2048 title2/18/2023 ![]() ![]() “Energy efficiency is one of the cornerstones of sustainability, and this real-world project really drives that home,” says Greg Luhan, associate dean for research in UK’s College of Design and architecture team leader for the project. When the house’s solar systems are maximized, an estimated 250,000 Mall visitors will literally be able to see its electricity meter running backward. Teams will have to prove that, using just solar power, their homes can do what any other real-world home can do-from running TVs and computers to heating water and drying towels under a specified time. There, it will be judged on everything from architecture, engineering, and market viability to its performance, comfort, and livability. In early October, UK’s solar house will then travel to D.C. They hope to complete construction and testing on campus in 22 weeks. Since January 2008, a team of literally hundreds of students, faculty, and staff across six colleges and 16 centers at UK has culled through a bevy of design layouts and materials options to settle on just one model, which they began constructing this March. The University of Kentucky is one of just 20 universities chosen to participate in this year’s prestigious Solar Decathlon, sponsored by the Department of Energy and held biennially in Washington, D.C. The prototype house is an 800-square-foot, fully equipped, single-story home that uses only solar energy to power it and is designed to achieve net-zero-creating at least as much energy as it uses. And the UK team that’s taking it there hopes that-true to our state song and its older, Bardstown counterpart-the sun will shine brightly on it. This fall, a “new” Kentucky home will go to the National Mall. ![]()
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