Solar Decathlon begins construction of project

By Hilary Tone

One of the biggest student-run projects at Santa Clara reached a new milestone last week as the Solar Decathlon team entered the construction phase of the competition.

Roughly 80 guests donned white Santa Clara hard-hats to celebrate the kickoff Feb. 22 in Kennedy Commons. Joined by sponsoring companies and community supporters, the guests viewed team goals and materials on display, such as two small 3-D models of the solar house, blueprints, samples of bamboo wood and solar panels.

Project manager James Bickford, a junior mechanical engineering major, introduced key speakers, including School of Engineering Dean Jim Koch.

Koch called the student effort for this project "Herculean" and applauded students' achievements in what he referred to as "one of the biggest student-run projects in the history of Santa Clara."

Koch then introduced University President Paul Locatelli, S.J., who donned one of the white hard-hats for part of the celebration.

"This project proves just how remarkable and smart students are," Locatelli said. He then recalled his encounter with the president of the University of Colorado, the university that has won the past two Solar Decathlon competitions. "I told him that this year, I don't think so," Locatelli said with a chuckle.

After reminding guests that Santa Clara is the only school on the West Coast to participate in the Solar Decathlon this year, Locatelli emphasized that the engineering challenge is only one part of this competition and congratulated the approximately 100 students working on the project.

Student leaders Landon Reese, Katherine Powell and Bickford also gave short speeches, reminiscing about starting the project and what their hopes are for the next several months.

Reese, a junior electrical engineering major, discussed the goals students set last summer, including partnering with companies, creating a smart, flexible and livable home and giving the solar house a purpose after the competition.

Most importantly, Reese pointed out that after a five-month late start in the competition, due to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo's decision to drop out, thus giving Santa Clara the chance to enter, the team has tried to be as competitive as possible.

"We have been one of the only teams to meet every deadline," Reese said.

Bickford expressed his personal thanks to everyone in attendance but specially thanked the sponsors, some of whom came from as far as Florida for the kickoff.

"Our goal is to work for the people of today and the people of tomorrow," Bickford said. "This solar house is an example of an integration of ideas for a better tomorrow."

Scott Jorgensen, a representative from the Florida-based company Solarsa, was one guest who flew in for the kickoff. "This team is going to be one of the only teams using thermal technology," Jorgensen said. Solarsa has donated over $100,000 worth of equipment to the Santa Clara team.

Koch, who joined the School of Engineering in January, was struck by the scale of this project and the dedication from both students and faculty members.

"When you combine bright and enthusiastic students with our faculty and the Silicon Valley, you've got all the elements for leadership," Koch said.

With construction officially beginning in March, Bickford hopes that Santa Clara students will be aware of this project and even come out to lend a hand.

"We're just as big as the NCAA teams," Bickford said. "We need the same support."

The Solar Decathlon, an event in which 20 colleges from around the world compete to create the most energy-efficient house, will be judged this next fall in Washington, D.C.

Contact Hilary Tone at htone@scu.edu.