Team Shunya

Our next major project is the US Decathlon in 2023. In preparation for this event, we are planning to host a TedEx event called Team Shunya, which will focus on the topic of sustainable housing. We also plan to hold an exhibition of our completed house and offer workshops for schools on topics such as solar lamps. In addition, we are in the process of arranging talks and meetings with government officials to raise awareness about environmental issues, with a focus on sustainability in areas such as energy, water (including recycling and use for gardening), and carbon footprint reduction (for example, by using alternative building materials like echo-board panels instead of cement). Our team is focused on conducting research-based work, rather than developing new technologies.

In the near future, we hope that our team's work will inspire people to adopt sustainable practices and change their opinions on sustainability. We are happy with the current size and productivity of the team, but we would like to improve communication between the subsystems. Looking ahead, we hope to focus more on the technical side of our work and continue to grow our expertise in engineering. Overall, our goal is to continue promoting sustainability and making a positive impact on the environment.

One of our current projects is improving home ventilation and air conditioning systems with the goal of making them more energy efficient. We are also working on developing humidity control technology to maintain a consistent humidity level in homes. In addition, we are exploring home automation and the use of the Internet of Things (IoT) to control electrical appliances such as lights, air conditioning, and microwaves through a smartphone app. We are also researching alternative materials for construction, such as eco-board as a replacement for cement.

For our flagship event, Sustain, we have invited IAS and IPS officers to speak. We also have the ambitious goal of hosting a Ted-X event and holding a house exhibition, as well as participating in R&D expos. We aim to bring in big names in the field of sustainable architecture and continue to grow and improve upon what we have already accomplished.

Our team members have learned various skills through our projects, including the use of specialized software for each subsystem. In the Housing Technology subsystem, team members have learned about solar energy generation and automation systems. For solar energy generation, team members have learned how to use PV SOL and PV Cist software and how to perform energy analysis. They have also learned how to store solar energy in batteries and how to feed excess energy back into the grid to achieve a net positive. In the automation system, team members have learned how to control electrical appliances within a home, including lighting and temperature, humidity, and fan control.

In the Mechanical subsystem, team members have learned how to use software such as SolidWorks and Ansys to design HVAC systems, water waste management systems, and plumbing systems. They have also learned about technologies such as liquid desiccants, which are used to control humidity in a space. This is done by passing a chemical salt dissolved in water through a system that reduces its temperature, and then spraying it through a box with holes that has air inside. The liquid desiccant absorbs the humidity and is then collected as a liquid again.

In the Civil subsystem, team members have learned about structure and construction, using software such as Revit to plan and design houses and ensure their structural stability. They have also learned about alternative building materials like eco-board.

In the Architectural subsystem, team members have learned about innovations in architecture and how to design a home to optimize for factors such as sunlight. They have also learned about software used for house planning.

In the Communications and Sponsorship subsystem, team members have learned about marketing events and how to effectively communicate with business people. They have also developed skills in content writing and how to create appealing materials for public outreach.

We welcome anyone who is interested in joining our team, regardless of their prior experience. We ask that new members have an idea of which subsystem they would like to join and be open to learning new skills. Our team provides models to sponsors as a resource for implementing sustainable practices in their own homes. Through workshops and talks, we aim to educate people about the importance of eco-sustainability and offer practical advice on how to reduce their carbon footprint. All we require from people who join our team is an interest in sustainability and a willingness to learn and contribute.