BOONE—Lowe’s Companies Inc. and the Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation have contributed $350,000 to Appalachian State University’s Solar Decathlon 2011 Project. Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation’s gift, a grant of $250,000, will be used to help construct the Solar Homestead. The grant was recently announced during a “board cutting” at the project headquarters on East King Street in Boone.

Appalachian State University is one of 20 institutions chosen from around the globe to compete in the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2011. The competition will be held on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. in September 2011. Appalachian is the only university from North Carolina selected to compete in the 2011 Solar Decathlon.

“For Lowe’s, education is the cornerstone to building bright futures and stronger communities,” said Larry D. Stone, chairman of Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation and president and chief operating officer of Lowe’s Companies. “The leadership demonstrated by the Appalachian team to educate its peers, lead the state and share with the world its solutions for sustainable living is truly commendable. Like the Solar Homestead team, Lowe’s is committed to helping today’s homeowners and future generations make their homes more energy efficient and sustainable.”

Since its inception in 1957, Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation has helped communities nationwide through employee volunteerism and financial contributions. Lowe’s and the Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation together contributed more than $30 million to support community and education projects in the United States, Canada and Mexico in 2009.

Appalachian’s entry, the Solar Homestead, began a year ago when eight students from the Department of Technology began planning their entry for the competition. Soon, hundreds of students from across the university will build a 1,000-square foot, two-bedroom, one-bath house with detached guest quarters. Appalachian’s entry will have solar thermal and solar photovoltaic collectors as part of its zero-energy design. Dr. Jamie Russell and Professor Chad Everhart are the lead faculty advisers for the Solar Homestead project.

The team’s Solar Homestead design was inspired by cabins and outbuildings used by settlers in the Appalachian Mountains. Once constructed, the Solar Homestead will be disassembled and trucked to Washington, D.C. for the competition.

“Appalachian’s Department of Technology has been a leader in sustainable technology for more than 25 years,” said Dr. Glenda Treadaway, Dean of the College of Fine and Applied Arts. “It continues to build on that tradition of excellence with projects such as the Solar Homestead.  When our students compete, it brings attention to the high-quality education provided here and the gifted and talented students who attend Appalachian.”

Chancellor Kenneth E. Peacock said the university’s participation in the competition would not be possible without the private support of companies and individuals from across the region. “This project showcases higher education and community support at its absolute best,” Peacock said. “This illustrates what we can do in Western North Carolina when we work together.”

Peacock thanked several local leaders and businesses he called “the mighty 10” for their support of the project. In addition to Lowe’s, they are Faye and John Cooper from Mast General Store; Doug Johnson and Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation; Dwight Simmons from Mountain Lumber Company; Mrs. Jerri Heltzer for her assistance with the 3M Company; Duke Energy and CEO James E. Rogers; Vannoy Construction Company; Dale and James Greene Investments, LLC; Murray Supply Company; and the Biltmore Company.

Other project partners include 3 Rivers Building Supply, AkzoNobel, Appalachian’s Renewable Energy Initiative, ASID Carolinas, Boone Paint and Interiors, Bosch, Cheap Joe’s Art Stuff, Farmer’s Rentals, Hewlett-Packard Company, Highland Craftsmen Inc., Marvin’s Garage Doors, McKenzie Designs, Northern Tool, Queen City Appliances and Ray’s Weather Center.

ABOUT APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY

Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of northwestern North Carolina, Appalachian State University has built a national reputation for providing outstanding academics. With a student/faculty ratio of 17:1 and an average class size of 25, faculty members are able to take a personal interest in student progress, often becoming mentors, advisers, and friends – even tennis partners. That can only happen in a close-knit community. Nestled at the base of Howard’s Knob, the university is located in downtown Boone, NC (year-round pop. 15,000), a small town, which thrives as one of the Southeast’s premier tourism and outdoor recreation destinations. The nearby Blue Ridge Parkway and Pisgah National Forest provide a beautiful natural setting with unlimited possibilities for outdoor adventure. Appalachian is a public institution and part of The University of North Carolina System.

ABOUT LOWE’S

Lowe’s is a proud supporter of Habitat for Humanity International, American Red Cross, SkillsUSA/Skills Canada and the Nature Conservancy, in addition to numerous non-profit organizations and programs that help communities in North America. In 2009, Lowe’s and the Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation together contributed more than $30 million to support community and education projects in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Lowe’s also encourages volunteerism through the Lowe’s Heroes program, a company-wide employee volunteer initiative. Lowe’s is a FORTUNE® 50 company with fiscal year 2009 sales of $47.2 billion and has more than 1,725 stores in the United States, Canada and Mexico. For more information, visit Lowes.com/community.

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