Author Archives: maggie haslam

WaterShed Team Receives Heartfelt Praise State-wide and Beyond

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Exterior architectural photograph of Maryland's entry in the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2011, Washington D.C., Sept. 30, 2011.

Exterior architectural photograph of Maryland's entry in the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2011, Washington D.C., Sept. 30, 2011.
Photo Credit: Jim Tetro, U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon

Days after the University of Maryland’s entry, WaterShed, took first place at the Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2011, accolades for the team continue to pour in from supporters, media, and government officials, including official statements before the United States Congress and Senate, and a note of congratulations from Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley.

By Monday morning, congressmen, state representatives and the governor all had expressed their pride in the team’s achievement. In a statement released by Governor Martin O’Malley’s office, O’Malley said “I’m more than proud that the Maryland WaterShed team’s vision and effort was recognized as a first-place accomplishment on the international stage. The team’s innovation and commitment to sustainability is a terrific representation of the state itself. Their work not only shines, but contributes to a better, stronger Maryland.”

Maryland Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-5) entered into the Congressional Record on Monday a statement congratulating the team, highlighting the cutting edge techniques that will drive the industry into a more sustainable future. “By blending innovation and technology with sustainability and conservation, these students demonstrated the creativity, teamwork, technical knowledge and determination that are essential as we work to revive our economy and regain our nation’s place as a leader in high tech and sustainable manufacturing”. (Read the full proclamation here).

U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (MD) also praised Team Maryland’s efforts Wednesday in a statement recorded in the Congressional record for the Senate. Cardin, who serves on the Environment and Public Works Committee, and who has made the Chesapeake Bay a priority during his terms as senator, stated “The University of Maryland’s work in publicizing and promoting sustainable housing options like WaterShed for the residents of the Chesapeake Bay region will go a long way toward preserving this treasured resource. I cannot think of a more appropriate effort for the University of Maryland to be engaged in, and I applaud everyone’s hard work during the past two years towards this common cause and successful outcome.(To read the full statement, click here).

While Maryland’s entry garnered substantial media attention during the competition, WaterShed continues to make headlines with its win, appearing this week on local network TV and major print media including the Associated Press Wire report, the New York Times, Baltimore Sun and the Washington Post. News of WaterShed’s achievement also appeared in several niche environmental and architectural websites such as Treehugger, Inhabitat and residential architect.

One of the biggest honors for the team, however,are the kudos received from over 20,000 people who came out to Potomac Park to get a glimpse of WaterShed, and the thousands of notes landing in e-mail boxes and on the team’s Facebook page throughout the week from strangers, supporters, mentors and friends.

Adds Amy Gardner, WaterShed’s Principal Investigator, “Steve Jobs once said, ‘I think if you do something and it turns out pretty good, then you should go do something else wonderful, not dwell on it for too long. Just figure out what’s next.’ The encouragement we have received from everyone who visited WaterShed will carry us forward to whatever that ‘next’ might be.”

University of Maryland Wins Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2011

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University of Maryland celebrates after winning the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2011
Credit: Stefano Paltera/U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon

WaterShed has taken first place at the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2011. The announcement was delivered by US Energy Secretary Steven Chu Saturday afternoon in front of a packed tent of students, sponsors and supporters.

“There are lots of tears of joy and relief,” said Architecture Team Leader Leah Davies. “We are all so proud of the thought and hard work put into WaterShed, and really excited that our message was viewed in such a positive way.”

Consistently leading the pack throughout the competition, WaterShed finished with a 20 point lead over the second place winner, Purdue. New Zealand’s entry, First Light, came in third.

The student and faculty-built home, which blends solar energy efficiency and water conservation, was recognized by the jury for its beauty, its sustainability message through design and “impeccable” performance in measured contests.

“The innovation, creativity, skill, vision, cooperation, determination, and, yes, energy displayed by this team is both remarkable and a joy,” says University of Maryland President Wallace Loh. “I couldn’t be more proud of their work and accomplishment. These students, faculty and mentors have dedicated themselves to addressing critical needs of Maryland, the nation, and other countries. They’re the perfect example of what a public research university is all about.”

