ENGS 89/90 Reports

Year of Graduation

2025

Project Advisor

Benoit Cushman-Roisin

Instructor

Shea Hagy

Document Type

Report

Publication Date

2025

Abstract

Our team participated in the 2025 US Department of Energy Solar Decathlon Design Challenge, an international collegiate competition where teams are tasked with designing sustainable, net-zero buildings to support innovation and communities. We partnered with Sharon Elementary School in Sharon, VT. This small K-6 school was looking to propose an upgrade and expansion to accommodate their growing class. They struggled to find a cost-friendly construction plan to address necessary maintenance, over-occupancy, security concerns, and poor energy efficiency. By collaborating with the administration, teachers, and students, along with the firm behind the previous expansion proposal (Banwell Architects), our team created a design solution that not only provides 7000 additional square feet of classrooms and community space, but also uses innovative straw bale panels and recycled low-carbon cellulose to improve insulation in the roof and walls from R-20 and R-3 to R-65 and R-38, respectively. We designed a greenhouse on the south side of the school to capture solar energy and provide a green educational space for students. With our envelope improvements and efficient air-water heat pumps, site EUI was reduced by 61%, before photovoltaics. Furthermore, by considering various financial grants and expanding roof solar to achieve net-zero, we bring $7M of construction costs down to an upfront $4M bond while minimizing annual energy bills. Lastly, by visiting Sharon and speaking with students about our design as well as sustainability and STEM education in general, we hope our work has a lasting, positive impact on Sharon Elementary and the community at large.

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