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UC Solar Decathlon
 

Santa Clara University: Fear of the Underdog

On Friday Oct. 5th, there were only 19 solar powered homes present on the National Mall at the 2007 Solar Decathlon. Santa Clara University's solar home had fallen off the back of their truck in California en route to the event. Axles on their carrier truck had cracked from pressure on a steep grade causing their house to slide off.

Luckily, around 7 pm that night, a new carrier gingerly drove Santa Clara's home on the site with no significant damage. "Our house actually made it in really good condition so we don't have a lot to worry about," said Brian Brocco, electrical engineering student. Even with such a huge setback, Santa Clara was nearly equidistant with others teams a day after getting their home on site.

What may have saved Santa Clara University from complete disaster? Planning. While many others teams were adjusting electrical and plumbing systems on site, Santa Clara had the forethought to install and adjust those systems while back in California.

Other factors in this competition posed problems for the team from the start. They were the 21st team selected at the start on the competition, and not eligible to compete unless another team dropped out. A neighboring school California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, a contestant in the 2005 Solar Decathlon, did withdraw, allowing Santa Clara the 20th slot.

Others problems surfaced for the team:"Santa Clara University is really one of the smaller schools here," said Brocco. "We don't even have an architecture school." Cal Poly actually assisted the team in creating a design for the house, passing on a few floor plan designs after they withdrew from the competition.

It will be interesting to see how this small Silicon Valley school fares in the weeks to come.

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