[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 163 (Thursday, October 25, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2246]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      CONGRATULATING SANTA CLARA UNIVERSITY'S SOLAR DECATHLON TEAM

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                         HON. MICHAEL M. HONDA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 25, 2007

  Mr. HONDA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Santa Clara 
University's Solar Decathlon Team for placing third in the Department 
of Energy's 2007 International Solar Decathlon. I am joined by my 
colleague the Honorable Zoe Lofgren, a graduate of Santa Clara 
University, in congratulating the students, administration, and 
sponsors for their tremendous accomplishments.
  In this competition, university teams were challenged to design, 
build, and operate an energy-efficient and aesthetically-pleasing home 
powered by solar energy alone.
  Santa Clara University was selected as one of just 20 international 
competitors in the 2007 Solar Decathlon, and was the only school west 
of the Rockies chosen to compete. Even more impressive was that Santa 
Clara, a school of approximately 4,500 students, competed against 
schools like MIT, Carnegie Mellon, and Georgia Tech, making them by far 
the smallest school in the Decathlon and the only competitor without a 
school or department of architecture.
  In addition to placing third overall, they were one of five teams to 
score a perfect 100 points in the Hot Water contest and one of seven 
teams to score a perfect 100 points in the Energy Balance contest. 
Santa Clara's home boasted a variety of unique features that are both 
sustainable and energy-efficient, including the first bamboo I-beams in 
the United States and insulation made from recycled blue jeans.
  We are extremely proud of the accomplishments of the Santa Clara 
University's Solar Decathlon Team and the generous support provided by 
their industrial sponsors. Their project highlights the technology and 
innovation characteristic of Silicon Valley.
  On behalf of Representative Lofgren and myself, congratulations to 
Santa Clara University's Solar Decathlon Team for placing third in this 
international competition and for your strong representation of the 
strengths of the Silicon Valley and the State of California.

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