The Terps performed strongly throughout this year’s Decathlon, including a second place win in the final competition- market appeal- which was announced just before the overall winner today.

Late Friday evening the team received a perfect score of 100 in the energy balance competition – a measure of WaterShed’s energy efficiency – solidifying their lead going into the final day of scoring. In Friday’s Communication Competition, the Terps came in third behind Middlebury and Appalachian State. The jury noted Maryland’s “consistent messaging, strong educational exhibit components, and a compelling story.”

Earlier in the week, the Terps won the Architecture Competition. “WaterShed achieves an elegant mix of inspiration, function, and simplicity,” reported Architecture Juror Michelle Kaufman. “It takes our current greatest challenges in the built environment – energy and water – and transforms them into opportunities for spatial beauty and poetry while maintaining livability in every square inch.”

Panels of experts judge the competing entries on ten dimensions: their architectural qualities, market appeal, engineering, educational/communication effort, affordability, “comfort zone,” hot water systems, appliances, home entertainment and energy balance.

The international competition challenges 20 finalist collegiate teams to design, build, and operate solar-powered houses that are cost-effective, energy-efficient, and attractive. The Maryland team – the only finalist from the state and the Washington, D.C. area – is led by the University’s students, faculty and professional mentors.

“These students from diverse disciplines effectively formed a cohesive team to imagine, invent, and make real the project we call WaterShed,” says the project’s principal investigator Amy Gardner, an associate professor of architecture at the University Maryland. “Interdisciplinary problem solving is the way forward towards a more sustainable future.”

Inspired by the Chesapeake Bay, the power of  WaterShed’s design comes from its twin focus on efficient, renewable energy and water quality and conservation, Gardner adds. It harvests, recycles and reuses water, while harmonizing modernity, tradition, and simple building strategies. The house balances time-tested best practices and advanced technological solutions to achieve high efficiency performance in an affordable manner.

WaterShed integrates a unique array of sustainable features, including.

  • Split-butterfly roof, well-suited to capture and use both sunlight and rainwater;
  • Constructed wetlands that filter stormwater and greywater (household water with limited contaminants);
  • Green roof to retain rainwater and promote efficient cooling;
  • Photovoltaic array to harvest enough solar energy to power WaterShed year-round;
  • Solar thermal array to fulfill all domestic hot water needs;
  • “Edible landscapes” that support community-based agriculture;
  • Patent-pending indoor, liquid desiccant waterfall for high-efficiency humidity control;
  • Efficient, cost-effective, durable and time-tested structural system.

“Taken together, these design features make WaterShed less thirsty for fossil fuels than standard homes and less dependent on costly water purifying infrastructure,” explain team members Allison Wilson and Leah Davies. “The house acts as a micro-ecosystem that encourages residents to live a more sustainable lifestyle – not only by conserving but also by capturing and reusing natural resources.”

University of Maryland President Wallace Loh describes WaterShed as “a model for how to live in harmony with the complex ecosystem of the largest estuary in the United States.” The project, he adds, “fulfills the mission of a 21st century Land Grant University by applying intellectual resources to make “a real-life impact” – in this case, “contributing to sustainability.”

Maryland Congressman Roscoe Bartlett and Rep. Chris Van Hollen, both members of the House Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucus, visited all 20 houses in the Solar Village on the opening day of the competition.

“The entries are more impressive every year in the Solar Decathlon, but with WaterShed the University of Maryland once again sets the bar high for all other competitors,” Bartlett said in a statement. “As an alum, that makes me so proud. Inspired by our own Chesapeake Bay, WaterShed is a stunningly beautiful, remarkably comfortable home with ingenious design, technology and engineering details that harness energy from the sun and water from rain in harmony with our environment. I am confident that it will be very difficult for any other house to match the combination of beauty and functionality of WaterShed by the University of Maryland on the ten elements of the Solar Decathlon 2011 competition.”

The Team Maryland involves students and faculty from the Maryland School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation, the A. James Clark School of Engineering, the College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences, the University Libraries, and the School of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Maryland businesses and professional groups are providing significant support as well.

