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♪ ♪ (Music: Guitars) ♪ ♪
Student: When you have oil, coal, natural gas
they're finite solutions. And there will be a time
when they will run out. And there will still be
humans on this planet.
Dr. Russell: Half of the total primary energy consumed in the U.S.
-48%- pretty much just say half
is consumed by residential and commercial buildings.
So we really, if we're going to
if we're going to have energy independence
and if we're going to be able to reduce
our carbon footprint buildings are a
really big place to start.
Narrator: In 2010, Appalachian State University
was chosen as one of twenty teams
from around the globe to compete in the
U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2011.
The competition challenges young minds from around
the world to design and engineer
a cost effective, energy efficient,
and attractive solar home.
Many of the innovations used today
in these prototypes hold the promise
of being part of our daily life tomorrow.
Dr. Russell: I think first and foremost
our goal is to win the competition.
It's really, uh It's really a
a big deal. It's the largest
green design and sustainable design
competition in the world. And so we'll
be on a world stage competing with universities
from all over.
Bret: You realize the importance and the future
of homebuilding. This is the future.
This is where we're going.
But it's how we're going to get there.
And so this Homestead we believe is how
we're going to get there.
♪ ♪ (Gentle Guitar) ♪ ♪ Narrator: Appalachian's construction
The Solar Homestead stands apart from
many other solar homes in the competition
because of its unique, innovative structure:
The Outbuilding Module, or OM.
The OM generates energy for the home
and also has mobile capabilities
that enable it to act separately
from the rest of The Homestead.
Deeply rooted in the architectural design
of The Solar Homestead is the tradition
and efficiency of mountain living.
Bret: The Solar Homestead design and concept
comes from the early pioneers
of the Appalachian Mountains.
and we believe that this, this style
this concept can really solve
some issues that we're having
not only economically, but environmentally
within our country.
Chelsea: We really wanted to take
the concept of the traditional lifestyle
of people that lived around Boone, North Carolina
and how they used outdoor modules
they had all these separate outbuildings
that they used in different ways
and how can we reinvent that to
a modern day lifestyle.
Narrator: The trip to the Solar Decathlon
in Washington DC this September
has given Appalachian the opportunity
to involve a variety of students
and faculty from different departments
in an effort to not just compete
but to win the competition.
Chelsea: We want to get the art department involved.
We've had graphic designers involved.
Building science majors. We've had appropriate
technology majors. Interior design.
Bret: This is the biggest thing along,
along renewable energy side along sustainability goes
this is the biggest thing that
the institution's ever done.
Narrator: The Solar Homestead does not just
represent Appalachian's best foot forward,
but a greater commitment that the school and region
has to renewable energy
and flexible, affordable, and reliable solutions
for tomorrow.
Ed: Representing North Carolina is very important to us
but as a whole this is more important
to us than just App and just North Carolina.
This is, you know, something we strive everyday
to work for us for because we believe
in the idea of the sustainable energy.