NEWARK, N.J., Aug. 3, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Further supporting its commitment to science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education, the PSEG Foundation has granted Stevens Institute of Technology $250,000 towards the completion of the University's Solar Decathlon entry, SURE HOUSE.

SURE House, Stevens Institute of Technology's submission for the U.S. Department of Energy's Solar Decathlon competition is being built by students from the University with help from a $250,000 grant from the PSEG Foundation. The structure is one solution for coastal communities who are often at risk during hurricanes and other natural events that cause storm surges. Pictured is Christine Hecker, Stevens Institute of Technology graduate student and project engineer for the SURE HOUSE project.

The SURE (SUstainable and REsilient) HOUSE is Stevens' entry into the U.S. Department of Energy's Solar Decathlon competition and represents the schools' vision of a sustainable and resilient home for the areas at greatest risk during extreme weather.  The student-built, net-zero, solar-powered home is currently being built in Hoboken, New Jersey and will soon be shipped to Irvine, California for entry into the competition.

PSEG's partnership with Stevens Institute of Technology is aligned with the company's corporate citizenship priorities which include collaborating with organizations that promote environmental stewardship and sustainability initiatives and improving learning and educational opportunities in areas of STEM. Funds from the PSEG Foundation grant are being used in part to fund the SURE HOUSE construction as well as entry into the Solar Decathlon.

"This hands-on project moves students from the classroom to part of a team working together to solve real-world problems," said Ellen Lambert, president of the PSEG Foundation. "We are proud to support the construction of the SURE HOUSE to help these students learn teamwork and skills they can carry with them into STEM careers."

"The SURE HOUSE is a prototype to demonstrate how the state-of-the-art in highly energy efficient solar-powered housing design can be embodied in an attractive dwelling engineered for both livability and sustainability. The SURE HOUSE goes further by also being designed to be resilient to the impact of extreme weather, especially those experienced in coastal communities such as in the recent Super Storm Sandy, which caused massive damage and destruction," said A.J. Elliott, a student working on the project. 

"The SURE HOUSE is protected from water incursion and can be shuttered against wind damage through the use of fiber-composite materials that have been repurposed from the boat building industry," said John Nastasi, lead faculty for the Solar Decathlon project and director of Stevens' product-architecture & engineering program. "Student engineers also have incorporated a system that can generate power in a blackout so the home can function off the grid and even provide a charging station for the neighborhood." 

After the Solar Decathlon, it is planned that the SURE HOUSE will be donated to Seaside Park, N.J. where it will serve as a public education facility addressing sustainable and resilient approaches to housing, especially in coastal communities and to the resources that support these communities.

About Stevens Institute of Technology
Stevens Institute of Technology, The Innovation University®, is a premier, private research university situated in Hoboken, N.J. overlooking the Manhattan skyline. Founded in 1870, technological innovation has been the hallmark and legacy of Stevens' education and research programs for more than 140 years. Within the university's three schools and one college, more than 6,800 undergraduate and graduate students collaborate with more than 380 faculty members in an interdisciplinary, student-centric, entrepreneurial environment to advance the frontiers of science and leverage technology to confront global challenges. Stevens is home to three national research centers of excellence, as well as joint research programs focused on critical industries such as healthcare, energy, finance, defense, maritime security, STEM education and coastal sustainability. Stevens is in the midst of a 10-year strategic plan, The Future. Ours to Create, designed to further extend the Stevens legacy to create a forward-looking and far-reaching institution with global impact.

About the PSEG Foundation
The PSEG Foundation (501c3) is the philanthropic arm of Public Service Enterprise Group (NYSE:PEG). The Foundation generally supports and invests in programs in three areas: community and the environment, education and safety. The Foundation provides grants to organizations in communities served by PSEG and its subsidiaries.

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Public Service Enterprise Group (PEG) is a publicly traded diversified energy company with annual revenues of approximately $11 billion. Its operating subsidiaries are: PSEG Power, Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G) and PSEG Long Island. For more information visit www.pseg.com.

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SOURCE Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG)

Copyright 2015 PR Newswire

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