-
July update on the solar roof pod
- Farah Ahmad
It is July and full force is ahead for construction of the Solar Roof Pod by Team New 
York. The construction site no longer houses simply a steel cage mounted upon a series of structural steel beams. The Solar Roof Pod has layers of insulation, sheathing, waterproofing, dry wall, and more! The house is becoming more 'alive' with the recent arrival of the space frame, a trellis system that will mount the PV panels atop the roof. After this space frame is placed, the pod's three layers will finally come together and translate into this unique urban home.
What's more fascinating to see is the integration of the engineering systems. One can see pipes, radiant floor heating, and electric wiring running throughout the pod. The main doors have also been installed into the pod, and the building blocks are being placed, forming the outer 'walls' of the pod.
The decking syst
em is also being built, and is prepared for the irrigation system that will run in the garden of the home. Built in modules, the decking system will help create an outdoor environment for the pod which is meant to be sited atop rooftops. It also holds the planter bins, which help create the urban park-like setting, for the rooftop garden. Plants are currently being placed into the decking system, by the landscape team of students.
The green features of the home are already clearly evident: the use of recyclable materials, prefabrication of building blocks, and the implementation of zero energy systems. Stay tuned t
o see how the pod's interior contributes to a green home! In the meantime, check out our twitter feed for live construction updates: www.twitter.com/solarroofpod and our website for photos of the construction progress: www.ccnysolardecathlon.com We are excited as the competition in Washington D.C. is just around the corner!
Related Content
Features
News
Blogs
Latest posts by Farah Ahmad
User Comments