UC Students Getting Ready to Raise a Solar House

Now that the planning details have been nailed down for the University of Cincinnati’s solar house, actual construction of that house – as part of an international contest to build the world’s best solar house – is set to begin on Monday, April 16, in front of UC’s Braunstein Hall.

Ceremonies are set to begin at 10 a.m., with construction commencing at about 10:30 a.m.

This house – which will be completely solar-powered in every way, including sun-powered house mechanics and appliances – will be built in four sections atop the beds of four mobile home trailers located on the UC campus. When complete in October, the sections will be transported to Washington D.C., connected to one another to form a cohesive whole and will then be displayed on the National Mall. In Washington, it will be displayed with 19 other solar houses from around the world as part of a select international competition called the Solar Decathlon.

The Solar Decathlon is a prestigious competition in which the best design, engineering and business programs are selected to envision, build and display fully functioning solar-powered houses. UC students have been working on this project since early 2006.

Highlights from events planned for April 16 include

• A performance by members of the pep band playing a medley of sunny songs, ranging from “You Are My Sunshine” to “Here Comes the Sun.”

• Remarks by UC President Nancy Zimpher.

• Students begin work on laying and securing the house’s plywood subfloor and raising portions of two walls.

Also on hand during April 16’s events will be displays of technology to be incorporated into the house, including solar PV panels and evacuated tubes, along with renderings of what the house will look like when completed and assembled.

More information on the event and on UC’s solar house

• Complete agenda for April 16 house raising
• Update on recent progress on the project
• Design and engineering innovations by UC students
• Previous Web coverage on project
• List of sponsors supporting UC’s efforts
• UC’s international competitors
• UC’s student Solar Decathlon site
• National Solar Decathlon site

Join the team

• To become a sponsor and to donate materials or funding needed to help complete the project, contact Dave Linnenberg at 513-556-0831 or e-mail him at david.linnenberg@uc.edu 

.