Two universities and two community colleges in Orange County are working together on next year’s entry for the Solar Decathlon at the Orange County Great Park in Irvine. Students from Chapman University, University of California-Irvine, Irvine Valley College and Saddleback College have formed “Team Orange County”...
Author: Tyler Newman Chapman University will help to compete in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Decathlon on Saturday at the Great Park in Irvine, California as a part of Team Orange County. The competition challenges universities across the country to design and build houses that are cost-effective, energy-efficient and...
Alex McDonald's road to graduate school started with a grant and a desire to build a solar-powered house. The 30-year-old first approached UC Irvine with his idea for Casa Del Sol, a sustainable, drought-resistant home inspired by California's state flower, the poppy, when he was volunteering...
When it comes to solar power, Southern California delivered the real deal in timely fashion Friday. A team of students and officials from Orange County colleges and universities gathered under sun-drenched skies to officially launch construction of a solar-powered house they will build for...
Though there was only one woman among 10 speakers at the groundbreaking ceremony Friday for the Solar Decathlon, Alexander McDonald made it clear who was really in charge. “STEM is too important to leave to the men,” he said, paraphrasing the late University of Cambridge computer...
Forty Chapman students came a step closer to the next phase of the 2015 Solar Decathlon competition after a groundbreaking ceremony at Irvine Valley College Oct. 24. The biennial competition challenges collegiate teams to design, build and operate solar-powered houses that are cost-effective, energy-efficient and attractive. Team...
The sun smiled brightly on students, faculty, administrators, elected officials and industry supporters as they ceremoniously “broke” ground for the house named in its honor. Casa del Sol is the solar-powered house being designed by Team Orange County for entry in the 2015 U.S. Department...
As the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon approaches, Team Orange County is preparing to move the house it built, called Casa del Sol, from Irvine Valley College to Irvine Great Park for the competition. “Imagine taking apart your home,” said Fred Smoller, an associate professor...
Nelson Mandela once said, "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." To do this, educators, public agencies and citizens need to determine innovative methods to help tackle global problems. One groundbreaking approach is through the U.S. Department of...
As sea levels rise and natural disasters devastate towns, collegiate teams across the nation are focusing on sustainability and safety as they design the home of the future. The Great Park’s festival area, the site of this year’s U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon, is showcasing...
Life in LA is thrilled to welcome Teena Spindler as our ‘resident’ gardener! Teena is a Southern California Master Gardener, garden writer and speaker. She appears in a variety of gardening videos, and is one of the hosts on ‘In the Garden with UC Master Gardeners’...
The house designed by Orange County’s first team in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Decathlon is taking shape. Called Casa del Sol, the solar-powered home is modeled after California’s drought-resistant state flower, the poppy. The team will compete against 13 other teams from around the...
Author: Alexandra Sidun My intrigue with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Decathlon was sparked when I visited the Orange County Great Park, in Irvine CA, in October 2013 to see the U.S. DOE’s 6th Solar Decathlon. Shortly after arriving at the Solar Village and stepping off...
Author: Lotus Thai “Seeing the passion in the students and knowing they are going to make a difference in the world” was Richard King’s response to what was most rewarding about the Solar Decathlon.” Teaming up for their first U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Decathlon, a coalition of...
Author: Darin Milanesio The New York Times reported that Folsom, California has plans to build 10,200 new homes, even though the city manager is aware that Folsom Lake, the city’s sole source of water, is depleting to historically low levels as a result of California’s four-year drought. The...
Steel toe work boots. How hard could it be in Southern California to find work boots? But it was for Reem Habib. “When I tried to buy steel toe boots, I couldn’t find any in my size — they had no women’s sizes,” she said. She...
The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2015’s Team Orange County—comprising the University of California, Irvine; Chapman University; Irvine Valley College; and Saddleback College—was looking for a way to represent its home territory. After all, the competition is taking place in its backyard. read more...