Pictured (L-R) Dr. Louis Agnese, Dr. Alison Whittemore, and Daniel Potter take part in the ribbon cutting ceremony officially opening UIW’s Solar House.

The UIW Solar House has taken shape on campus and is continuing to look to the future. A grand opening celebration was held Tuesday, April 24 to debut the Solar House and mark the culmination of the five-year engineering project.

The house was designed and constructed under the direction of Dr. Allison Whittemore, chair of the UIW Department of Engineering and Physics, and with the assistance of Daniel Potter, ’01 BS, Solar House project manager. It was created to be a fully functioning residence as well as a visitor’s center and learning laboratory on the UIW campus.

During the five-year project, each succeeding class of seniors researched and developed a specific part of the house and its components. The students then passed on their information to the next group of seniors coming in. The structure is positioned facing due south to have maximum solar exposure. The solar array in the house was designed to provide electricity for the house year-round during peak daytime demand.

UIW students are also able to utilize the house as a resource and lab. Engineering senior design students have access to the Solar House and will continue to work to improve the efficiency of the home.

“Each student will continue to learn through the house and will use it as a brainstorming facility,” Potter said. “It is also a place to share with our visitors and showcase solar production, rain harvesting and share, how on a smaller scale, it works and comes together.”

For more information on the Solar House, visit www.uiw.edu/houseofcards.