[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 171 (Thursday, November 19, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1656-E1657]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 STEVENS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY WINS THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY'S SOLAR 
                               DECATHLON

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. ALBIO SIRES

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 19, 2015

  Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and congratulate the 
Stevens Institute of Technology's remarkable achievement in winning the 
Department of Energy's prestigious Solar Decathlon. The competition 
challenges collegiate teams to spend almost two

[[Page E1657]]

years building and designing energy-efficient houses that run on solar 
power.
  This year, the Stevens Institute of Technology team defeated more 
than a dozen other teams with their design the SURE HOUSE. Thirty 
students from multiple disciplines competed against teams from five 
different countries over the course of ten days in ten separate 
competitions to judge the houses' performance, livability, and 
affordability. This year the teams also had to prove that their house 
could power a hybrid, non-electric vehicle.
  The SURE HOUSE is a solar powered home that is also able to withstand 
Hurricane-force winds and flooding. Inspired by the devastating effects 
of Hurricane Sandy it is meant to act as a new housing prototype for 
shore communities. The SURE HOUSE was ranked highest in several 
categories and uses almost 90 percent less energy than conventional 
homes. It can also provide emergency power to surrounding neighborhoods 
after a storm. The building will be taken back to New Jersey to act as 
an emergency management and coastal resiliency center along the Jersey 
shore.
  I am confident that Stevens Institute of Technology's outstanding 
performance will change the future of home building, particularly in 
vulnerable shore communities, and I congratulate their team on this 
impressive achievement.

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