by: Adrianne Gracias, NECA Online Communications Manager
Since I’ve lived in the D.C. area most of my life, it’s rare that I get to be a tourist in my own town. But this past Friday, I took at field trip to the Department of Energy’s 2011 Solar Decathlon, where 20 university-led student teams from around the world, were given two years to design, build and operate an affordable energy-efficient single-family home powered by the sun.
The DOE developed 10 contests for grading team submissions to determine their successfulness in the real world. The “off-grid” homes were graded on: affordability, attractiveness, in-and-outdoor environmental conditions, practical living spaces, power production for home appliances, lighting, and the ability to produce hot water.
The unfortunate timing of this event landed it during a week with barely any sun, which made the competition extremely hard. Go figure, the Solar Decathlon, without any sun! I immediately noticed just how much these homes depended on natural or ambient light. When asked why the insides of the homes appeared dark and dreary, over and over I heard students patiently answer, “Well, it is pretty cloudy today.”
Many homes were built with unique renewable materials like cargo boxes, tree bark, and other recycled materials. One even looked like it could be related to the Michelin Man! There were many different design strategies from university teams, often influenced by their hometown environments. Team New York’s Solar Roofpod, though awkwardly set up for the decathlon, had a lot of potential. Their idea was to utilize the wasted living spaces of mid and high-rise buildings, providing eco-conscious residents opportunities to produce their own power, recycle storm water and create roof-top gardens.
Other great teams that deserve recognition include NECA’s very own student chapter, Purdue University, who before being awarded 2nd place at the competition’s end, already had requests to build a planned community based on their New England-style INhome! Winner of the People’s Choice Award, Appalachian State, introduced the Solar Homestead, which, in my opinion, made the best use of overall living space. Rooms easily adapted to meet immediate needs. On-site students demonstrated how in just minutes the kitchen could be completely transformed into a home theater.
The Maryland University team didn’t require cloudy excuses; their home was well lit and nicely landscaped. TheWaterShed home was designed to promote a sustainable lifestyle, while protecting the Chesapeake Bay Watershed through a holistic approach.
UMD Students tackled this obstacle by incorporating a modular constructed wetland to filter and recycle rain and graywater, a green roof improves energy efficiency and slows runoff, and an edible wall garden system and composter to encourage organic living practices. WaterShed is a split-living design, with angled “butterfly” roofs that direct rainfall into the constructed wetland. Separate public and private living areas are connected by the bathroom and water axis. I wasn’t at all surprised that UMD took home this year’s top prize – Go Terps!
While touring new technologies and listening to students’ worldly interpretations of the “green market” is fun, it’s also my job. Since I work for electrical contractors, I know how our members are closely following these new markets. Energy efficiency upgrades and renewable power installations are becoming the bread and butter for some electrical contractors. The innovative strategies I saw at the Solar Decathlon will directly influence the future of commercial, industrial and residential electrical construction.
It’s imperative that we keep a close watch on these new technologies and develops training that keeps up with market innovation and customer demand. NECA works with the DOE and the NFPA to ensure that these new markets are implemented in a safe, effective and knowledgeable manner. The reassurance of hiring a qualified electrical contractor is what sets NECA contractors apart.
So, what’s my actual reason for loving Maryland’s award-winning WaterShed home? It closely follows my personal ambitions, by promoting a clean, renewable, organic and healthy lifestyle, right in my backyard. That, and crab cakes.