STUDENT INTERVIEW: Jay Chmilewski – Engineering

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Photo of Jay Chmilewski working

Jay Chmilewski Working
Photo Credit: Amy Gardner

Jay Chmilewski has a great eye for detail. It’s a skill that in part attributes to his success in his civil engineering degree, and that sources his photography subjects, a hobby which gained him some local recognition at a gallery showing last year. This is a good thing, as Jay’s life for the past two years has been all about the details.

Jay, who will graduate from Maryland in June, is behind the absolutely massive job of designing and developing three key engineering systems for WaterShed: plumbing, solar thermal, and desiccant dehumidification. This involved careful design and research, modification and tinkering of existing technologies, and closely working with trade mentors for a flawless performance in time for competition. Throughout the building process Jay has encountered many challenges. According to his teammates, he has handled these with intelligence, patience, and focus. He is a tremendously dedicated member of the WaterShed team. Below Jay talks about why two – not one – crescent wrenches are a must-have on any job.

What has been your personal WaterShed moment so far?
JC: Seeing the data from the house sensors proving the things I designed (HXEST, solar thermal, desiccant) work as planned and visibly improve the house’s performance.

What has been your most important learning experience on the project?
JC: Watching a house develop from sketches on trace paper to a full-sized, livable house has been an incredibly educational experience. Witnessing the transition from 2D construction drawings to a 3D house alone taught me more than any class could have.

How has working on WaterShed influenced your career path?
JC: This project showed me all of the gaping efficiency flaws in most modern households and room for potential improvement. I think I still want to go into transportation engineering but this project has definitely begun to pull me more towards residential renewable technologies and innovative mechanical systems instead. I guess the future will tell which field I eventually wind up in.

When people come to visit WaterShed on the Mall in September, what do you hope they will take away from the experience?
JC: Having an eco-friendly house isn’t limited to new construction or even the rich. Green technology can be affordable, adaptable, and, most importantly, effective in reducing our impact on this earth. Also, I hope our house convinces people our nation’s trend for larger and larger houses is becoming impractical and a house of less than 1000 sq. ft. is adequate for a couple or small family.

What do you always have with you on the job site?
JC: Two crescent wrenches. Never do any job without two crescent wrenches.

How do you spend your time when you’re not on the job site?
JC: Sleeping.

STUDENT INTERVIEW: Leah Davies – Architecture

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Photo of Leah Davies

Leah Davies, Team Leader, on Trip to Visit WaterShed
Photo Credit: Jeff Gipson

Leah Davies is an adamant believer in the messages of WaterShed, and does not shy from an opportunity to share them. Some of these opportunities have come by chance, like when she and some teammates happened to be having dinner at the same restaurant in Annapolis as Governor Martin O’Malley. Others, like the several media outlets she’s been tasked to speak with, are by design, purely because of her ability to convey the important messages of WaterShed so beautifully.

A native of Tampa, Florida pursuing her Master of Architecture degree, Leah is not only one of the more visible faces of WaterShed, she is one of the more “invisible” ones too, preparing communications materials and maintaining the team’s Facebook page. Putting her degree to work, Leah was also a key team leader in the master drawing set of the house. Being very handy with the modeling software, Revit, Leah has taken those first drawings and transformed them to the “as-built” document-set used for WaterShed’s master plan. Below Leah talks about what she’s learned on the project, and what she hopes others will learn too.

What has been your personal WaterShed moment so far?
LD: Honestly, the most rewarding experience I have had thus far was speaking with professionals at the International Builders Show in January and hearing how incredible, relevant, and innovative our design is. As students, it is hard to adjust to the limitations of “real world” design and construction. This conference gave us not only the opportunity to share our message, but also reinforcement that good design can be realized in a practical and affordable manner.

Talk about an unexpected, amazing, frightening, or unlikely experience while working on WaterShed.
LD: One unexpected and amazing experience I have had while working on WaterShed has been meeting the governor of Maryland. After giving a presentation to members of the governor’s staff with a few teammates, we all went for bite to eat at a small, primarily vacant restaurant. Out of all the restaurants in the city, the governor happen to come to the same one, where we were able to meet him and explain how WaterShed moves the Chesapeake Bay region toward a more sustainable future.

