BLACKSBURG - A picture shows the Virginia Tech team celebrating its win in the International Solar Decathlon in Spain last week.
Faculty team members Joseph Wheeler and Robert Dunay say they're glad their hard work paid off.
"It was quite a surprise and quite rewarding that we came out on top,” said Wheeler.”
"For Virginia Tech to go in there and take gold, I think it's huge. I think we made a statement that the research we do here is the leading research in the world,” said Robert Dunay.
They call their house the Lumenhaus. It's completely self sufficient with solar panels to collect energy and special insulation panels with led lights.
The Hokies say they were lucky to beat out so many other international teams.
"One of the reasons we won is it was comfortable and it wasn't using energy. It was passively cooled with cross ventilation and shaded,” said Wheeler.”
Wheeler says their special Eclipse shutter system was the key. It shades the house, while allowing air to circulate through.
"On a day like today, you'd be in your space getting beautiful cross ventilation and wouldn't be using your air conditioning,” said Wheeler.”
Dunay says they have a company from Boston coming at the end of the month who's interested in marketing the shutter system. He says consumers could see it in a home improvement store in a few years.
He says this product could greatly reduce energy cost in homes across Virginia and the world.
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