// This is just a moment to reflect on those who have kept this project on the move. During the summer, people have remarked on how much progress we have made during construction. These kudos go to everyone who has been working on the site, but especially to Sean Irwin and Dan Ruffoni, our construction managers. Everyone on our summer team has been working at 150%, 60-70 hours a week, to make this project happen. Also though, we need to thank our sponsors for believing in us during these tough times, and we hope there are more to come! Special thanks for this past week goes out to University Electric, for letting us go out to their warehouse to measure appliances while also giving a lot of help.

// Solar Panels began installation today! The house is changing rapidly! It is CRAZY! The end cap doors were finished, so we have a closed house, except for the side and front door. The z clips are on the sides of the house to put the reclaimed redwood fence posts up. It took at least a full week, if not more to plane the redwood so it is nice to finally have that mostly completed.

Tim worked on the ducting today and pressure tested the Warmboard tubes. There weren't any leeks! They are GOOD TO GO! which means flooring comes soon!
[Picture shows Rich talking on a construction phone while installing our panels]

// The San Jose Earthquakes had a "Going Green Night" at the game again DC United. We help tours before the game of Refract House. Although there wasn't a giant turnout we did have several tours! Though the numbers were small, each person was really impressed by what we were doing. It really shows me how communication is the key to EVERYTHING. Within the team and with people we are working with. The game was a blast though! Tied game, but still fun! I hope that the people we showed around learned a lot about how to apply technologies in our house to their own.

// Santa Clara is now offering a new major in Archineering: Engineering with an understanding of Architecture. I'm actually lying, but that is what a project like the Solar Decathlon teaches you: to empathize with the environment you are engineering within. This is how we understand to appropriately place lightshelfs, and place rainwater pipe so it doesn't compromise the view of Module A. To see pictures of our progress, please don't forget to visit our photobucket site.

// Check out some pictures from InterSolar 2009. We were given an inline booth with drapes and pipe. The event was 3 days, which definitely took a toll on other work that I needed to do, but we made great contacts and had a great time there, so it was worth it! We should be in some more pictures and will have some more story leads from it! I will keep you updated! =D Click here to view them.