What has been your most important learning experience on the project?
LD: The most important thing WaterShed has taught me is the role of the occupant in a successful design. Design is not merely about intention; it is also about impact. I believe WaterShed gives true form to its intention, and those who experience it will truly be made aware of water and the cyclic nature of a functioning ecosystem within their own home. One other very important lesson I have learned from the construction process is that what you draw may not be exactly what you build.

Has working on WaterShed personally affected the way you use water?
LD: Yes. It is easy to take for granted the fact when you turn a knob on your kitchen sink clean potable water comes out for as long a you leave it; but the truth is, that is a rare luxury that takes extreme amounts of work, energy, and natural resources, and is not shared throughout the world. Since working on WaterShed, I have not only learned about how to better manage and use water within my own home, I have learned the processes of our current water cycle and how the built environment affects it. As a result, I take shorter showers, wash my dishes quickly, run less laundry loads, and constantly make an effort to educate others that clean water is not a right, it is a privilege.

How has working on WaterShed influenced your career path?
LD: It is hard to say at this point in my career, but I hope so. I have always been interested in regional architecture that responds to local issues. WaterShed has given me an opportunity to give physical form to this idea at the level of a single residence. I intend to take the design notions and concepts I have learned in this project with me into the real world and apply them in all projects, and at all scales that I design.

When people come to visit WaterShed on the Mall in September, what do you hope they will take away from the experience?
LD: For those that choose to come see WaterShed, along with 18 other teams competing in the Solar Decathlon in September, I hope they realize every person and every built home makes an impact on our environment. It is estimated that half of the wetlands in the US have been lost since 1900. We need to separate ourselves from the idea that there is nature and then there is us; the way we live CAN and SHOULD be in harmony with natural ecosystems and WaterShed teaches people that this is possible.

What do you always have with you on the job site?
LD: When I am on the job site, I always have my Ipad. Whether I need to look up our drawing details, research installation techniques for a certain material, track an order, take photos for a sponsor, or sketch an idea – my Ipad is an ideal tool.

How do you spend your time when you’re not on the job site?
LD: What time? 🙂 If and when I have time away from the job site, I usually work on our communications materials, my thesis, or simply catch up on laundry and grocery shopping.

STUDENT INTERVIEW: Scott Tjaden – Living Systems

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Photo of Scott Tjaden with Faculty Mentor Mike Binder

Scott Tjaden with Faculty Mentor Mike Binder
Photo Credit: Jeff Gipson

No one is more excited about the amount of green in WaterShed’s design than Scott Tjaden. An Environmental Science and Technology major, Scott looks at working on WaterShed as an opportunity to apply his background and skills to make a unique contribution to Maryland’s entry. “Ever since the beginning of working on this project, I could feel a want for a greater environmental influence on the project,” says Scott. “In years past, landscape and ‘green things’ were just an add-on item that didn’t get incorporated with other systems on the house.”

Scott’s ingenuity, passion, and enthusiasm were infectious with his teammates, who were keen to embrace his vision. Over the months he sifted, refined, and tweaked a variety of ideas. There were some trials and some errors, but Scott was a trooper throughout, always rolling with the punches. When the dust settled, WaterShed’s living systems came into focus: a green roof to slow runoff and help insulate the house, green walls to provide shade and food, and a major focal point, the constructed wetlands that filtrate runoff and greywater. Designed and nurtured from a terrific idea, this is Scott’s most significant contribution to the project. He talks about that and the many other rewards of WaterShed below.

What has been your personal WaterShed moment so far?
ST: Once everything was in place for filming on-site, it finally hit me it had all come together. After creating a number of different designs for the wetlands over the many months, they were finally built, they were in place, connected to the house, filled with plants, and operating. For the first time, this allowed me to see the wetlands from inside the house and through the shower, not a rough sketch or drawing. The wait was worth it, and it’s only going to get better once we are on the Mall with everything in its place for the competition.

