Moving Along Through the Summer

The Unit 6 construction is booming. Since its arrival in May, the house continues to undergo much change as the members of Team Tidewater Virginia work hard to finish their house.

It was a big two days for all of us when the windows of the Unit 6--all but the famous motorized one--were delivered and installed. Each window is capable of opening in three different directions, tilting forwards, backwards, and swinging inward, satisfying whatever preference a homeowner would have. It is incredible how they've improved the amount of light and airflow since being installed. Working inside the Unit 6 is much more pleasant, even in Virginia's July heat.

The windows and doors have added significant progress to the appearance of the house, which is now beginning to resemble a comfortable net-zero solar home more and more.

The team has since finished most of the decking and the sphinx, which will house the utility core. Once completed, the deck must be connected to the West elevation--the module containing the kitchen and sunspace. Along with the rest of the house, the deck will also be taken apart and need to be reassembled in D.C.

The big news of the week is that the solar panels have arrived. It is likely that Team Tidewater will install them within the next two weeks. Stay posted for pictures and video!

Team Tidewater Prepares for the Big Day

Site...check. Foundation...check. House...nearly here.

Our team members have been working diligently this week, preparing the foundation of the Unit 6. The house is scheduled to arrive Wednesday, May 18, next week (postponed one day from its original set date, Tuesday). Stepping back from the house's designs, Engineering and Architecture students are now pouring sweat and muscle into their work--digging into the dirt, shoveling rock, and setting the concrete blocks.

Next to the site, kids at the ODU Child Development Center clung to the fence as the digger carried and dumped loads of rock into the foundation work. They seemed in awe, watching the big piece of machinery; many would run from the fence to play with their toy dump trucks in the sand and dirt.

John Perdue directs the digger as it fills the trenches in with rock.

Structural Engineering student, John Perdue, has been leading the site's construction, doing much of the grunt work and managing the rest of the team as they prepare for the arrival of the Unit 6.

The modules of the net-zero solar home are scheduled to be delivered next Wednesday. Once here, it will be up to the team to assemble the house, adding the finishing touches and making sure the kinks are all worked out.

So come visit us at ODU, and see the assembly of the Unit 6 for yourself! The site is located on the corner of Powhatan Avenue and 48th Street, near the Fitness Center.

Watch the video below to see how the house will look when completed.

The Unit 6 is Almost Here

The modules of the Unit 6 are currently scheduled to be delivered May 17.

Upon reception, the students of Team Tidewater Virginia will assemble the house, working out the kinks and adding the final touches. We hope to show off the house to members of the local community once it is completed, giving tours to a few of our supporters before it can be seen on an international level.

The team began the first phase of construction in March.
Seen here, they poured the concrete blocks that will support the Unit 6.

The Unit 6 will remain at Old Dominion University throughout the summer until it is disassembled and transported up to Washington D.C. for the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon (September 23 - October 2).

The construction site for the house is currently located off of Powhatan Avenue, between 48th and 49th street next to the Child Care Center at ODU.

Come out and see!

The Unit 6 Undergoes First Phase of Construction

Our net zero solar house, the Unit 6, is taller than it used to be--currently about 6 inches in height. Members of Team Tidewater began pouring concrete for the foundation blocks of the house on Friday, marking the first traces of its physical existence.

Shoveling cement into the boxed-in wood, the students and faculty advisors together made about 60 blocks.

Some had a little construction experience; others had none. Whatever the case, team members of all specialties pitched in and got dirty, shoveling, packing, and scraping cement. 

The cement will take about a month to fully set, after which, the team will assemble and finish the modules of the Unit 6 in April. 

It's current site is 48th Street and Powhatan Avenue on Old Dominion University's campus; however the team is trying to move to a site on Hampton Blvd, which many in Norfolk know is a four-lane and often busy road running through ODU's campus. If successful, the move would allow more passing commuters to see the Unit 6 during its construction. Whatever the case, the house will live on one of these two sites until it is disassembled and transported up to Washington D.C. in August.

Check out our Facebook page HERE to see more pictures from the day!

