J. Fred and Lilly C. Wilkes Program Fund

Unrestricted research fund from Northrop Grumman for exploratory study of optomechanical thermal sensing

This project is aimed at remodeling the current Farber House at the UF Energy Park and upgrading it to a gross net zero home, to be used for energy and sustainability educational and research purposes at the University of Florida. Gross net zero status will be achieved using solar photovoltaics, solar thermal and solar hydrogen technologies, accompanies by battery, thermal and H2 storage mechanisms. The fully contained microgrid will power the home and serve as a small charging station for battery and H2 fuel cell vehicles. A real-time solar monitoring station and charging/discharging database will be developed to record and house data which will be accessible to the UF student body and general public.