Contact: Amy Hewes
Cal Poly Engineering
805-756-6402; ahewes@calpoly.edu
Event Advisory: Cal Poly’s Annual PolyHouse Renovation
First PolyHouse to go Solar
EVENT: Cal Poly PolyHouse Renovation
WHEN:
Work-in-progress 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday-Sunday, May 20-22
Unveiling to the family 3 p.m. Sunday, May 22 (Note: New Time of unveiling)
WHERE: Shandon (Call for the address)
Each spring Cal Poly's industrial and manufacturing engineering project management class completes a home renovation service project to help a local family or individual struggling with issues related to disabilities.
This year the PolyHouse team has transformed the Shandon home of 15-year-old Jacob Slattery and his parents. Born with a severe form of spina bifida, Jacob has paralysis from mid-chest down and has been confined to a wheelchair since the age of two. The goal of the PolyHouse team is to improve the safety and comfort of Jacob's home and to encourage his future independence.
The 38 students who participated in the dramatic six-day makeover represent a wide variety of majors: industrial engineering, engineering management, mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, biomedical engineering, business and agriculture. The class spent six weeks planning the project, with actual construction spanning two weekends: May 13-15 and May 20-22.
As in the past, the outpouring of community support has been one of the hallmarks of the project. An estimated $100,000 was donated in the form of cash, building materials and related assistance.
News Update: REC Solar Donates First PolyHouse Solar System
This year’s PolyHouse will boast the annual project’s first solar system. The system installation will be part of the unveiling ceremonies at 3 p.m. Sunday. REC Solar has donated an eight-panel system to the PolyHouse project, which will allow the Slattery family to derive much of their electric needs from the rooftop-mounted array. The Shandon location is ideal for solar energy.
Kam Mofid, president of REC Solar, will be on hand for the commissioning, along other members of the executive team.
“REC Solar is moved by how this innovative student project creates a community of shared purpose to help a family in need,” said Mofid. “PolyHouse is a community-building and life-changing endeavor for all involved. It literally ‘brings home’ the message of sustainability on every level. We are honored to contribute the first solar installation to this remarkable program.”
For a complete list of local donors, and to read more about PolyHouse, visit http://www.polyhouse.org/index.html.
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