A team of Gibbs students was recently selected as a finalist for the 2023 Solar Decathlon Design Challenge. The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon is a collegiate competition that has inspired thousands of students worldwide to enter the clean energy workforce since its inception in 2002. This competition challenges student teams to create innovative building designs that address real-world issues, including climate change, environmental justice, and affordability.
The Eco-Sooners first started the competition in Fall 2022 and submitted a project brief in November. After receiving feedback on their design ideas, the team presented their updated project to the jury and was officially selected as a finalist on February 25, 2023.
The team proposed a retrofit model for renovating houses in the historic districts of Oklahoma City. The retrofitting process involves changing or adding to an already existing structure to improve its overall performance. For this project, these OKC homes would be adapted into an affordable, healthy, and energy-efficient habitation space for Senior Oklahomans.
