20
SUSTAINABILITY >> SOLAR HOUSING COMPETITION
NEW CONSTRUCTION
Ready… Set…
Build!
Students Create Sustainable Housing in the Solar Decathlon Competition W RIT TE N BY G A BRIE LLE C A LI S E
I
t sounds like the concept fit for a reality television show: Build the pieces of a house, ship them across the country, and re-assemble the parts to create a functioning home in a little over a week. As if this wasn’t difficult enough, the house must be affordable and environmentally friendly. Welcome to the Solar Decathlon. This isn’t a crazy idea for a show, but rather a collaborative project that requires students to plan and execute a whole sustainable house, from the floorboards to the furniture. Collegiate teams are challenged with the task of building a solar-powered house that is affordable, attractive and energy-efficient. The local student-run team that has been preparing to build a Solar Living House (SLH) consists
20 |
OUR TOWN MAGAZINE
MAY/JUNE 2015
of 30 to 40 members from three different schools: the University of Florida, Santa Fe College and the National University of Singapore (NUS). Team members span a variety of majors, from construction planning to architecture to mechanical engineering. The NUS fundraised last summer for six students and one member of their faculty to come to UF this summer and last summer. The team plans to build a house with two bedrooms, one bathroom, a living room, a dining room and kitchen, and with a courtyard located on the north side of the building. Competitors must abide by certain rules. For instance, there is a maximum height of 18 feet and stairs are not allowed because of safety and accessibility concerns. The maximum area of the house is 1,000 square feet, so the team is shooting for 995 — well above the 600-square-foot minimum. PHOTOGRAPHY: GABRIELLE CALISE