Project Manager
Overall project management of the Solar Decathlon.
Architecture
This team is responsible for designing and documenting the solar house. They focus on designing energy-efficient performance and beautiful aesthetics.
Photovoltaic
The photovoltaic team’s main concerns are integrating the solar photovoltaic panels with the house and focusing on optimal energy production.
Engineering and Energy Modeling
This team focuses on designing the electrical and mechanical systems of the house and ensuring optimal energy balancing is maintained.
Solar Thermal
The solar thermal team integrates thermal comfort elements into the house. They focus on maintaining ideal air quality and removing humidity with renewable, non-energy consuming technology.
Controls
This team creates a useable and informative system of controls in the house. They focus on automating processes in the house to maximize energy efficiency.
Structural Engineering
They ensure the design is able to safely and adequately withstand all design loads. This involves focusing on supporting weight from mechanical and solar systems, and large amounts of visitors.
Procurement
The procurement team compiles a database of materials, companies, and services involved with the house. Their main focus concerns product and service information management.
Logistics
The logistics team coordinates the transportation of our house from Minneapolis to Washington D.C., as well as the return trip. Their primary concern is ensuring the house can be transported safely without compromising its design.
Construction Management
This is the team that is in charge of building the house itself. They focus on verifying that our design can actually be constructed, cost estimates, and they ensure building and safety codes are met.
Commissioning
The commissioning team establish project goals and develop a means to achieve them. They focus on meeting team expectations and complying with competition rules.
Communications
The communications team communicates the goals, achievements, and messages of the house to the public. They focus on designing visual and verbal information from audience analysis, which includes branding, the solar house’s Web site, and print materials.
Interior Design
The interior designers’ primary concern is designing and documenting the interior finishing, furnishing, and lighting of the house. They focus on incorporating livability features into the house.