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NYIT Team Selected Again to Compete in Solar Decathlon
One of 20 international colleges chosen by U.S. Department of Energy for 2007 competition

Old Westbury , N.Y., Feb. 24, 2006: Coming off the success of the 2005 competition, New York Institute of Technology (NYIT) has been selected again by the U.S. Department of Energy to compete in the 2007 Solar Decathlon. NYIT is one of 20 colleges internationally, and the only finalist from the New York metropolitan area chosen to participate in the upcoming international collegiate competition, which challenges student teams to design, build, and operate the most attractive, effective, and energy-efficient solar-powered house.

"The next generation of leaders will have an opportunity to shine as they compete in the 2007 Solar Decathlon," said Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman. "Supplying enough clean, affordable energy to fuel the world's growing economies is one of the great challenges we will face over the coming years. By helping expand the use of solar energy technologies, the participants will help meet that challenge."

In the 2005 competition, NYIT's revolutionary design, dubbed Green Machine/Blue Space, captured fifth place overall (out of 18 teams). The team took third place in the highly competitive architecture and dwelling contests and was the only team to use a hydrogen fuel cell for energy storage. A first time competitor that year, NYIT beat six other teams that participated in the inaugural Solar Decathlon in 2002.

Each of the 20 teams selected for the 2007 competition will receive $100,000 over two years to support the Solar Decathlon's research goal of reducing the cost of solar-powered homes and advancing solar technology. NYIT's interdisciplinary team will involve students from the schools of architecture and design, engineering and technology, sciences and communications, management and culinary arts.

NYIT's design for the 2007 Solar Decathlon is inspired by concern by students and faculty for those impacted by major disasters, such as the tsunami and Hurricane Katrina. NYIT's entry is an example of a self-sufficient housing unit that can be easily replicated and transported to disaster areas. It will serve as a model of efficient housing from which some of the world's neediest people can benefit.

Joining NYIT are colleges and universities from Canada, Germany, Puerto Rico, Spain and across the United States. Contest rules require that each house generate enough energy from the sun to operate a household, a home-based business and related transportation needs. Teams are judged on 10 different categories, seven of which focus on energy efficiency; others include design and comfort of the house. The team with the most points the most energy-efficient and innovatively designed house will be named winner.

The Solar Decathlon will take place on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. For more information, visit www.solardecathlon.com.

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Contact: Jason Selss, NYIT media relations manager, 516.686.7481 or jselss@nyit.edu.