Students share vision for sustainable building at 2011 Solar Decathlon

Two years ago, architecture professor Marilys Nepomechie and a group of FIU students conceived a home design perfect for South Florida – one that could get all its energy from the sun. Last fall, they traveled to Washington, D.C., and built that house for a world-renowned competition: the 2011 U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Decathlon. “I’m really excited to represent FIU on such an international stage,” said Nepomechie, noting this is the second time FIU has been invited to compete. FIU, one of 20 teams from around the world invited this year, tied for first place for energy balance, producing all the power the house used with its solar array. Overall, FIU placed 11th, defeating Team China, Team New York and Team New Jersey, among others. FIU competed on its own, but several other teams were partnerships among institutions from a country or state – including Team Florida, which comprised the University of Florida, Florida State University, the University of South Florida and t...