Refract House: Student-built, sun-powered
August 19th, 2009
I’m off to visit our nation’s green energy pioneers at Santa Clara University, where members of Team California are constructing Refract House, an 800-square-foot solar-powered home for the US Department of Energy’s 2009 Solar Decathlon competition. The house, which is being constructed on campus before it’s transported to the October showcase on the National Mall in Washington, DC, will feature radiant heating and cooling, a greywater treatment system, and working appliances — including a TV, dishwasher, and washer/dryer.
Joining forces with design and architecture students at the California College of the Arts, the 100-member team is the only undergraduate-led group of the 20 teams from around the world entered in the competition.
I’ll be reporting back soon with video of the building process for The Red, White, and Green Scene; in the meantime, you can check out the students hard at work via the real-time Refract House Construction Cam.
–Jennifer Grayson
Related posts:
Sommerhaus Piu: Prefabulous!
Saving green
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May 12th, 2010 at 6:37 pm
It is very handy to find a bit of extra instruction when doing renovations (or dreaming about it). If you want a few professional tips, I suggest looking at Masterrenovator.com, the site is full of very good information on things that can keep you out of trouble.