By Tawny Dotson, Director of College Relations
LAKEWOOD – The significance of the grand opening of the Zero Energy House at Clover Park Technical College was not lost on the keynote speaker, Gov. Jay Inslee.
“This is a world-class accomplishment right here,” said Gov. Inslee. “This can be replicated across Washington.”
Gov. Jay Inslee greets Clover Park Technical College student Eddie Lawrence as he enters the Zero Energy House at CPTC. Lawrence is a student in the Sustainable Building Sciences Program and helped build the ZEH. (Photo By Rory Douglas).
Inslee spoke as more than 200 people waited to tour the newly completed home that produces more energy than it uses in order to ensure it is a net-zero home.
“This is a home and a college producing two of the most important things we have in Washington. This house is producing ‘negawatts,’ but more importantly this college is producing intellectual talent,” said Inslee.
The Zero Energy House at CPTC was a three-year project led by Sustainable Building Sciences Instructor Dan Smith. The home features passive heating qualities and energy production and consumption tracking to ensure zero energy consumption.
A student in Clover Park Technical College’s Environmental Sciences Program speaks with Gov. Jay Inslee at the Open House event at CPTC May 9. (Photo by Kelsey Christensen).
“I am so very proud of the students of this college,” said Smith. “They have worked more than 18,000 student hours on this structure. They have worked in rain, blazing heat and freezing cold over the past three years. Now this home can be used as a classroom.”
The ZEH Grand Opening was one of the main events taking place at CPTC May 9. More than 2,500 high school students from Pierce, King and Thurston Counties were on the campus as a part of the Career Conference.
In addition, the college held the 21st Annual MotorSports Peoples Choice Car and Bike Show. More than 160 cars and bikes were displayed while live music was playing. The CPTC MotorSports Auto Club sponsored the event.
Finally, the day featured an Aerospace Fair, an ECO Fair, and a Transfer Fair to demonstrate the many opportunities available at CPTC, in the community and beyond.
“We want to make sure that people exit high school with the idea that there are some real opportunities ahead for them, not only in the two year colleges, but also in the agencies that are participating today,” said Dr. John Walstrum. “This college has had as one of its major goals the preparation of an educated workforce and demonstrating our commitment to sustainability, environmental conservation and helping people to find careers in that area. You can see that today.”