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......
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......
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......
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 entry......
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......
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......
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......
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......
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......
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......
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......
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......
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.......
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…...
Every hour the sun beams onto Earth more than enough energy to satisfy global energy needs for an entire year. Solar energy is the technology used to harness the sun’s energy and make it useable. Today, the technology produces less than one tenth of one......
The general public perception of renewable energy is often in terms of saving the environment and reducing global carbon dioxide emissions. While it is true that renewable energy provides great environmental benefits and may yet prove to be our main hope for decarbonization, it is......
Author: Erica Dean Last week the annual Engineering Leadership Council meeting for the Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science was held at UCI. During the meeting, the last task on the agenda, but certainly not the least, was a short presentation from Alex McDonald,......
Author: Hannah Francis Solar Decathlon’s Team Orange County attended the DOE workshop on January 9th and 10th. The workshop was a two day event in which the 17 teams, all with a mutual goal of sustainability and innovation, came together to learn more about each......
Author: Erica Dean Last week Team OC had the opportunity to learn more about one of our first sponsors, Southern California Edison. We spent the morning touring their 31-acre campus in Westminster, California and got a first-hand look at their Advanced Technology Lab facility. At......
Author: Erica Dean Team OC chased the sun with great strides this first week of June. The organic, cohesive efforts of Team OC are apparent through our consistent progress. We can’t wait to show you what we’ve been up to. Some highlights from this week......
What are you doing this summer? Taking a class online? Interning from 9 to 5? Traveling a little? This summer, the California-Renewable and Adaptive Energy, or CAL-RAE, team will be helping with the construction of a solar microgrid system in Uganda. see more…...
The additive manufacturing approach means that manufacturers can create highly complex, individually designed pieces and print them directly in metal. This in itself has tremendous implications for reducing costs and cutting waste. But the latest advances in the design techniques explored by Galjaard’s team mean......
Solar farms are blooming across California’s deserts, wind turbines are climbing the Sierra, photovoltaic roofs are shimmering over suburbs, and Teslas are the Silicon Valley elite’s new ride. A clean energy rush is transforming the Golden State so quickly that nearly a quarter of its......
The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2015 would not be possible without the time and commitment of hundreds of volunteers. Their work supports and celebrates the remarkable student teams that bring their solar-powered houses and passion to the Solar Decathlon. The event will take......
Author: Kristina Lamb When first thinking of the word ‘decathlon,’ sports, specifically the Olympic Decathlon where individuals compete in ten track & field events, was the first thing that came to mind. In the Solar Decathlon’s case however, we will not be hurdling over solar......
Video from Bosch Solar on how solar panels are made. see video…...