With the Queen’s Solar Design Team’s efforts in full swing and our list of partners growing, I took a short trip to Calgary to visiting the SolAbode team. The team composed of four schools, University of Calgary, Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT), Mount Royal University, and Alberta College of Art and Design (ACAD), will be competing in the 2009 Solar Decathlon. Taking a break from his overly busy schedule Mack Blackwell, the project chair, walked me through the design, systems and overall architecture of their house. With a construction site right on the SAIT campus, the team has taken advantage of the school’s construction and electrical courses to help build their house. Mark explained the overall concepts used to guide the design of the house to unite the natural recourses present in western Canada and the new growing green technology industry.
The house was nearly complete with the main structure finished the team was in the process of installing and testing their photovoltaic systems. Their hot water and electrical systems were being finished and the project was coming to its Washington D.C. conclusion. The SolAbode team had developed a new rail system to allow them to transport their house easier. With the house breaking into five modulus, each piece can simply slide right onto the bed of transport and be driven to the east coast.
Overall the project looks to be a great success, and wonderful example of the teamwork in Calgary. The QSDT looks forward to collaborating with the SolAbode team in the future and can’t wait to see the house up and running in Washington. Thanks Team Alberta!
For more information on SolAbode, visit Team Alberta's website or visit the home in Washington on the National Mall starting Friday October 9th.
-Sean Seemann