Future Engineers Near and Far

Team Tidewater Members Jim Novak and Holly Anne Hillard spoke Tuesday to a group of young students at Kids Engineering Unplugged 2011. Both Novak and Hillard are civil engineering students at Old Dominion University.

Jim Novak and Holly Anne Hillard discuss the Solar Decathlon 2011.
Between them is a poster displaying the Unit 6 design.

Part of Engineering Unplugged, an annual conference sponsored by the Old Dominion University Business Gateway, Kids Engineering Unplugged was created as a way to involve both engineers and their kids and to teach them about the excitement of environmental engineering.

Novak and Hillard commented on their experiences at ODU, describing a day in the life of an engineering student and how they became involved in the Solar Decathlon 2011. They answered questions about the house, the Unit 6, explaining that much of its design is aimed toward affordability.

Hillard described the Unit 6's greywater system (of which she is the lead designer).

"I don't know why more homes don't use greywater systems," said Hillard. "They're relatively inexpensive and aren't that hard to install."

After their presentation, the kids split up into groups and were challenged to clean up a simulation of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. Using a kit that included 3 balloons, 3 rubber bands, plastic baggies filled with soil and frosted mini-wheats, 2 sponges, some cotton balls, tooth picks, and a paper towel square, the task was to isolate the oil and to return the water back to the bucket. Each team was then judged on the water's clarity.

Novak and Hillard also got to participate, trying out their problem-solving skills and competing against the other groups of kids and their parents.

Jim Novak and Holly Anne Hillard with Engineering Unplugged Kids of 2011

Location Confirmed!

The U.S. Department of Energy announced Wednesday the new location of the Solar Decathlon 2011. Originally supposed to take place on the National Mall in Washington D.C., the Decathlon will now live on the adjacent site, West Potomac Park between the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial and the Potomac River.

The new site for the Solar Decathlon 2011 in Washington D.C. The "Solar Village," a common nickname for the site,  has historically always taken place on the National Mall between the Washington Monument and the Capitol.

"We look forward to holding another world-class Solar Decathlon in a world-class location--the National Mall's West Potomac Park," said Secretary of Energy Steven Chu. "Keeping the competition on the National Mall property allows the students to proceed with their existing home designs, specifically tailored for Washington's latitude, temperature, and humidity conditions. The West Potomac site is in close proximity to a number of attractions and will provide an ideal stage to highlight clean energy solutions for thousands of public visitors."

The decision for the new site came after much protest from Solar Decathlon competitors and supporters. Members of the twenty teams, competing against one another, presented a unified voice heard through a number of different media, including a mass petition which circulated Facebook, a short video protest to President Obama, and letters to Representatives.

The teams' arguments were enough to change the DOE's decision, and the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2011 will be held September 23rd - October 2nd in West Potomac Park on the National Mall.

Team Tidewater Makes the Front page in the Virginian-Pilot

For many Team Tidewater members, this morning was spent flipping through the day's edition of The Virginian-Pilot--the leading newspaper of Hampton Roads. The front page headline read, "Solar-design contest leads to teamwork by unlikely alliance."

Pilot journalist Scott Harper wrote a generous feature story about our role in the Solar Decathlon 2011 and the overall relationship we've formed between Hampton University architecture students and Old Dominion University engineering students, introducing readers to some of the key members of our team.

Read the article for yourself here!

Using Power, Spending Money. Making Power, Making Money.

Read the article here.

According to an article in The Huffington Post, Solar homeowners in Tennessee are able to sell their leftover energy to the local power distributors. Some of the homeowners sell leftover energy for more than double what the energy company charges for power!

This program has become increasingly popular among Tennessee residents.

The concept of Team Tidewater's Unit 6 Solar home is much like many of these money making homes. As a net-zero solar house, it draws power from the grid when necessary, while generating its own power completely.  It is also able to give some back. It is this balance of give and take, that after a year the home's power use will be net zero.

A half scale model of the Unit 6, Team Tidewater's home design for
the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2011.

It is widely agreed that sustainability is important.  Though change can be difficult for some, adjustments of previous comfort zones are necessary to realize such an idea. Okay, so how do we do it? How can we be sustainable without killing ourselves economically? 

