In this episode of All Things STEM, Dr. Frank A. Gomez speaks with Dr. Fred Smoller, Associate Professor of Political Science at Chapman University and President of the Orange County Sustainability Decathlon. Join us as we delve into Fred's journey and the exciting developments of the Orange County Sustainability Decathlon. They discuss the origins and evolution of the Sustainability Decathlon, a competition that promotes green, affordable, and sustainable housing solutions. The conversation highlights the educational significance of hands-on experiences in sustainable housing projects and examines strategies for sustaining and expanding such initiatives through innovative funding models and community engagement efforts.
All Things STEM Podcast
Host: Dr. Frank A. Gomez
Guest: Dr. Fred Smoller
[00:00:00]
Dr. Frank A. Gomez: Hello. I'm Dr. Frank Gomez, and this is All Things STEM. Welcome. Today, we are talking with Dr. Fred Smoller, Associate Professor of Political Science at Chapman University. He is also the President and CEO of the Orange County Sustainability Decathlon. His vision for the Decathlon focuses on promoting green, affordable, and sustainable housing solutions. Having played a pivotal role in bringing the US Solar Decathlon to Orange County in 2013, 2015, and last year's US Department of Energy Solar Decathlon, Fred is dedicated to making sustainable living a reality. Join us as we speak with Fred on his journey and recent developments of the Decathlon.
[00:00:42]
Dr. Frank A. Gomez: Fred, it's great to have you today. How are you doing?
Dr. Fred Smoller: I'm alright. Great to see you, Frank.
Dr. Frank A. Gomez: It's really a pleasure to have you on today. You do some really fascinating work aside from what you do at Chapman in your daytime job, but could you tell us a little bit about the Sustainability Decathlon, what was your inspiration for it, and how it has evolved to its current form now down here in Orange County?
Dr. Fred Smoller: It really comes down to a very short story. In 2009, I was in Washington, D.C., to deliver a conference paper. My wife called me on my flip phone and said, "Go around to the west side of the Capitol where the mall is; you've got to see this." There were these houses on the mall, and it had been drizzling. I thought it was a fantastic project, and it turned out to be the US Department of Energy Solar Decathlon, which was a competition started by Richard King in the early 2000s. I said, "This would be wonderful." As a private citizen, when I got back to Orange County, I started calling the Department of Energy, and I found Richard King. When I said, "We have to hold the Solar Decathlon here in Orange County or in California. Maybe we could have a West Coast version and East Coast version." He said, "Well, that's a great idea, but I'll call you."
[00:02:19]
Dr. Fred Smoller: About two months later, I got a phone call from the Department of Energy, and apparently, the Solar Decathlon had been thrown off the mall. The Solar Decathlon is a competition of schools from around the world in which they build solar-powered homes and put them on display in a public place for tours and awards. It was a great idea, and I loved it. Fast forward, since they had to leave Washington, D.C., they brought it to Irvine at what is known as the Great Park. They kept it in 2013 in Irvine and then 2015. Irvine was not interested in repeating it, so it went off to Colorado. Then there was an event in China, which I attended. After all of this, I said California has to have a version of the Solar Decathlon, and I came up with the idea of the Sustainability Decathlon because, in some ways, solar was becoming old hat. We knew all about solar, and our legislature was committed to sustainability and defeating climate change. So, I developed a proposal, shopped it around to every single assemblyman and state senator in Orange County with my laptop and screen. Lo and behold, I found one, Senator Dave Min, who made the original Decathlon possible by creating a budget ask for $5 million. By 2023, we were up and going.
Dr. Frank A. Gomez: Fantastic, Fred. I'm happy to say that Dave actually represents where I live down here in Tustin. It's wonderful that he was able to find those funds. Now, from what I know, each campus receives an initial amount of seed funding to build homes, but these homes actually cost many more dollars than that. So how do the campuses make up that difference? Is it through donations and sponsorships?
Dr. Fred Smoller: Well, that was one of the shortcomings of the Decathlon. The money originally proposed starting in 2002 was $100,000, and by 2023, it no longer covered the cost of building and transporting the house. So, campuses were forced to be creative and find donors from the private sector. Many corporations simply gave the windows, doors, and equipment for free. Others were able to secure sponsorships. Schools had their own funds, sometimes local governments got involved, but it was a tough go. The winning house spent about $900,000, which is a significant shortfall. In our new proposal, we are asking the state to provide each school with $350,000, which comes closer to what it will cost, and we will reduce the size of the house to make it possible for more schools to participate.
[00:06:13]
Dr. Frank A. Gomez: $900,000 is certainly a lot for any school to come up with. When I went to the event last year, I was just amazed at the beauty and sheer brilliance of what some of these homes actually look like. As I was telling a lot of people, I could probably live in these homes when I retire. Maybe you could too, Fred?
