Zero Energy Home Built by Students
Craig Clark
Abstract:
Alfred State College has constructed homes as student laboratories since 1966. The college then sells
these homes to the public. Recent homes have been constructed to Energy Star standards. In 2009 we
started the construction of a showcase green home on the Wollsville campus that uses the latest green
technology including structural insulated panels. All such homes take two years to construct using
students from heavy equipment operation, carpentry, masonry, electrician, HVAC programs in their
laboratories. This showcase zero energy home includes 8.8 Kw of photovoltaic panels, solar thermal, a 2
ton geothermal system and a 2.1 Kw small wind turbine. We also have included a Tempcast wood
fireplace in the home, which is over 90% efficient. The home is now fully operational. The home and all
systems were installed and will be maintained by students in their programs. Instrumentation is now
being installed that will allow full monitoring and automation of all systems in the home. Monitoring and
automation will be completed by December 2011. The showcase home was recently featured on
Channel 2 in Buffalo, New York. The home is open for tours and all monitoring will also be available on
our website.
Bio:
Clark has been associated with Alfred State College since 1979, serving in a variety of teaching and
administrative capacities, including Professor and Department Chair, Civil Engineering Technology, as
well as Interim Vice President for academic affairs. Since 1996, Clark has served as Dean of the School of
Applied Technology in Wellsville, where he oversees the college’s satellite campus with an annual
budget of over $3 million, and 65 faculty and staff. He has been responsible for over $5 million in grants
including a recent $2.1 million NYSERDA Clean Energy training grant. Clark provides leadership for
academic departments that include Computerized Design and Manufacturing, Automotive Trades,
Building Trades, Electrical/Electronics Services, and Culinary Arts. Approximately 700 to 800 students are
enrolled in these five departments. Clark also works closely with the Educational Foundation that owns
the campus. Clark is a member of the American Society for Engineering Education, the American
Concrete Institute, the Association for Career and Technical Education, and SkillsUSA.