These homes in Tennessee replace a portion of the power company's business. That's one point for sustainability. It's great that more and more of our population are generating clean, renewable energy--slowly decreasing our footprint on the planet. But what sort of economical effect does this have? Does this change in business affect companies such as the Nashville Electric Service? Originally a company that drew in energy from coal, NES now uses at least some power that is provided by various solar homes in the community. In a changing world, one that seems fixed on reducing its consumption of non-renewable resources, should we leave the business of coal behind? Or is it important that we allow the business--the business of power--to change with us?

Come See Us at the Product Show!

Team Tidewater Virginia will be displaying their design at the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) Product Show this Tuesday in Virginia Beach.

Team Project Manager John Whitelaw at the
International Builders' Show in Orlando last month.

Hosted by the Tidewater branch of CSI, The Product show is a venue that showcases innovations in construction products and methods. It will be held at the Holiday Inn Executive Center from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Come visit Team Tidewater's booth as we talk about the design for our solar home, the Unit 6, that will be featured in the Solar Decathlon 2011 this September and October.

For more information on the Construction Specifications Institute, visit their website at www.csinet.org.

These Solar Homes Need a Home

The U.S. Department of Energy announced in January that the Solar Decathlon 2011 will no longer be on the National Mall in Washington D.C. The DOE broke the news while all twenty teams were together at the International Builders' Show in Orlando.

As part their exhibit at the International Builders' Show, the twenty
Solar Decathlon 2011 teams showcased half scale models of their designs.

While no alternative has been decided yet, officials are working to find a new venue for the competition. The DOE said in its announcement that the condition of the National Mall has suffered from past Solar Decathlons.

Many of the 2011 decathletes are disappointed because much of their design has been catered toward their plans to showcase their houses on the National Mall for three weeks. The effectiveness of each of the houses' photovoltaics depend on how well they are able to capture the sun's rays. A different venue would have different conditions (in terms of sunlight) that the outcome of the competition could be drastically affected.

Additionally, some are concerned about how this decision will affect each team's sponsorship. The prestige of the National Mall is a big selling point when describing the competition to the public and especially potential sponsors. For those who aren't familiar with the competition, many don't realize the significance of the Solar Decathlon until it's said that the twenty houses will be displayed on the National Mall for three weeks. It is a high-profile location that carries a lot of traffic, and some sponsors have decided to contribute to the project for that very reason. 

Decathletes and their supporters are currently working together to reverse the decision and return the Solar Decathlon 2011 to the National Mall.  If you wish to learn more and get involved, read and sign the petition here.

Unit 6 New Model Pictured in USA Today

USA Today's Wendy Koch featured a story about the decision to move the Solar Decathlon 2011 away from the National Mall in Washington D.C.

A picture of the Unit 6 model is displayed at the top of the article.

USA Today- Solar Decathlon Bumped from National Mall

Also shown are the models of teams New Zealand, Canada and Hawaii.

Constructing a New Model

Gene Corbell, an architect and model-builder with Anvil Prototype & Design, spoke with Team Tidewater about designing and constructing their Unit 6 Unplugged model.

As required for the competition, our team must build a half scale model that (among other things) will be featured at the International Builders Show in Orlando, Florida in January. Team Tidewater's only physical model (and most current) is one that helped get its project accepted into the Department of Energy Solar Decathlon in the first place. The students have since made many changes to their design and need to produce a larger model that will illustrate in more detail the features of their house.

Original Model of Unit 6 Unplugged

Part of the dilemma for Team Tidewater is deciding how much of the house's details will be showcased. Ideally, the team would like for the model to display certain engineering features, such as its greywater system, in addition to the overall architecture of the house.

Corbell suggested making some parts of the walls clear so that viewers may see piping underneath. In addition to this, he recommended that the team be able to remove the roof in order to make the house more displayable.

"People generally don't bend down to look through the windows. They like to stand overhead and look down," said Corbell.

The construction of the model could cost as much as $500 in materials alone, according to Corbell. It is a big, meticulous project that will be prone to things-gone-wrong and may take several weeks to complete.

"Whatever amount of hours you think it'll take," said Corbell, "plan to add about 20%."

