Solar Decathlon 2007

New York Institute of Technology: Suiting Itself Nicely

OPEN House, designed by the New York Institute of Technology for the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2007, was reassembled at the school's Old Westbury campus in Long Island, New York, for several months following the competition. It is now permanently sited at Lido Beach in Point Lookout, New York. Once renovations are complete, the house will serve as an administrative office and educational facility for the Town of Hempstead's Conservation and Waterways Department.

Under the leadership of Supervisor Kate Murray, the Town of Hempstead has made significant efforts to educate the community about renewable energy through initiatives such as a solar-and-wind-powered shellfish nursery. OPEN House officially became an integral part of the town's clean energy project in summer 2008. The house is receiving a geothermal connection and a solar carport as part of its renovation, which is scheduled to be complete in 2011.

The New York Institute of Technology team entered the Solar Decathlon hoping to build a house with influence that extended beyond its physical walls. Its OPEN House concept sought to complement shoreline properties and appeal to beachfront homeowners by seamlessly blending architecture with the natural surroundings. The association with the Town of Hempstead perfectly suits the team's original vision of OPEN House—with a view of the ocean to boot.