Another highlight would be all of the plants our Living Systems team has grown. I personally have never taken a plant science class, yet have grown some great looking wetland plants. This was with the help from some local nurseries that provided the plants for us in the early spring of 2011. Seeing these plants when we first received them in 2” plugs with a height of about 4”, and now seeing some of them at 7’ tall and green as can be (going to knock on wood so my luck does not run out), combined with long and late night planting events with help from some of the team, is one of my biggest highlights so far.

Talk about an unexpected, amazing, frightening, or unlikely experience while working on WaterShed.
ST: An amazing experience would have to be when we were down in Florida for the International Builders Show in January of this year. We had an opportunity to show our model of the house to the crowds of people who visited the convention, which consisted of trades people and contractors. While standing with the model, many people came up and were in awe of the message and the design. After working on the project, at this point for almost a year, it didn’t seem like that big of a deal (seeing and saying the same thing over and over), but for these people seeing it for the first time it was amazing to them. After having this experience it helped me realize how big this project is and what an impact it may have on what people do within their own homes. This made me feel great and put that much more effort into the project to make it stand out from the rest.

What has been your most important learning experience on the project?
ST: This project has actually shown me how important it is to physically go outside your academic program and interact with other disciplines. I have learned so much from this project that normally through the standard curriculum for my major I would not have. This hands on experience has allowed me to apply what I have learned and incorporate it with other disciplines. Not only me learning from others, but also the fact I am passing my knowledge of environmental ‘things’ onto the immediate team, and eventually the public, who will visit in September.

Has working on WaterShed influenced your career path at all, and if so, how?
ST: Working on WaterShed has opened my eyes to a potential consulting job within the building industry. I have seen through the whole process how my environmental background has made a direct and in-direct impact on the project. If I can use my environmental background to help improve the way we live within society with less of an impact on the environment would be very rewarding. I am still planning on going to graduate school to focus on energy and the many factors that come with renewable energy.

When people come to visit WaterShed on the Mall in September, what do you hope they will take away from the experience?
ST: I hope the public takes away WaterShed’s main message: water conservation. The many features of the house can be implemented on previously built homes or put in the design of new homes. The changes made to a home can be as small as changing to a lower-flow showerhead all the way up to installing solar-thermal on the homeowner’s roof. Another key point would be energy production on-site, reducing the need for energy produced off-site from non-renewable sources. This allows the home owner to have control over what pollutants they put into their environment, through air pollution and water pollutants through runoff.

Also, I hope people see the broader picture of the whole Solar Decathlon competition, how all these Universities from around the world spend two years planning and building a house to show homes can be built in a smarter way. There is a significant amount of research and time that goes into these homes, showing the creativity and how the community, industry, and many different trades can work together to improve the way homes are built for the future.

What do you always have with you on the job site?
ST: A construction pencil and a Utility knife.

How do you spend your time when you’re not on the job site?
ST: I spend a lot of time up in the greenhouse tending to the MANY plants. Other than that, should be getting ready for the GRE.

Team Maryland Holds Lead During Opening Weekend

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Photo of WaterShed as leader in points on the third day of the competition, as seen by the Leader flag,

Maryland leads the collegiate teams in points on the third day of the competition, as seen by the Leader flag, right, at the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2011 in Washington, D.C., Saturday, Sept. 24, 2011
Photo Credit: Stefano Paltera/U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon

Despite continuously cloudy skies, the big crowds, high scores and an endorsement from Congressman Roscoe Bartlett are keeping the WaterShed teams spirits high as they finish out the opening weekend of the Solar Decathlon on top. As of Monday morning, Maryland was leading the pack in scores and standings, edging out Purdue, Team China and Parsons School of Design.

Not that any of the team members have a minute to check their placement; the house has had a heavy foot traffic since the doors opened Friday morning, thanks in part to a deluge of media coverage, including the Washington Post, Washington Examiner and the local ABC affiliate, WJLA-TV (click here to see WaterShed in the news).

