University of Massachusetts Dartmouth:
Solar Decathlon
A delightful mix of architecture, engineering and community service

Project Funding

Grants      Charitable Contributions     In-kind Donations

What an exciting endeavor! With help from grants, charitable contributions, in-kind donations, and hard work by our Project Leader, Proposal Writing Team, and the Fundraising Team, the UMD Solar Decathlon Project is basking in success! We thank all contributors for their generous support.

Our estimated overall expenditures

$15K for student travel, food and accommodations
$7.5K to build our Test Home on campus
$120K for the Contest Home
$3K for documents and administrative support

For $145K we will build the Contest Home and donate it to DC Habitat For Humanity, build a Test Home on campus, and provide a unique, meaningful experience to 20 University of Massachusetts Dartmouth students!

Where does the funding come from?

In 2004, we met with the Massachusetts Renewable Energy Trust (MRET), wrote a funding proposal, and received $15K in direct funding. In 2005 they provided a challenge grant of $20K.

We submitted a proposal to the UMass Dartmouth Provost's office for travel, accommodation and meals to support student participation in the 2005 Solar Decathlon Contest. In addition, the proposal requested support for the Project Leader in terms of travel funds, a course buy-out, and presentation technology equipment. The Provost agreed to provide $12K for student support and $12K for the Project Leader.

The Grant Writing Team has successfully written and been awarded a grant for the project.

The Fundraising Team has sold on eBay an electronic soccer board donated by Peter Hawes, Developer. They will raise additonal funds by selling items such as Astroturf, a golf ball picker, and ladders.

By February, 2005, the Team raised $39K on our own. That's 20-30% of our budgeted $145K. As a result, the UMass Dartmouth Foundation will present the Project to its key contributors.

Grants

This project is funded in part by grants from:

• The U.S. Department of Energy
• The Massachusetts Renewable Energy Trust
• The Provost's Office at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
• The Chancellor's Office at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
• The Henry H. Crapo Charitable Foundation
• The Upstream Foundation
• Aaron LeBeau and Waters Tech Corp

Charitable Contributions

Charitable contributions from the community include:

• Elizabeth Winiarz
• Emily Johns
• Mike Guilmette
• Peter Hawes
• Gerald J. Lemay Family Trust
• Pauline Dowd
• Shyamala Raman
• Deirdre Healy and Patrick Mcloughlin
• Theophano Mitsa
• Steven Nardone
• Gilbert Fain
• Richard Lemay
• Susan Lane
• The UMass Dartmouth Habitat For Humanity Chapter
• UMass Dartmouth Golden Keys Club
• John Murphy, Bay State Federal Savings Charitable Foundation

In-kind Donations

We have received in-kind donations of:

• Consulting and on-site construction services
  from Dan Healy

• 100 SF of Authentic Roof shingling material
  from Crowe Building Products Ltd, Ontario Canada

• 8 solar hot water panels
  from Sardinha Plumbing, Fall River, MA

• A 12,000 BTU ground source heat pump
  from Carl Orio, Water and Energy Systems Corporation, Atkinson, NH and Climate Master, Oklahoma City, OK

• Architectural services leading to LEEDS certification
  from Mount Vernon Group Associates, New Bedford, MA

• Structural insulated panels
  from INSULSPAN, Michigan, through Zack LeRoy of Panel Pros, Keene, NH

• 24 Enerphase phase change thermal storage panels
  from Philip Helfaer

• 25% discount on printing
  from Joe Vasta & Trenna Britto of Alphagraphics

• WD 3243 Condensing washer-drier
  from Dan Hayes, President of Creative Laundry, Maryland

• Discount on purchases
  from Burlington Homes of Maine

• Discount on purchases
  from Lowe's

• Construction
  from A. Rosetto Construction

• Construction
  from Tim Lyden, DBA Genesis Construction

• Two SW4024 power inverters, charge controllers, and everything else we need to power our Contest home. Retail value in excess of $11,000.
  from Xantrex Technology, Inc., of Burnaby British Columbia Canada

Last updated: Tuesday, October 4, 2005 11:55 AM

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The Solar Decathlon is a project of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) in partnership with DOE's National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and private-sector sponsors BP, the the DIY Network, the American Institute of Architects, the National Association of Home Builders, and Sprint.

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