We’re going to throw it all the way back to September 2019, when the CECA team attended the NECA Convention in Las Vegas. The U of T CECA team was the top finalist, along with the teams from Iowa State University and Illinois Institute of Technology, in the ELECTRI International/NECA Green Energy Challenge and we presented our final proposal at the conference in front of a panel of judges, industry professionals, and other students from across the United States.
What we presented
Our proposal for reducing energy usage and implementing retrofits for Armour Heights Presbyterian Church in Toronto placed first in the first round of the Green Energy Challenge, so we were invited to Las Vegas to present our findings at the NECA Convention. Our proposal included retrofits to building energy performance such as the boiler and the walls/windows, lighting such as LED replacements, and implementing solar panels to achieve the goal of Net Zero! We had the amazing opportunity to volunteer with the children’s programs, play lots of fun and educational games, and teach them about recycling and saving energy.
How we prepared
As soon as we heard we made it to the final round, we immediately started preparing our presentation. We had regular meetings throughout the summer to prepare the presentation, practice, and plan. We wanted the presentation to be interesting, professional, attention grabbing, and not contain too much text or technical information. We did a practice presentation for our faculty advisor and her team of graduate students in order to receive constructive feedback and be well-prepared. Then we were off!
We arrived in Vegas on Friday September 13 and immediately had a student dinner and social where we met all the other students attending the conference, including Iowa State and Illinois. We enjoyed some food, learned to play golf, and had a blast. It was a nice break and a chance to forget the stress of the presentation, which was on Saturday. The team was very excited but also nervous to present in front of the judges and a packed house at one of the presentation rooms at Mandalay Bay Resort, but we were ready, well practiced, and we presented our slideshow without a glitch!
I am so proud to say that for the first time, the CECA Student Team placed 2nd in Electri Green Energy Challenge 2019!
The people we met and things we learned
Being the only Canadian team, we got to talk to so many people and share our experiences. The first night we arrived, we bonded with other students and spent time with them for the rest of the trip! We attended the opening ceremonies of the convention held at Mandalay Bay, which was epic! There was a stage set up in the middle of the pool and people mingling and connecting. We also got to attend some of the sessions, such as one about smart cities and another about women and diversity in the workforce, which was absolutely inspiring. At another session, our team got the chance to talk about how we joined CECA, what our experience had been, and the challenges we faced in terms of diversity and gender in the construction field. The convention ended with an absolutely incredible performance by Cirque du Soleil and their tribute to Michael Jackson show.
Our appreciation
All in all, the NECA Convention and Green Energy Challenge was an unforgettable experience. The CECA team appreciates all the support we received from our faculty advisor, sponsors, everyone we met, and the professional connections we made. We look forward to this year’s competition and hopefully we make it to the finals, fingers crossed!