“Finally being here on the competition site and seeing all of the positive reactions we are receiving from WaterShed is amazing,” said Dave Gavin, a graduate architecture student. “It makes all of the sleepless nights and countless hours spent designing truly worth it to realize all that we have accomplished over the past two years and I could not be more proud of the WaterShed team.”

Before the doors opened to the public on Friday, WaterShed team members provided a special tour Thursday afternoon to University President Wallace Loh, Congressman John Sarbanes (MD-3) and Congressman Roscoe Bartlett (MD-6) as part of a Decathlon VIP event. Rep. Bartlett, who serves as a co-chairman of the House Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (RE&EE), gave a powerful endorsement of WaterShed, saying “The University of Maryland has once again set the bar high for all other competitors (to read the press release from Rep Bartlett’s office, click here).”

With a week’s worth of competitions ahead, Team Maryland concentrates on execution, keeping its eye on the finish line. .”We have a long way to go, but I’m proud of how far we’ve come,” says Amy Gardner.

MENTOR INTERVIEW: Brian Borak – Engineering

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Photo of Brian Borak installing PV panels

Energy Mentor, Brian Borak, Installing PV Panels
Photo Credit: Aditya Gaddam

Brian Borak is always on the lookout for new technologies. As an Energy Program Technical Analyst for Booz Allen Hamilton, he spends his days designing, executing, and managing energy research and development programs for his government clients, with the goal of translating the more promising technologies into commercial use. So what better place to scout cutting-edge energy technology than a solar competition? It’s a hotbed of possibilities for guys like Brian.

But it’s the Terp blood running through his veins that compelled Brian, who received his Ph.D. in Physical Organic Chemistry and Photochemistry from Maryland, to sign on as a WaterShed team mentor without hesitation. After all, he was the DC Electrical Team Leader for LEAFHouse in 2007 and is able to put his veteran experience to good use. Assisting the electrical team on designing and installing the solar panels, Brian has been able to share some of the pitfalls the LEAFHouse team experienced and prepare the WaterShed team for design challenges they might face. He enjoys working alongside students and getting his hands dirty. Below Brian discusses how green technology is readily available now and how entries like WaterShed show just how easy and affordable it can be to implement.

What has been your favorite aspect of working on WaterShed?
BB: It’s been great to work with so many smart, creative people on the team. Everyone brings their unique background and experience to contribute something special. I think the end product speaks to the love and care that the team has put into this project and how well they’ve worked together. Having a team with such a diverse range of backgrounds with dedication and drive really creates an atmosphere where innovation thrives. It’s really exciting to be part of that. I also really enjoy being able to get my hands on some of the latest technology in solar power and green building design, it’s a great test bed!

What do you hope the students take away from working with you on WaterShed?
BB: I hope they’ll be able to gain an appreciation for the design process and for the opportunities that lie ahead for them in the green energy technology and building industries. I hope working on the Solar Decathlon will inspire them to pursue a career in energy and use their talents to help secure our country’s energy future.

What have you learned from working with the students this year?
BB: I’ve been really impressed with the team’s ability to work together to face some challenging design decisions; it serves as a reminder to keep an open mind and listen to different perspectives. Sometimes solutions come from unexpected places and in really interesting forms. I’ve also learned a lot about the new offerings in solar technology that are out there today and some new approaches to green building design.

How important are competitions like the solar decathlon in respect to the future of architecture, building technology, and construction?
BB: Events like the Solar Decathlon are critical for igniting interest in developing scientists, engineers, and architects to push the envelope in green building design and clean energy technology. Our country needs more dedicated people from many disciplines to work together to help create new ideas that will help us all live more sustainably using our available resources more efficiently. The Solar Decathlon helps put many of the challenges up in front of teams and the public to confront and begin to address, while serving as a proving ground for new green building design and energy technologies. It helps us explore creative ideas and gather more information about the best ways to implement these designs and technologies on a wider scale and make refinements to future designs.

