors including BP Solar, American Institute of Architects, Electronic Data Systems and Home Depot.

Henry Brandhorst, deputy director of AU's Space Research Institute, and a team of faculty are coordinating Auburn's yearlong student effort.

"Our team came into the game late and has worked hard to catch up with the rest of the competitors," says Brandhorst. "The student effort has been exceptional."

The design work for the project, which began last fall and continued through the spring, is a unique blend of mountain retreat and high-tech comforts.

With the design work completed and materials on site, the Auburn team has started construction in a warehouse donated by an Auburn construction company, D&J Enterprises. Once completed and checked out, the house will be dismantled in mid September for transport to the nation's capital where it will join others to create a solar village on the mall for the competition and public showcase.

DOE representatives hope that the Solar Decathlon will act as a living demonstration laboratory for consumers. Communication and outreach are key components of the competition. Each team will have a website, provide house tours and create print materials that explain design, engineering and operation of the house as well as the products and technologies being used in the house.

Auburn officials estimate the cost of its part of the competition to be about $250,000.

University development officers from architecture and engineering have worked with the team to solicit private funds. Atlanta-based Mirant, a leading global competitive energy company, and Chicago-based Exelon, one of the nation's largest electric utilities, have each donated $75,000.

"These and our other local sponsors have stepped up to the plate with both the cash and in-kind donations that we need to get the job done," says Brandhorst. "We are very grateful for their support. This project has been a team effort from all the way -- from sponsorship to the student effort."

Through the past year, 75 students from architecture and disciplines such as mechanical, electrical and computer science and software engineering have worked together to dream, research, design, compromise and now to construct the solar-powered house, said Brandhorst. In the process they have learned a lot about teamwork and about themselves.

"Itıs been interesting watching architecture and engineering students work together for the first time to balance design and function, as well as production timelines," says Brandhorst. "The educational opportunities have been outstanding for all involved.

"This summer is when all the pieces will come together," he said. "I anticipate a season filled with challenge, hard work and excitement as we ready the house for the trip to D.C. and competition."

jun02: AU-solar

CONTACT: Brandhorst, 334/844-5894; John Horst, 303/275-4709.

(MEDIA NOTE: Brandhorst will be able to give media team progress updates. Please call him at 334/844-5894 or email him at brandhh@auburn.edu to learn how the team is progressing.)