Drexel Smart House Wins Green Energy Award
The Drexel Smart House will be honored later today with a 2011 NOVA Award selected by the World Green Energy Symposium at an invitation-only reception at Philadelphia City Hall. The Smart House was nominated in the Educational Case Study category for its student-led, multidisciplinary approach to developing a sustainable model for urban residential living and entrepreneurial innovation.
The award is presented annually for outstanding contributions in the area of new and green energy alternatives and/or sustainable innovations in existing energy technologies. The other award recipients include the City of Philadelphia for its Greenworks program and Brazil for its sustainable strategic plan in the city of Rio de Janeiro.
“This award recognizes Drexel’s experiential learning at its best,” said Joan Weiner, faculty advisor of Drexel Smart House and professor of management at Drexel LeBow. “The Drexel Smart House provides students with a unique hands-on opportunity to innovate and develop an exciting initiative that is meaningful and crosses the entire University, including students, faculty and staff in a cooperative way. Drexel Smart House has clearly benefited from the involvement of LeBow students who are working on the administrative, finance and functional areas of the Smart House. This award is truly a great honor for Drexel Smart House and for the students who have worked so diligently on this important worldwide emerging issue.”
Founded in 2006 within the Drexel Pennoni College, the Drexel Smart House project is in the process of transforming a late 19th century Powelton Village residence into a “living laboratory” for exploring cutting-edge green design and technology. Participants conduct research and develop designs in the areas of environment, energy, interaction, health and lifestyle with the goal of improving quality of life in the urban residential setting. The project now engages students, faculty and staff from seven of Drexel’s colleges.
For further information, visit www.drexelsmarthouse.com.
