Spring Break
SJSU to design, build zero emission house
Leonard Lai
Issue date: 10/27/09 Section: News
The National Science Foundation granted SJSU with $150,000 to build a zero emission house, said a mechanical engineering professor.
Jinny Rhee, an associate mechanical engineering professor, said the house will be built from 2010 - 11.
Rhee said there is no concept idea or plan made yet for the zero emission house.
"The house will be designed from the ground up next fall and then built in the spring semester after," she said.
Upon completion of the house, the goal will be for it to produce little to no carbon emissions, Rhee said.
She said the house will be built by a team of seniors, whose numbers have yet to be defined, in the engineering department's mechanical shops.
"They're going to make a demo unit that will be 100 square foot with doors and windows," Rhee said. "Every type of engineering student should be really interested in working on the project."
David Parent, an associate electrical engineering professor, said building the house isn't the only purpose of the project, but the faculty should also work together.
"People will need to interact with people they don't know," Parent said. "They won't be the same people you hung out with from high school.
"This applies to both instructors and students."
He said some ideas for how the house would be powered are by solar, wind, hydroelectric and bio-fuels.
"It all depends on the placement of the house," Parent said. "If the house is near a river, it could be hydroelectric. If it is somewhere where there is a lot of sun, it would be solar."
Rhee said building the house would be taking a step toward entering the U.S. Department of Energy's Solar Decathlon, a competition where universities compete to design, build and operate an attractive energy-efficient house.
"The worldwide competition, held in Washington D.C., is to build an 800 square foot ZEM house," Rhee said. "Last year, Santa Clara University placed third, and it was its second time in the Solar Decathlon."
She said it is possible for Santa Clara University to partner with SJSU in the next Solar Decathlon.
Craig Clements, an assistant meteorology professor, said he thinks the project will enhance SJSU's reputation.
"This seed will enhance the education, because if there are any aspiring engineering students looking for a school, this should attract them," Clements said. "It's going to be a challenge, but it's not out of the question.
"It's something that can be done by our students."
Selection of a place to display the house upon completion has not yet been picked, she said.
Clements said he hopes it will be displayed not just on campus.
"Cesar Chavez Park or the Tech Museum would be a good place to show it off," he said. "It would impact San Jose and not just students who walk by it if it was only on campus."
Jinny Rhee, an associate mechanical engineering professor, said the house will be built from 2010 - 11.
Rhee said there is no concept idea or plan made yet for the zero emission house.
"The house will be designed from the ground up next fall and then built in the spring semester after," she said.
Upon completion of the house, the goal will be for it to produce little to no carbon emissions, Rhee said.
She said the house will be built by a team of seniors, whose numbers have yet to be defined, in the engineering department's mechanical shops.
"They're going to make a demo unit that will be 100 square foot with doors and windows," Rhee said. "Every type of engineering student should be really interested in working on the project."
David Parent, an associate electrical engineering professor, said building the house isn't the only purpose of the project, but the faculty should also work together.
"People will need to interact with people they don't know," Parent said. "They won't be the same people you hung out with from high school.
"This applies to both instructors and students."
He said some ideas for how the house would be powered are by solar, wind, hydroelectric and bio-fuels.
"It all depends on the placement of the house," Parent said. "If the house is near a river, it could be hydroelectric. If it is somewhere where there is a lot of sun, it would be solar."
Rhee said building the house would be taking a step toward entering the U.S. Department of Energy's Solar Decathlon, a competition where universities compete to design, build and operate an attractive energy-efficient house.
"The worldwide competition, held in Washington D.C., is to build an 800 square foot ZEM house," Rhee said. "Last year, Santa Clara University placed third, and it was its second time in the Solar Decathlon."
She said it is possible for Santa Clara University to partner with SJSU in the next Solar Decathlon.
Craig Clements, an assistant meteorology professor, said he thinks the project will enhance SJSU's reputation.
"This seed will enhance the education, because if there are any aspiring engineering students looking for a school, this should attract them," Clements said. "It's going to be a challenge, but it's not out of the question.
"It's something that can be done by our students."
Selection of a place to display the house upon completion has not yet been picked, she said.
Clements said he hopes it will be displayed not just on campus.
"Cesar Chavez Park or the Tech Museum would be a good place to show it off," he said. "It would impact San Jose and not just students who walk by it if it was only on campus."
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