What do you hope people will take away from WaterShed when they visit it on the Mall in September?
BB: Hopefully, WaterShed visitors will walk away from the house with the realization that solar energy and green building is available and ready for everyone today. These technologies and designs are here now, ready to be implemented on a larger scale to help homeowners reduce their energy use and save money. Wide adoption could enable America to become more secure and maintain a clean environment for generations to enjoy. I hope homeowners and business owners will get excited about the potential to implement some of Watershed’s innovative features in their own homes and offices, particularly those living in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. I also really hope visitors walk away with an appreciation for all the hard work that the team put into designing and building WaterShed as well as communicating their message to visitors.

MENTOR INTERVIEW: John Cartagirone – Construction

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Photo of John Cartagirone

John Cartagirone, THE veteran Team Maryland Mentor
Photo Credit: Aditya Gaddam

It might be safe to say that John Cartagirone is one of, if not THE veteran decathlete on the Maryland Solar Decathlon Team. A master electrician by trade and owner of American Power & Light out of Bowie, MD, John mentored Team Maryland in 2005, 2007 and is now back for 2011. “My wife refers to herself as the Solar Decathlon widow,” he jokes.

John is a literal powerhouse for Team Maryland; while he has helped design and install the electrical systems of the house, he can be found pitching in everywhere on site, imparting his years of construction experience – and two past decathlons – to help make WaterShed’s site an easier, smoother, and safer place to work. He is also a great friend to generations of Solar Decathlon team members, mentors, and faculty. Below John talks about how even though the students change, the lessons and rewards stay the same.

What has been your favorite aspect of working on WaterShed?
JC: My biggest enjoyment is seeing the progression of these students, both in their knowledge of the craft and as individuals. At the beginning of the project a lot of them didn’t know their way around tools. It’s been very rewarding for me to impart my knowledge, teaching them what tools to use and when, why we use them, and how to do it safely. With that knowledge, they are all able to pitch in and collaborate with their peers and mentors very nicely. It’s also been a pleasure to see how they evolve as individuals; who pops up as a leader, who is detail oriented, who is the go-getter. Their personalities really shine through.

What do you hope the students take away from working with you on WaterShed?
JC: I hope, as they move into a professional career, this experience has shown them everyone has something to contribute at every level and everyone has a valid point of view. By talking ideas through with tradespeople and sharing knowledge across the board they can collaborate to create something really amazing. This project is a great example of that; it rivals any professional quality project that I’ve seen.

What have you learned from working with the students this year?
JC: There is no doubt I learn as much from them as they learn from me. I’m not a big computer guy, but working with these kids has exposed me to some amazing stuff I didn’t even know was possible. They have access to very new and cutting edge technologies, like drawing and plan making programs that we don’t have and has made our work on site a lot easier. It’s been fun to see what they can do in that respect, and their ideas come to life.

How important are competitions like the Solar Decathlon in respect to the future of architecture, building technology, and construction?
JC: Huge! Competitions like the Solar Decathlon are a big service for the industry. Any time you can teach a budding architect or electrical engineer while they are still willing to be taught, it makes them more apt to be open-minded about the possibilities. That not only changes the future of building but also makes it so much easier on the job site. Students had to interact with multiple disciplines here, and the industry will benefit greatly from that collaborative spirit.

What do you hope people will take away from WaterShed when they visit it on the Mall in September?
JC: I hope visitors take away the whole package: this house is not only eco-friendly, but it co-mingles with the environment. If we start building things like this on the Chesapeake watershed, the bay and our eco-system will be improved quite a bit. There is an old boy scout saying, “Leave no trace.” The industry’s version of that saying is WaterShed. There is a way to do this construction so it doesn’t have to impact our environment, but instead, enhance it.

MENTOR INTERVIEW: John Morris – Construction

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Photo of John Morris working

Construction Mentor John Morris Working
Photo Credit: Jeff Gipson

John Morris has a love for building in his blood. As a kid he often worked with his father, who was in construction, helping out on job sites, building homes. He later studied Architecture at Clemson University and got his Master of Architecture degree at Maryland, where he was an instrumental player in the creation of LEAFHouse. His lifelong experience made him a natural fit as construction team leader for the 2007 Decathlon.

