A University of Vermont (UVM) student team re-imagined a net zero energy mobile home as part of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Race to Zero Student Design Competition. Race to Zero team members included, environmental studies major Adam Wechsler (Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources), ecological engineering design major Harrison Myers (College of Agriculture and Life Sciences), and engineering students Tori Kushner and Alex Schoedler (College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences - CEMS). One of two UVM teams chosen to compete against 38 other college teams from four countries, the four students traveled to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colorado to present their design to industry leaders April 21-23, 2017. 

“The event in Colorado was a great experience, especially learning about all the other teams’ Race to Zero projects,” said Wechsler, a junior from Jericho Vermont, who is focusing on building science and design. “We received many favorable comments about our project, and people were impressed.” 

In September 2016, the “Green Mountain Designers” team, led by Wechsler, was 1 of 60 teams selected after submission of a three-page design description. In February 2017, after submission of a 12-page progress report, the team was chosen as one of 40 finalists headed to Colorado for the culminating competition. 

“The students completed high quality work over a long period of time finishing with a detailed, 32-page final report and a 25-minute Powerpoint presentation,” said Gary Hawley, Rubenstein School Research Associate, instructor of the Greening of Rubenstein Interns course, and faculty co-advisor to the Race to Zero team. “The team met weekly throughout much of the past two academic years to work on the project, learn about the process, and coordinate efforts with outside expert partners. Faculty co-advisor Marc Companion’s contribution as a well-connected green building instructor was invaluable to the students.” 

The four-student team worked with local Vermont engineering design professionals to improve upon the “Vermod,” a modular home developed in the aftermath of the 2011 Tropical Storm Irene. The 50 Vermods in use throughout the state achieve net zero energy through dense insulation, air tightness, and heating and cooling with efficient heat pumps powered by rooftop photovoltaic panels. 

“None of us knew how to design a house,” said Kushner, a junior in mechanical engineering who headed up heating, ventilation, and air conditioning on the team. “We all learned together how to achieve our overall goal. In Colorado, it was great to see all the different approaches to get to the common end result of net zero energy.” 

Working with Vermod creators, Vermod Homes, Inc. and Pill-Maharam Architects, and Peter Schneider of the Vermont Energy Investment Corporation, among other partners, the Race to Zero team modified the existing design to exceed ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) standards and to achieve U.S. Green Building Council LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification. The students’ design accommodates both the needs of persons with disabilities and aging-in-place requirements of senior citizens. 

“Our new design provides for people in wheelchairs and those who want to live out their lives at home,” said Wechsler, who, for his honors thesis, is evaluating the UVM campus from the perspective of accessibility and how it integrates with sustainability and green buildings. “I would like to do this kind of work when I graduate.” 

The team also researched options for green technology; local, natural building materials containing low volatile organic compounds (VOCs); and conscious management of water use. 

“Sustainable water use and storm water mitigation were important components of the design since the model is intended for a mobile home park close to Lake Champlain,” said Myers, a junior from Moretown, Vermont who is interested in the intersection of ecological engineering and landscape architecture and was the domestic hot water and landscape lead on the team. “I believe that how we build will influence our ability to become a more sustainable and inclusive world.” 

The students hope to assist their mentors to incorporate their improvements into a model suitable for an existing mobile home park in Burlington, Vermont. 

“Today we are able to build high efficiency homes that are energy responsible, but we need to fully adopt this technology and bring it into our professions,” said Schoedler, a junior civil engineering major and architectural lead on the team. “The director of the Lab in Colorado said, ‘Who we are is what we leave behind.’ As a civil engineer, I think that is particularly important.” 

“Adam, Tori, Harrison and Alex are awesome,” said Marc Companion, Rubenstein School lecturer on green building science and co-advisor to the team. “Not only did they impress local partners with their vision and professionalism, but also successfully brought the important idea of better affordable housing to students and industry experts from around the country. And this is just the beginning…” 

Other mentors and partners that provided design input and support to the student team include Efficiency Vermont, Burlington Electric Department, Northern Vermont Building Science Group, Montpelier Construction, Duncan Wisniewski Architects, Jean Terwilliger Architects, New England Construction Company, and Greg Whitchurch. 

The second UVM team that traveled to the national Race to Zero competition included civil engineering students from CEMS. The Vermont State Legislature congratulated both UVM Race to Zero teams. Each participant and faculty advisor will receive a copy of a congratulatory resolution from the State of Vermont.