BeauSoleil: Wall Panels

Solar Decathlon Update: Every two years 20 university teams are chosen, based on proposals, to design an all-solar home and assemble it on the National Mall in Washington DC for public viewing and judging. Check back each Wednesday as the NAV Blog reports on the process of the design and construction of BeauSoleil, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette's entry. For more info about the project, visit their website. And check out a short film about the project.

A report from the field:

TEAM Beusoleil has been very busy in the last week!

The momentum is building as the TEAM positions itself to WIN the 2009 Solar Decathlon. Huge strides were made in the last week on the construction front. With the programming of the CNC router completed, students headed to St. Martinville to begin the cutting of the actual walls of the house. The complex design of the BeauSoleil tested the equipment, but the knowledgeable staff at Louisiana System Built Homes are truly professionals and had little trouble making everything go smoothly (thanks Kirt).

The panel cutting was completed Monday with panel assembly beginning Tuesday, once again the collaboration of U.L.L. students and LASBH staff proved to be successful and assembly of panels was completed Wednesday afternoon. Erection of the walls on the completed base is set to begin Thursday morning. Erection of the walls on the completed base is set to begin first thing Thursday morning.

This process allows for the collaboration of students with a third crew – the framing crew – to complete the final stage of construction to be done at LASBH. Then the BeauSoleil Louisiana Solar Home will begin its journey to Lafayette and finally to the BeauSoleil world headquarters for final assembly. The remaining panels for the roof will be cut the end of this week at LASBH with roof assembly happening in Lafayette next week.

TEAM BeauSoleil would like to thank all of the folks at LASBH for their patience and expertise. They are truly a team and a great example of how to work together.

Jeremy Credeur, TEAM BeauSoleil