A team of architectural engineering majors is working hard to develop a plan to retrofit an existing K-12 school in a way that will increase awareness in renewable energy and foster creativity in students to brainstorm a better, more sustainable future. The students are members of MSOE’s National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) student chapter, and they are entering the Green Energy Challenge, hosted by NECA and ELECTRI International.

Work on the competition is already well underway for MSOE’s Green Energy Challenge team. They submitted their pre-proposal and are currently working on the final proposal. They are working with Deer Creek Intermediate School to provide technological upgrades that can also be used in the school’s curriculum. This is done by showcasing energy efficient lighting, updated daylighting and occupancy controls, and installation of photovoltaic system. The school, located in St. Francis, Wis., teaches fourth through eighth grade and offers a full option science system (FOSS), a research-based science curriculum, to capable ambitious students, and a robotics team with national recognition.

MSOE’s team meets with the client while receiving information and feedback from local NECA contractors in order to compile an optimal design that fits the client’s needs. If the MSOE team’s proposal is chosen as one of the nation’s three finalists, they will travel to the NECA convention in Boston in October to give an oral presentation on their project and compete for first place. Please wish our students luck as they endeavor to make it to the final presentations. This year’s team is composed of Dylan Allison, Brett Casper, Spencer Fons, Rinkinson Gohel, Casey Moneer, Luke Muller, Devon Searfoss, Brian Witkowski and Scott Zietlow, all of whom have an electrical specialty within their major. Christine Brotz, P.E. is their faculty advisor.