The objective was, “to build the most energy efficient building in the country, if not the world,” stated engineering professor Phillip Krein (Krein, 2014).

“Currently the Department of energy reports only eight net-zero energy buildings in the U.S., and the largest is only 14,000 square feet,” ECE Professor Phil Krein explains. “To achieve this in a building nearly 20 times that size reflects the University’s sincere commitment to sustainable design while capturing the spirit of a department that’ always pushing the limits of technological innovation.”

In a presentation by Professor Philip Krein, a major player in getting this structure built, he addressed concerns over whether or not gathering energy off-site was a dishonest way to achieve environmental certification. He told the audience, “Somebody said to me, ‘Isn’t that cheating? All I need is an area big enough to cover with solar panels to be zero net energy,’ and the answer is ‘Go for it! Good idea.’”