Queen's Solar Design Team

The Queen’s Solar Design Team is proud to have a rich history in innovation and design through its origins as the Queen’s Solar Vehicle Team (QSVT). The team designed and built a total of 11 solar vehicles, setting numerous records, including a Guinness World Record for the longest journey in a solar vehicle in 2000. The team also placed first at many events, including: - The Great Canadian Solar Challenge (1988) - The World Solar Challenge (2003) - The American Solar Challenge (2003) - The North American Solar Challenge (2005). Moreover, with nearly two hundred students having worked with the organization, QSVT now touts an impressive group of alumni found in some of the world's most prestigious engineering firms. After reaching the pinnacle of solar racing, our team was ready to face a new challenge - the design and construction of a sustainable, energy-efficient, and affordable home. We worked tirelessly to develop a strong concept and made remarkable progress. In 2013, working in tandem with Carleton University and Algonquin College, we made a successful bid to compete in the US Department of Energy's Solar Decathlon. This unique event allowed us to compete alongside many of the world's formost universities. Our net-zero solar home, named "ECHO," was met with much acclaim, and finished first in Engineering. We are currently constructing a fully autonomous home here at Queen's University. While we have previously made net-zero and net-positive energy homes, the QSEC will function completely off the grid using a wide array of advanced technologies. Lastly, we seek to educate the public to demand more from the next generation of homes. The QSEC will host tours continuously throughout the coming year, attracting thousands of visitors. Community members of all ages are expected to tour the QSEC and learn about sustainable living and the power of solar energy. Together, we can turn our vision of a sustainable future into a reality.