Daunting as it is, the model's construction is just another one of the many pieces of the Solar Decathlon project that the team must work through.

Cox Communications Give Back

Cox Communications awarded a $1000 grant to Old Dominion University's and Hampton University's 2011 Solar Decathlon team, Team Tidewater Virginia, Saturday afternoon as part of their wireless celebration.

The grant is one of many ways in which Cox has given back to the community, and the money will go toward the $600,000 it will take to fund Team Tidewater's overall costs, including construction, marketing, and transportation.

The celebration took place at Cox's Hampton Solutions Store in the Peninsula Town Center. The store was crowded with eager people who came to check out Cox's wireless services and to be a part of the celebration.

We would like to thank everyone at Cox Communications for helping to continue our project and for inviting us to be a part of the event.

Design Development Phase Due

With the hour fast approaching, Team Tidewater's students have been working tirelessly to finish the next stage of their design. Due by 7 p.m. eastern standard time tonight, each of the twenty teams in the 2011 Solar Decathlon must turn in essentially an 80% draft of its design development. This draft will illustrate the majority of the house's design while excluding minor details and specifications. The submission of their design development phase will include the health and safety plan, building information model, and project manual.

The students are working to overcome technical difficulties and other last-minute issues to finish this last push before Thanksgiving Break. Turkey, football, and sleep can't come soon enough.

ODU Professor Sheds Light on...well...Lighting

Old Dominion University Electrical Engineering Professor Ike Flory spoke in Thursday's class about different types of lighting for Team Tidewater to consider for their house, Unit 6. In a presentation that he joked was 'illuminating,' Flory worked his way through a clear and concise PowerPoint that focused on the concept of green lighting.

While energy efficiency is a high priority, the team must also consider what lighting style--mainly color--will create the most aesthetic value. Aesthetics is also one of the ten categories on which Unit 6 will be judged in the Solar Decathlon.

Flory noted that people tend to associate the cool color of fluorescent lamps with industrial or working environments...causing unnecessary stress. Incandescent lamps, though less efficient, give off a warmer, yellow color that is found to be more relaxing. Simply put, he said good color rendering tends to give up on efficacy.

On this point, Flory brought up the idea of task lighting--lighting only necessary parts of a room such as a desk or reading area. As Americans, he said, we've been raised using well-lit rooms because electricity has been historically cheap.

An example of task lighting. This picture was used in Flory's presentation.

Though electricity is still cheap, it is becoming more and more important to minimize how much energy we use in our everyday lives.

Task lighting may be a strategy in which they'll keep in mind; however it's important for the team to first choose what lamps are used.

"Bottom line, what will get us more bang for our buck?" asked Team Tidewater Project Manager John Whitelaw.

Flory answered back "CFLs." Or, compact fluorescent lamps--energy efficient lamps that fit into most existing light fixtures. Though nothing was officially decided, it seemed that the team is considering CFLs for the time being.

Team Tidewater Speaks with High School Students

Team Tidewater Project Manager, John Whitelaw, gained the interest of a group of high school students with his presentation on the 2011 Solar Decathlon. St. Stephen's and St. Agnes School hosted its third annual Students 4 Sustainability Conference at the Upper School campus in Alexandria.

Whitelaw spoke to a classroom of eager students, discussing Team Tidewater's design concept and the practicality behind sustainable housing. The discussion ranged from uses of greywater for baths, sinks, and dishwashers, to what considerations are involved in planning for photovoltaic installation. He stressed that one can't simply "slap" a few solar panels onto his or her colonial house. It is important to assess such factors as the direction of the roof, cloud coverage, and overall available exposure to sunlight.


It was evident in the conference that the St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School Saints are well-practiced in everyday sustainable living and the helpful habits that they've begun to incorporate into their lives...both at home and school. Many drank water from non-disposable containers, and the cafeteria served a completely waste-free lunch. Everything was recycled or composted, including the silverware which was made from corn, wheat, potatoes, cornstarch, and recycled paper. Some of the students mentioned their school's plan to install a solar-powered laptop charging station.


We would like to thank the people of St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School for their graciousness and hospitality in hosting such a wonderful event.