Solar decathlon team prepares for competition

The Solar Decathlon team continues this fall to work on the design, fundraising and community outreach for their project in preparation for the competition held in Washington, D.C. on the National Mall in late September through early October of 2011.

According to the United States Department of Energy (DOE) website, the DOE holds the Solar Decathlon to challenge participants to design and build a house powered by solar energy that is simultaneously attractive and affordable. Middlebury is the first small liberal arts college selected as a finalist for the competition.

Although the project relies on the central leadership of Project Manager Addison Godine ’11.5 and Faculty Advisor and Visiting Lecturer in Architecture Andrea Murray, the team is also supported by approximately 13 sub-teams that each focus on a different aspect of the project. Most of these sub-teams have their own student leaders in addition to advisors, who are comprised of faculty, staff, administration and even community professionals.

This fall, the team will focus on producing the required materials for their next deliverable, which is due Nov. 23. Deliverables are planning materials that must be submitted at various stages leading up to the competition. November’s deliverable includes three separate components: a project manual, a building integrated model (BIM), and a health and safety plan.

The project manual includes drawings of the house design as well as plans for the construction of the house upon arrival at the Mall.

The BIM, which lays out the specifics of the building plans, is designed on the software program Autodesk Revit Architecture.

“This has presented a particular challenge because [as] a liberal arts college, we don’t actually teach [students how to use this program]” said Godine. “We have an outside consultant coming in every week teaching the team the ropes.”

The health and safety plan outlines plans for construction surround evacuation plans, fire plans, etc.

“[We need to] think of everything that could possibly go wrong and make a plan for what to do,” explained Godine.

To jumpstart the efforts of the fall, approximately 10 students worked on the project on campus this summer.

“We had people doing fundraising, outreach, architecture and a little bit of engineering,” explained Godine.

The students were working on developing web content for an Aug. 17 deliverable.

“We set up our blog, our video account, our Twitter account and Facebook,” said Godine.

The team’s summer work also developed the community outreach component of the project.

Godine emphasized that the team is “engaging more with the community … we talked to schools in the area and we have presentations at high schools lined up for this fall.”

Godine also added that many community members involved in businesses or projects with overlapping interests have approached the team with ideas for the competition.

At the end of the 2009-2010 academic year, the team was awarded the Harris Farmhouse as project headquarters. The Harris Farmhouse is located at 803 College St. near the College Recycling Center.

Godine explained that the house is an “ideal spot … we’ve got the wind turbine, the recycling center and the Organic Garden. It’s like a theme park for environmental things.”

In addition to student volunteers, the team is also supported by two interdepartmental courses offered this fall, Construction Management and Design and Development, which provides the support of 25-30 students.

The fundraising sub-team for the project, led by Kris Williams ’11.5, has been working this fall to find funding for the competition.

“We have people writing grants, we will be pitching to corporations and then we have alumni, trustees, parents and students [who will be working to fund the project]” explained Godine.

Godine added that the team has received tremendous help from College Advancement Office.  They have also presented their project at the Alumni Leadership Conference, held Sept. 24-26, and during Fall Family Weekend. The team has plans to present during Homecoming weekend as well.

“We have raised $60,000 so far and we have $440,000 left to go,” said Godine.

When asked about the feasibility of raising this sum, Godine explained that many of the teams from the 2009 competition had not finished fundraising by the time the competition was over.

Godine hoped that the team’s fundraising would not have to continue after the competition, but added that it was a “possibility.”

Actual construction of the house on campus will begin in early April of 2011, right after Spring Break.  Due to the size of the house, construction will take place outside in a roped-off portion of the parking lot of the Mods. The team is considering investing in a tent to protect the project from the Vermont weather.

“It’s a great site, actually — it’s flat, it’s concrete and there are lights,” explained Godine.

Godine explained that one of the strengths of the project comes from the emphasis on collaboration, which is due in part to the team’s recruitment policies.

So far the team has “welcomed anybody who wants to work on this project with open arms,” explained Godine.

However, this welcoming attitude has also presented a challenge in properly allocating new, enthusiastic volunteers to sub-teams that best match their skill level.

In the fall of 2011, the Decathlon teams will begin unloading their trucks on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. at midnight on Sept. 14.  The team will have seven and a half days to construct the house.  Construction culminates in the opening ceremonies of the competition held on Sept. 22, the autumnal equinox.  The opening ceremonies kick off the 10-day competition during which the judging takes place and the houses are open to the public.  At the conclusion of this period, the team will have three days to deconstruct the house and must be off the Mall by Oct. 5.