ENMAX SolAbode
ENMAX led the Alberta Solar Decathlon team effort as title sponsor and supported their efforts to build a solar powered home, called the SolAbode, which competed in the 2009 Solar Decathlon held in Washington, D.C. The ENMAX SolAbode earned sixth place out of 20 international university and college teams competing. Organized by the U.S. Department of Energy, this prestigious competition promotes the use of solar energy and provides a unique opportunity for participants to gain experience in building with renewable energy technologies. Staged on the Washington Mall, the event also generated significant public awareness about renewable technologies. Over 307,000 people toured the ENMAX SolAbode during the competition and the event reached millions more through widespread media coverage.
Team Alberta included students from Mount Royal University, the University of Calgary, Alberta College of Art + Design and SAIT Polytechnic, who worked together for over two years to create the ENMAX SolAbode, from initial design concept through construction and interior finishing. David Lawlor, ENMAX’s Director of Environmental Affairs at ENMAX, joined the team in Washington for the competition, and says, "The ENMAX SolAbode project aligns with ENMAX's corporate vision for the future – a future where solar and wind power, as well as other alternative energy technologies may help transform homes from being users of electricity to being generators of electricity too."