SOLAR DECATHLON TEAM PARTNERS WITH HABITAT FOR HUMANITY AND D.C. GOVERNMENT

Team Led By Parsons The New School for Design, The Milano School of International Affairs, Management and Urban Policy, and Stevens Institute of Technology Takes Competition Beyond the National Mall

WHAT:

Empowerhouse, a team of students competing in the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon from Parsons The New School for Design, Milano School of International Affairs, Management and Urban Policy at The New School, and Stevens Institute of Technology, unveil a new model for green-energy, affordable housing. Developed in partnership with Habitat for Humanity of Washington, D.C., and the D.C. Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), the project marks the first time in the Solar Decathlon's history that a team has partnered from the outset with civic and government agencies to create a house specifically for a local D.C. community. It will be the first house designed to Passive House standards—the leading international energy standard—in the District of Columbia. Recently, DC Habitat selected the family that will occupy the house, who will join the students at the opening ceremony on September 22.

WHO:

Victor L. Hoskins, Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development, Washington, D.C.
John E. Hall, Director, D.C. Department of Housing and Community Development
Kent Adcock, President and CEO, Habitat for Humanity of Washington, D.C.
Joel Towers, Executive Dean, Parsons The New School for Design
Michael Bruno, Dean, Stevens Institute of Technology
Future Homeowner Lakiya Culley and family
Residents and Civic Leaders from Deanwood

WHEN:

WHERE:

BACKGROUND:
The Solar Decathlon is an international competition hosted by the U.S. Department of Energy that challenges 19 collegiate teams to design, build, and operate solar-powered houses, which will be exhibited on the National Mall Sept. 23—Oct. 2, 2011. Empowerhouse is set apart not only by its real-world focus on creating housing for a local DC family, but also its adherence to Passive House principles. It will produce all of its energy needs, which will be 90 percent less than a typical home and powered by one of the smallest solar arrays in the competition. Taking a whole life approach, the house will also take advantage of solar energy and rainwater conservation to grow food and lessen its environmental impact. For more information, visit www.empowerhouse-dc.org.

For press information from the DOE, please visit www.solardecathlon.gov/press_room.html

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COMMUNICATIONS AND EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

PRESS RELEASE

NEWS ADVISORY

Media Contacts:

Deborah Kirschner, The New School
917-239-7696
[email protected]

Noah Lichtman, Stevens Instiitute of Technology
973.286.8287
[email protected]