So it’s no wonder that, while he works as a successful architect at Perkins Eastman, he was compelled to come back to Maryland as a construction mentor. Over the many months, John has generously shared his knowledge and talent with the team (aside from his extensive experience, he is a skilled carpenter). The students appreciate his dedication to the team and his tool belt, as well as his good-natured construction site humor. Below John talks about learning through doing, and the beautiful results of collaboration.

What has been your favorite aspect of working on WaterShed?  
JM: I absolutely love the design/build aspect of the house and working through issues first hand.  I grew up working in construction, and then went to architecture school, so WaterShed gives me the ability to incorporate both of those aspects in the real world.  It’s also really enjoyable to watch the learning process throughout my various visits to the site.  

What do you hope the students take away from working with you on WaterShed?  
JM: I really hope the team realizes, although you may not have the experience or knowledge at the beginning, you have to at least give it a shot.  It’s the only way to learn, and in turn be able to teach others how to do a similar task.  The experiences they have gained on WaterShed will provide invaluable knowledge for them in the future, and I just hope I added to those experiences in some way.

What have you learned from working with the students this year? 
JM: Students this year were fairly inexperienced at the beginning of the construction process, but their energy and enthusiasm was remarkable.  They were all extremely passionate about the project and about every little detail of the design and construction process.  Their energy was really inspiring.

How important are competitions like the Solar Decathlon in respect to the future of architecture, building technology, and construction?  
JM: The Solar Decathlon is extremely important to the future of the design/construction industry because of the unique collaborative environment it represents.  It brings together students from all disciplines, not just Architecture and Engineering, but English, Marketing, Computer Science, and many more.  There are very few opportunities in the “real world” that enable such a joint venture. It is something to be celebrated.  The whole process introduces students and the public to processes, technologies, and ways of thinking that many may have never discovered had it not been for the Solar Decathlon.

What do you hope people will take away from WaterShed when they visit it on the Mall in September?  
JM: I hope they realize the amount of effort it took for the idea that is “WaterShed” to become what it is today.  While the Solar Decathlon is one of the most publicly celebrated exhibits showcasing state-of-the-art technologies and sustainable designs, it is first and foremost a testament to what can be accomplished when you put all of your energy and efforts towards an ideal that you want to become a reality.

STUDENT INTERVIEW: Moshe Katz – Communications

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Photo of Moshe Katz and Yehuda Katz carrying ladder

Moshe Katz and His Twin Brother, Yehuda Katz, Carrying a Ladder
Photo Credit: Aditya Gaddam

One of the many components of WaterShed is its messaging. While the house itself will tell a narrative during the competition, the team has been spreading their message of sustainability and water conservation for months, through their website and social media. Moshe Katz (and his identical twin brother Yehuda), WaterShed’s computer guru, has been the instrument behind Team Maryland’s groundswell.  

Moshe, who has been part of the WaterShed team since May of 2009, has a hand in all things related to computers and data management on the project. An undergraduate majoring in computer science, he has worked tirelessly on the website, set-up, and managing team listservs, as well as programming WaterShed’s smart house system. All of this, while holding down a fulltime job this past summer (which may explain his affinity for caffeinated soft drinks). Moshe has been an integral player on Team Maryland, and is always eager to help and find a solution to team challenges.

What has been your personal WaterShed moment so far?
MK: I was able to take a break from the desk work to actually run conduit for lights in the house. As important as the desk work is, it has a more distant feel than actually working inside the house.

What has been your most important learning experience on the project?
MK: Learning how to deal with all kinds of people.

Has working on WaterShed personally affected the way you use water?
MK: Not really, but only because I was fairly conservative in my water use already.

When people come to visit WaterShed on the Mall in September, what do you hope they will take away from the experience?
MK: I hope people walk away with an understanding of how hard the project as a whole is to put together and how many people it takes, but at the same time how easy it is to make small but significant changes in their own homes. Also, that there is so much that modern design and technology has to offer – and no reason not to reach out and take it.

What do you always have with you on the job site?
MK: A computer.

How do you spend your time when you’re not on the job site?
MK: I do programming for desktop and web development for businesses and non-profits.