Building for the Future

FIU students compete to build country’s best solar-powered house

By Martin Haro ‘05

FIU students will compete with 20 universities around the world to build an energy efficient, solar-powered house that will be displayed on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., next fall. The FIU house will be uniquely designed to respond to South Florida’s mercurial tropical weather.

The Solar Decathlon challenges 20 college teams to design, build and operate solar-powered houses that are affordable, energy efficient and attractive. Collegiate teams hail from around the United States and as far away as China, New Zealand and Belgium.

Team FIU consists of approximately 25 student architects, landscape architects, interior designers, mechanical engineers, electrical engineers, civil/environmental engineers, construction managers and journalists.

The winner of the competition is the team that best blends cost effectiveness, consumer appeal and design excellence with optimal energy production and maximum efficiency.

“At the threshold of art and technology, this project places FIU at the forefront of research in sustainable building design – particularly design focused on the unique conditions of our South Florida environment: the hot, humid, hurricane-prone tropics,” said architecture professor Marilys Nepomechie, who is directing the project. “On the most prominent of international stages, our students are contributing to one of the most important conversations of our times: the design of a truly sustainable future for our community.”

The multi-stage competition began with a grant proposal submitted by FIU faculty to the U.S. Department of Energy last November. Having cleared that first hurdle, FIU was invited to enter stage two – a student design competition that took place this past spring. The competition entry submitted by FIU earned the university a place on the National Mall in 2011.

The project involves a team of faculty from three colleges and seven departments: Camilo Rosales, Roberto Rovira, Shahin Vassigh and Thomas Spiegelhalter, all of architecture; Sarah Sherman of interior design; Yimin Zhu of construction management; Girma Bitsuamlak of civil and environmental engineering; and Fernando Figueredo of public relations and advertising.

While faculty members serve as advisors, the Solar Decathlon team is primarily a student-led effort, guided by project manager Andrew Madonna, a graduate student in architecture. The project leadership team includes Manny Dorticos, Isis Fumero, Deana Sritalapat, Susana Neira ’09, Tyler Schwartz, Tari Pelaez, Chrissy Perez and Michele Makovits.

This type of construction – green building – is not necessarily glamorous, says Neira. “Sustainability and looks don’t often go hand-in-hand. Our concept is trying to combine both elements.”

The master’s student says that although the FIU house is small and better suited for a young, childless couple or an elderly couple (the house will be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act), it is still sustainably functional.

“Our house doesn’t borrow any energy from the grid,” Neira said. “I think it acts on a global level, but is still very local, very Miami. The wall space is minimal – the house is made out of a special glass that meets city codes. The material has been the most challenging aspect of the design.”

Team FIU’s solar-powered house is called PerFORM[D]ance because it performs in real time by sensing and responding to the generation and acquisition of energy. The house, in effect, “dances” in response to the external conditions of its environment and the internal conditions of its use. Examples of this movement are its movable louvers modeled after hurricane shutters.

In fall 2011, PerFORM[D]ance will be transported in segments 1,056 miles from Miami to the National Mall where it will be reassembled for the 10-day competition and exhibition. More than 30,000 people visited the Solar Decathlon houses each day during the 2009 competition.

The FIU team is seeking sponsors from the business community to help raise money for the construction, furnishing and transportation of the solar house. Sponsorship information can be found by visiting solardecathlon.fiu.edu or by contacting Marilys.Nepomechie@fiu.edu.