At a glance
More than 25 Alfred State and Alfred University students headed to California Saturday, Sept. 26, to compete in the 2015 US Department of Energy Solar Decathlon.
More than 25 Alfred State and Alfred University students headed to California Saturday, Sept. 26, to compete in the 2015 US Department of Energy Solar Decathlon.
Held this year from Sept. 28 to Oct. 18 in Irvine, CA, the Solar Decathlon challenges collegiate teams to design, build, and operate solar-powered houses that are cost-effective, energy-efficient, and attractive. Seventeen teams are competing in the 2015 event.
Team Alfred’s entry is a nearly 900-square-foot zero-energy home for middle-class families in rural western New York. Alfred State and Alfred University also collaborated on a submission for the 2013 Solar Decathlon, held in Datong, China.
The 2015 house was shipped in modules to the site of the Solar Decathlon on Sept. 21. Once the students arrive, they will have nine days to reassemble the house.
Michael May, a building trades: building construction major from Moravia, said, “This is the first house that we actually got to build from the floor up and we’re getting to go to California for 12 days, so that’s pretty cool, plus the construction industry is going green, so it’s good to go into green building.”
Ryan Williams, a building trades: building construction major from New Baltimore, said of Alfred State’s participation in the Solar Decathlon, “It’ll be cool to show what a smaller school can do against bigger schools.”
Dr. Craig Clark, executive director and dean of the School of Applied Technology, said design of the home was led by Alfred State architecture students, along with students from both campuses who are learning about mechanical, electrical, and renewable energy, and more.
“Our home is unique regarding students being involved from design through construction phases, with little assistance from professionals except faculty,” Clark said.
The opportunity to have Alfred State students be involved in this national competition is great for students, faculty, and the college, said Clark.
“We are extremely proud of the work to this stage, which includes design, construction of the modular home, and packing up the home to ship to California,” he said.
Accompanying the students on the trip will be Joe Richardson, chair of the Alfred State Building Trades Department. Alfred State students who are participating are listed below, by major:
Building trades: building construction
Jacob Vannorman, Mount Morris.- Courtney Yauchzee, LeRoy.
- Sean Ryan, Batavia.
- Ryan Williams, New Baltimore.
- John Sexton, Sunnyside.
- Aaron Aumick, Port Jervis.
- Michael May, Moravia.
- Anthony Paterniti, Panama.
- Adam Morrison, Hilton.
- Tyler Hussey, Piffard.
- Zachary Gross, Cuba.
Air conditioning and heating technology
- Anthony Harvey, Cameron.
Technology management
- Travis Harvey, Almond.
- Patrick Kay, Caledonia.
Electrical construction and maintenance electrician
- Adam Hoy, Alden.
- Lucas Mumm, Hamburg.
- Ryan Kozlowski, Buffalo.
Alfred University students who are participating are:
Saeed Azad, a mechanical engineering graduate student from Iran; Tchabelino T. Azimyt from New York City, Patrick R. Byrne, of Hamburg, Nolan Jessop, of Churchville, and Dylan A. Tucker, of De Ruyter, all senior mechanical engineering majors; Bernard Dolecki, AU Class of 2014, School of Art & Design; Taylor A. Kelley, a junior mechanical engineering major from Wellsville; Avery O. Sandler, a senior, dual major in mechanical engineering and renewable energy engineering from Israel; and Jessica Scoones, of Deansboro, a senior renewable energy engineering major.
AU faculty advisers are Dr. Wallace B. Leigh and Dr. Xingwu Wang, both professors of engineering in the Kazuo Inamori School of Engineering.
Team Alfred would like to thank its sponsors, including LeChase Construction; Upstate Roofing and Painting; NanaWall; Pella; Lutron Electronics, Inc.; Kohler; Carlisle; Big Ass Solutions; Way To Grow; LaBella Associates; Resource Furniture; The Western New York Floor Company; O’Connell Electric Company; Thermal Foams, Inc.; CLEI; Echo Global Logistics; Pearl’s Premium; Corning, Inc.; SWBR Architects; Apricus Solar Hot Water; Tinkertown Supply; Do it Best; HEP Sales; North Main Lumber; Madison Wood; Northeast Regional Council of Carpenters Local 276; and Southern Tier Builders Association.