The house now sits on the former Kentucky Trailer site which the public can reach through an entrance off Third Street just south of Eastern Parkway. Soon, however, the team will disassemble it and truck it to Irvine, Calif., to compete in the U.S. Department of Energy鈥檚 2013 Solar Decathlon. The team is one of 20 from around the world that will be in this year鈥檚 decathlon.
is an energy-efficient, wood-and-steel-framed modular prototype two-bedroom residence meant to serve as a sustainable, permanent housing solution after natural disasters. The team chose the socially responsible design after last spring鈥檚 damaging tornadoes in Kentucky and Indiana and named it Phoenix House after the mythical bird symbolizing rebirth and hope. The house is designed to be durable, affordable, rapidly delivered and capable of producing more energy than it uses.
For more than a year, the team, which includes students and faculty from UofL, Ball State University in Muncie, Ind., and the University of Kentucky, has been supported in its work by UofL鈥檚 J.B. Speed School of Engineering; Ball State鈥檚 College of Architecture, Interior Design and Construction Management programs; UofL鈥檚 Conn Center for Renewable Energy Research; UofL鈥檚 College of Business; UofL鈥檚 College of Arts and Sciences (communication and English departments); and UK鈥檚 School of Engineering.
