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UL - More than a house will be on display on the National Mall in October when University of Louisiana students compete in an international solar home design-build competition.
“This brings UL into the international limelight,” said Dustin Domangue, president of the UL Student Government Association.
The UL team is one of 20 collegiate design teams from across the world selected to compete in the Department of Energy’s biennial Solar Decathlon Oct. 9-18 on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
Domangue and other student leaders surprised the team with a check for $50,000 Tuesday.
The team travels to Washington with its house in tow, Sept. 25. Tuesday’s donation will help with the team’s travel expenses, said Gretchen Lacombe-Vanicor, project manager.
“This money is going to put us ahead of schedule for the fundraising,” Vanicor said. “It’s an incredible sign of how much the university appreciates what we’re doing. We’ve said from the beginning this project represents our university, our culture and our state.”
The team’s fundraising has been a grassroots effort with donations ranging from $4 on up, said Catherine Guidry, team public relations manager.
“It’s such a relief and weight off our shoulders,” Guidry said as she thanked the student leaders for the donation.
The donation puts the fundraising effort ahead of schedule, but about $50,000 more is still needed, said Geoff Gjertson, UL associate professor of architecture and faculty team coordinator.
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By MARSHA SILLS
Advocate Acadiana bureau
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The team’s next fundraiser, a golf tournament, will be June 19.
Tuesday’s $50,000 donation is from the SGA budget, which is funded by student fees.
The team anticipated a $10,000 donation from the leaders, but during the presentation, Domangue joked: “We’re politicians and we lie,” as he revealed another check for $30,000.
Team members’ jaws dropped with the revelation. Some mouthed the word, “wow.”
“We’re lying again,” Domangue said as he revealed the true donation amount of $50,000.
“This is incredible,” Vanicor said.
The sounds of drills and hammering stopped for about 30 minutes Tuesday for the ceremony. But after the presentation and thanks, team members set to work again.
Vanicor said Tuesday’s agenda included work on the exterior finishes of the home, including cypress siding, metal roof and the installation of doors.
The BeauSoleil’s team home is 800 square feet and will draw its energy from rooftop solar panels. The design also includes regional elements, such as cypress and the use of a transitional porch that can be enclosed or left open. Rainwater will be harvested and heated by the solar power.
The homes will be judged in 10 areas: architecture, market viability, engineering, lighting design, communications, comfort zone, hot water, appliances, home entertainment and net metering.
The project is on schedule and the house should be complete by Aug. 24, The team will then reassemble the house to simulate the round-the-clock assembly that will be required on the mall.
Gjertson said the team has a span of four days to reassemble the 800-square-foot house in Washington.
By the time the house makes it to Washington, D.C., the team estimates that at least 200 students would have contributed to the project in some way.
At least 15 students are working on the project full-time this summer, Gjertson said.
Some students are earning credit and some are paid interns, he added.
Students work from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.
“This is a commitment,” he said of the students’ work.
To keep up with the team’s progress, visit
http://www.beausoleilhome.org.
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