Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

UNLV’s latest solar masterpiece worth a look

UNLV's

Steve Marcus

A view of UNLV’s Mojave Bloom smart solar home in Henderson Tuesday, March 30, 2021. The solar panel at right is not part of the house but was used to charge battery-operated tools during construction.

A home with a tiny footprint but colossal community value will be the site of a special open house today.

UNLV’s “Mojave Bloom” home — the university’s award-winning entry into the U.S. Department of Energy’s annual Solar Decathlon competition for energy-efficient home designs — will go on display this morning near the Las Vegas Community Healing Garden.

It’s definitely worth a look, both as a source of civic pride and a glimpse into the future of environmentally responsible living in the desert.

The 628-square-foot home took the No. 3 prize in the contest, an impressive finish in a field that drew 72 teams representing 12 countries. The top two finishers were the University of Colorado and University of Waterloo (Ontario, Canada).

A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the display is scheduled for 10 a.m. at the city’s Storyteller’s Garden, located just north of the healing garden in the 1000 block of South Casino Center Boulevard.

The home will be used as a base for volunteers at the gardens, and officials from the city of Las Vegas are formulating plans for public tours. We trust that officials will be able to facilitate walk-throughs for local residents, because there’s a lot to see in this tiny home.

Its green features include an energy-efficient HVAC system that incorporates heat-absorbing liquified salt, a solar thermal tube array that replaces a traditional water heater, and a design that fills the home with soft, natural lighting.

More than 50 UNLV students took part in designing and building the home, which was conceptualized as a space that would help veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder transition back to civilian life. Its special design features include a courtyard with diffused lighting and a living green wall planted with desert vines.

The healing garden, which was created in the aftermath of the Oct. 1 shooting, is a fitting place for the home to be put on display.

We applaud everyone who took part in conceptualizing the home, bringing it to reality and showcasing it. It’s a testament to the creativity and heart of our community.