Dr. Fred Smoller: Yeah, even now.
Dr. Frank A. Gomez: Even now. So, tell me a little bit about the contest and how they are judged. Certainly, the architecture is beautiful on the inside, but as soon as the engineering and sustainability, tell me a little bit more about that.
Dr. Fred Smoller: The Sustainability Decathlon stems from two simple truths: climate change is real, and the university community must be engaged if we're going to defeat it. There are ten contests. Half of them are juried by subject matter experts—engineers, architects, and marketing people. The others are measured in water usage, energy, solar energy creation, insulation, etc. We had three experts for each jury, and they would score each home on a 10-point scale. The school that scored the highest out of 100 points was declared the winner. They didn’t get much, just a little trophy, but that’s how it proceeded.
[00:09:48]
Dr. Frank A. Gomez: It's not about winning or losing. It's about the educational benefits that are accrued. Could you talk more about what you saw being there every day and seeing the students' experience?
Dr. Fred Smoller: Well, both of us are academics. I've been teaching for 40 years at Chapman and before that. When COVID hit, we went online for everything. The Sustainability Decathlon was a real shot in the arm because you can't build a house online. There’s a lot of physical labor involved, and students get to see the results of their labor and choices. Many of them rose to the occasion and overcame enormous inertia. They learned a great deal about climate change, building codes, and working together to solve big problems. The experience is invaluable.
[00:12:14]
Dr. Frank A. Gomez: Definitely, Fred. What I saw during the event was just how diverse and inclusive it was. Tell us more about how their participation impacted them and the product.
Dr. Fred Smoller: One great thing about this Decathlon is its inclusivity. Women, traditionally underrepresented in STEM fields, played a tremendous role. At Chapman, three-quarters of the team were women. UCI’s team was led by women. We also reached out to schools traditionally not involved in the US Department of Energy Solar Decathlon, like Rancho Cielo, a school that is 99% Hispanic. Their involvement changed the design of the homes, making them more inclusive and reflective of different cultural needs.
[00:17:12]
Dr. Frank A. Gomez: How do you envision these initiatives sparking broader discussions on sustainability and climate change within local communities?
Dr. Fred Smoller: Climate change is real, and our state has taken important initiatives. But there is also pushback. It’s important to keep the issue front and center. The Sustainability Decathlon engages students and the public. We had 5000 K-12 students go through, asking questions and learning about climate change in a hands-on way. It becomes incorporated into their lives, and they grow up accepting these technologies and methods as the norm.
[00:24:53]
Dr. Frank A. Gomez: It’s wonderful that they see students who look like them putting these homes together. How do you hope to sustain and grow the Decathlon?
Dr. Fred Smoller: I see what we did in Costa Mesa as a pilot program. I am going to Sacramento to propose a California Sustainability Decathlon, open to all 149 public colleges, private schools, and community colleges. We will seek funding from the state, private sector, utilities, and benefactors. I want this to be a regular event, appealing to the public and engaging everyone in sustainability.
[00:31:12]
Dr. Frank A. Gomez: How do you think the Decathlon has contributed locally and globally, and do you have any notable success stories?
Dr. Fred Smoller: Rancho Cielo won the Decathlon and received an award for sustainable construction. It has had an impact on the curriculum and made people aware of the school. Students learned about sustainability, worked together, and got jobs because of their experience. It’s a slow process, but we’re making progress.
[00:34:36]
Dr. Frank A. Gomez: What do you aspire for our students, and where do you see the Decathlon in 10 or 25 years?
Dr. Fred Smoller: I hope it becomes as regular as the World Series or Academy Awards. Every two years, teams build fantastic homes for display and awards. It should stimulate thinking about sustainability, expose students to new technologies, and encourage more schools to create sustainability tracks. It’s a big commitment, but I believe it will change universities, communities, and the economy.
[00:36:57]
Dr. Frank A. Gomez: What is the most important lesson you've learned in your career, and how has it influenced your work and life?
Dr. Fred Smoller: The value of personal relationships to get things done is crucial. Balancing enthusiasm and pushing the project forward without turning people off is key. Ultimately, it's people who make decisions, and education is vital to demonstrate that we can solve problems without lowering living standards.
[00:38:30]
Dr. Frank A. Gomez: Thank you, Fred. It’s been a pleasure.
Dr. Fred Smoller: Thanks, Frank.
Dr. Frank A. Gomez: And that concludes today's episode of All Things STEM. A special thank you to Dr. Fred Smoller for sharing his insights with us. Tune in again for more captivating discussions. Catch up on our podcast at calstate.edu/allthingstem or subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iTunes, or your preferred podcast platform. Until next time.