Governor Quinn Tours University of Illinois' Decathlon Home on Eve of Earth Day

URBANA-CHAMPAIGN – April 21, 2010. On the eve of Earth Day, Governor Pat Quinn today visited the award-winning, solar-powered Gable Home on the University of Illinois’ Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) campus. The university came in second in the U.S. Department of Energy’s 2009 Solar Decathlon thanks to the home’s modern design and innovative energy-efficient and renewable energy technologies.

“The Gable Home represents the future of energy-efficient technology and home design,” said Governor Quinn. “The students who built this home are the best and brightest in their field, and they have made Illinois proud. I look forward to seeing what the team builds next year, and I wish them the best of luck.”

A team of UIUC students and faculty constructed the Gable Home using recycled, environmentally-friendly materials. The team used reclaimed barn siding, recycled grain silo walls, energy-efficient windows and doors, bamboo, and state-of-the-art solar panels on the roof.

Last October, the students traveled to the National Mall in Washington D.C. where the home competed against other collegiate projects from around the world in the 2009 Solar Decathlon, a biennial competition. The project came in second place overall and received special recognition for the appliances, hot water and home entertainment.

The university has been selected to compete in the U.S. Department of Energy 2011 Solar Decathlon. Teams of college and university students from across the country and around the world will compete to design and build the most affordable, functional and attractive energy-efficient solar-powered house. The homes will feature energy-efficient construction and appliances.

Governor Quinn toured the Gable Home on the eve of the 40th annual celebration of Earth Day. Earlier this month, he proclaimed April 2010 “Earth Month” in Illinois. Governor Quinn serves as the chairman of the Great Lakes Commission, the Illinois River Coordinating Council and the Illinois Green Governments Coordinating Council. Governor Quinn has also signed numerous Executive Orders and statutes into law to ensure greater energy efficiency, use of renewable energy, and protection of Illinois’ land, air and water resources. For more information about Governor Quinn’s sustainability initiatives, please visit www.Green.Illinois.gov.

For more information about the Gable Home, please visit www.solardecathlon.uiuc.edu.