A major undertaking in sustainability is happening in Sussex County, thanks to federal grants and forward-thinking attitudes at Delaware Technical and Community College. Del Tech’s “Energy House” is going up at the college’s Owens campus in Georgetown, and it is expected to expand job prospects for students, as well as usher in a new awareness of green and environmentally friendly technologies for the community as a whole.
The plan is ambitious. The building will look much like any house but will be built with sustainable materials. The eco-friendly project will also boast many learning tools for students on-site, as well those who study remotely — making it an asset to students across the board and not just those on campus.
In addition to all the amenities that a standard house would include, such as a kitchen, great room and master bedroom, plus Energy Star appliances, there are also classrooms and a conference room for students to learn in. There will also be a lab that is designed to help students learn various green technologies.
In short, the learning environment seems to be the type of classroom where students will get a hands-on experience in a way they never have before.
The project’s price tag stands at about $1 million, but the federal grant provided by the U.S. Department of Commerce to foster energy efficiency programs and tools covers the majority of the project, at an estimated $800,000.
It should be noted that the college is getting quite a lot of bang for their buck, because when it comes to the nuts and bolts of the project, the tools for learning and sustainability are astounding. Transparent walls will provide a view of how the technologies work within the house, and everything from the heating to the lighting is energy-efficient.
The house also serves to collect data on various renewable energy systems, such as solar, geothermal and wind power, so that in the future templates can be further engineered for continued environmental success. The house incorporates all of those technologies working in tandem, for an unmatched eco-friendly experience. The roof will also provide a different view, as it will be a living roof, designed to cut both heating and cooling costs, as well being enabled to collect water for use.
The data collection will serve the community at large, because consumers can come in directly to Energy House to see what their options are in terms of sustainable energies and products, and Energy House can give clear answers as to cost, consumption and systems directly to consumers.
The environmentally stellar learning environment is also taking the step to become LEED Platinum-certified. LEED certification is a process of environmental certification, and getting such a certification speaks very highly of the project. LEED certification rigorously measures five areas of sustainability, including sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources and indoor environmental quality. Platinum level certification is the highest available – meaning that the Energy House at Owens campus could really be a thing of “green” wonder.
Bobbi Barends, dean of instruction at the Owens Campus, said the entire project, from the architect to the builder to the execution, was formed with LEED certification in mind, so they worked closely to make sure that everything would meet those standards.
Element Design Group, a full service land planning, civil engineering and architecture firm, designed the project. Emory Hill and Co. was recently selected as the general contractor.
But Del Tech doesn’t just want the certification and, in fact, they are going above and beyond what the certification requires. LEED certification doesn’t require things like eco-friendly furniture, which the college is planning to install, regardless of whether or not it is required for the certification process. Top to bottom, in and out, the whole building aims for sustainability.
Perhaps one of the most significant benefits of the Energy House being built at the Owens campus is the jobs that it will help create in sustainable industries.
The college has already begun to roll out new areas of study that are not only relevant to the “green” economy but offer new hope to those who have lost their jobs in the shaky economy. Two years ago, Delaware Tech added facilities energy management certification to the roster, under their HVAC program, and this fall they added an applied associate’s of science in energy management to their list of majors.
The new program’s curriculum came from Lane Community College in Eugene, Ore., the nation’s No. 1 school for energy management, and Del Tech was only one of five schools that were granted the curriculum. According to Barends, “Delaware Tech wants and plans to be a leader in energy.”
Their means to this end is to lead by example, and it all begins with the Energy House.
“We want to practice what we preach.” Barends said. And they mean business. Solar panels are even being installed on several of the existing buildings on campus, in addition to their presence on the Energy House.
The project is expected to be completed by spring and, with the completion of the house, there will be a continued roll-out of new majors that pave the way in eco-friendly industries and renewable energy and, eventually, even programs that educate on off-shore wind turbines, which are sure to be relevant to the Delaware coastal area.
The moves not only look toward the future of energy and jobs but signify a new chapter for the college and community – one in which people are encouraged to think outside the box for a better tomorrow.
For more pictures and renderings of the Energy House, visit http://www.dtcc. edu/energyhouse/renderings online.
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