The Solar Homestead Registries Are Open

Making the Solar Homestead Beautiful!!!

Taking a break from helping the Construction Team work on the Solar Homestead, our designers have added some interior accessories that will put the finishing touches to the home.

We have heard some great feedback from people delighted to contribute to the project! If you're looking to get involved in some way, consider donating something from our registry, and expect to see it on display at the National Mall. We still have items on our registries for Crate & Barrel and Pottery Barn to be purchased but we would also like to inform you of our new registry at CB2.

Below are all three links to our registry:

CB2 

http://www.cb2.com/Gift-Registry/

Crate and Barrel

http://www.crateandbarrel.com/Gift-Registry/Guest/Find-Registry-Results.aspx?firstname=solar&lastname=decathlon

Pottery Barn

http://www.potterybarn.com/registry/find-registry-results.html?lastName=decathlon&firstName=solar

Who ever wishes to donate has until August 11th to purchase an item on our list. If in the store, the registry falls under the name, Solar(first name) Decathlon (last name), or they can find the co-register which is Ariel Shockley. 

The mailing address is on the website, but if in the store mail to:

1100 East King Street Boone, NC 28607. 

Please email us to confirm your purchase and to receive an easy tax exempt form at SolarHomestead@appstate.edu. Also if you have any questions please feel free to contact us.

Thank you for your help and support,
The Solar Homestead Team

Decathlete of the Week!

Jen Howell

 Job Title: Graphic Designer

Area of study? Interior Design

When did you join the team? May 2011

What made you want to get involved? "The Solar Decathlon is such an amazing opportunity and I just wanted to be a part of it."

What is that giant pink thing by your desk? "I came in one morning after my birthday and the construction boys had used a 13ft roofing tube to create a giant lightsaber for me because I am the resident Star Wars nerd."










If you were a Star Wars charter which on would you be? "I would be a Tauntaun. They are my favorite beast from Star Wars and they always have been since I was little."


Hobbies? I like to hang out with my dog, reading, cooking, and painting, and that is pretty much all I have time for."

What has been your favorite Solar Homestead project? "I really enjoyed the take away, but all of it has given me the opportunity to interact with so many different people and help graphically represent such a phenomenal project."

Congratulations Jen! Thank you for sharing your talent and time on the Solar Homestead. Your dedication to the project has and will continue to have a huge impact! Keep up the great work and MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU!

Sponsor of the Month

          The Solar Homestead team would like recognize Mountain Lumber Co. as our July, 2011 Sponsor of the Month. As a locally based company in Boone since 1988, Mountain Lumber Co. has made a commitment to help make sustainable building the standard, not the exception. Mountain Lumber CO. reflects the influence of local people working with their own communities to create a better and more sustainable High Country. The company continues to stay ahead of the curve in the positioning themselves as the Blue Ridge leader in green and sustainable building.

         "Mountain Lumber Company has been instrumental in finding specialty items that we need for construction of the Solar Homestead" states construction manager Kenric Hartman, "they really understand the time constraints this project faces and have helped us out in many tight situations."

         For over 20 years Mountain Lumber Co. has been serving the greater High Country area with new products, new green building technologies and superior customer support services. The Solar Homestead team at Appalachian State University is proud to recognize Mountain Lumber Co. as July, 2011 Sponsor of the Month.

Decathlete of the Week!

Stephen Lafleur

Job: Construction Team Member

When did you join the Team: April 2011

How did you get involved: "I heard through Bret Sowers about the Solar Decathlon 2011 but I have always been interested in renewable energy and the design and construction of green buildings. He asked me to get involved and I was thrilled to do it."

What is with all the Mohawks on the construction team: "Oh, this is called team bonding."

What is your favorite part of the building process? "I love doing the whole job start to finish. No other project would have given the students this kind of opportunity."

What got you interested in sustainability and appropriate technology? "I have always had an interest in utility scale wind in high school, which led me to further study other renewable energies and also building techniques in college."

What do you like to do in your from time away from the Solar Homestead? "Free time? You mean nap time."

Congratulations to Stephen Lafleur for being this the Solar Homestead Decathlete of the Week! We're proud to have you helping us on the team -- keep up the hard work!!

Want to help support the Solar Homestead?

We need YOUR help to purchase items for the 

Solar Homestead! 

If you are looking to help out Appalachian State's Solar Homestead team, but you don't know how, we've got a solution for you! We have created a registry at Pottery Barn and Crate and Barrel for a lot of the items that we'll be using within the Homestead on the National Mall this September. Below are both links.  

http://www.crateandbarrel.com/Gift-Registry/Guest/Find-Registry-Results.aspx?firstname=solar&lastname=decathlon

http://www.potterybarn.com/registry/find-registry-results.html?lastName=decathlon&firstName=solar

Who ever wishes to donate has until August 11th to purchase an item on our list. If in the store, the registry falls under the name, Solar(first name) Decathlon (last name), or they can find the co-register which is Ariel Shockley. 


The mailing address is on the website, but if in the store mail to:

1100 East King Street Boone, NC 28607. 

We would certainly appreciate any help you can give this student project, and how cool would it be to know a piece that you donated will be seen by tens of thousands of people on the National Mall? A tangible artifact of your support for this monumental effort; we can't do it without you!


Please email us to confirm your purchase and to receive an easy tax exempt form at solarhomestead@appstate.edu. Also if you have any questions please feel free to contact us.

Thank you for your help and support,
Solar Homestead

Decathlete of the Week!

Jose Luis Marino-Saldana

Job Title: Project Interior Designer


When did you join the team? January 2010


How did you get involved?  Jeanne Mercer-Ballard announced in class that the university had submitted a proposal to take part in the next Solar Decathlon; once the proposal had been accepted, she encouraged me to become part of the design team.


Best part?  Everything: the people involved, the experience gained by being exposed to every single aspect of a real project, and of course, seeing our design being built and used to represent our school and our state in an international competition.

Ice Cream Break!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Most challenging part?  I truly believe right now all of us are enjoying the challenges that come with the project. I think the challenging part will come later at the end of the competition when we have to say goodbye to the house and the team.

Favorite Architect?  Dr. Ken Yeang. "We need to rethink our lifestyles. Everything depends on our needs and our own demands."

Working hard on his latest design!

The Solar Homestead is very grateful to have Jose as part of our team. His dedication and creative outlook are exactly the kind of things that will lead our team to victory! Keep up the good work!

Governor Beverly Perdue visits the Solar Homestead!

Governor Beverly Perdue Shows Her Support!

On July 7th, Governor Beverly Perdue visited the Solar Homestead to show not only her support, but to demonstrate the support we are receiving from North Carolina as a whole. Accompanying her during her visit were Senator Dan Soucek and Representative Jon Jordan. They arrived at our head quarters eager to hear about all of the progress our team has been making! 

After a brief introduction given by our very own head of communications Dave Lee, it was on to the guided tour throughout the facility! Without hesitation Gov. Perdue put on an Appalachian State University colored hard hat showing even further her pride in our project and team.

Demonstrating a genuine interest in solar building, Gov. Perdue engaged in a steady discussion through out the tour involving all of the different aspects of our house design and the ways the average person can implement these ideas.

We would like to thank Gov. Perdue and everyone in attendance including, David Hall and Steve Linton from Deltec Homes as well as Brent Simmons from Mountain Lumber for their continued participation in our project! We know that with the foundation of support that has been set by our sponsors and officials that we will be successful in accomplishing our goals!