Congressman Mark Udall and The Home Depot will join University of Colorado students in promoting renewable energy as part of the world's first university competition to design and build an attractive energy efficient home that relies on solar power and today's energy efficient products for all its energy needs.
The three entities will come together for a Renewable Energy and Green Building Technology Fair on Saturday, Aug. 17, from 9:30 a.m. to noon, at the Home Depot, 1200 Dillon Road, Louisville.
CU students designed a model solar home and now are overseeing its construction in the Home Depot parking lot to compete in the Department of Energy's Solar Decathlon.
The public is invited to see the CU team's progress and learn more about energy efficient building. A broad range of energy conservation products will be displayed and demonstrated by CU students and Home Depot experts.
The Solar Decathlon is a competition among 14 universities to design and build the most energy efficient solar-powered home. The contest, which will take place in Washington, D.C., in October, includes 10 categories in which the homes will be judged, including design and livability, lighting, energy balance, and design presentation and simulation.
Udall will visit with CU students and the public to discuss the Solar Decathlon project and how renewable energy can help the nation meet its energy needs. As co-chair of the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives, Udall has supported of the Solar Decathlon team.
"I am looking forward to working with the team as it prepares for the competition and after the competition, when the team brings the house back to Colorado to use for community education," Udall said.
The CU Solar Decathlon team involves students in the College of Engineering and Applied Science at CU-Boulder and the College of Architecture and Planning at CU-Denver. The team's goals are to not only build the most efficient and most attractive solar home, but also to educate the public about renewable energy and green building technology.
The Home Depot joins BP Solar, the American Institute of Architects, and the Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory as co-sponsors of the contest.
The Xcel Energy Foundation joined the University of Colorado as a primary sponsor of the Colorado team.