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Lyles College of Engineering

2016 SMUD Tiny House Competition 

Tiny House IconThe Fresno State Tiny House Team recently designed and constructed an eco-friendly and affordable tiny home for "The Tiny House Competition – Build Small and Win Big" put on by the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) held in the Sacramento region Oct. 10-15, 2016. The competition challenges collegiate teams to design and build net-zero, tiny solar houses.

The 190 square-foot solar-powered Fresno State tiny house incorporates the unique characteristics of California’s San Joaquin Valley through a distinct blend of rural and urban demographics of young professionals who stem from Hmong and Hispanic/Native American cultures.

By empowering students to design and build an affordable, sustainable, net-zero energy ‘tiny house’ solution for the San Joaquin Valley through discovery, diversity, and distinction we believe the team's goal is to help "build" a better future for our Valley. 

The sustainable aspects of the design ensure that the future residents of the home are comfortable while meeting the unique social, economic, and environmental implications of ‘tiny living.’ The design reuses materials from the local area for exterior siding in order to reduce the environmental impact and material costs, while ensuring the house provides an efficient envelop system that reduces the energy needs required to condition the 190 square-foot space. The home generates renewable energy from eight photovoltaic solar modules and incorporates efficient fixtures and appliances in order to achieve net-zero energy.

In summary, the Fresno State Tiny House Team presents a distinct design based upon inquiry and discovery that reflects the needs and diversity of the San Joaquin Valley. 

Tiny Living Features:

  • Net-zero Energy: Electricity needs fulfilled by solar energy  
  • Real-time energy monitoring system
  • High efficiency ductless mini split heating and cooling system
  • Low-E double glazed windows
  • Smart furniture thoughtfully designed and built by students
  • Eco-friendly lighting
  • Reclaimed redwood and pine from a barn built in the 1800's. 
  • Solar-powered hydroponics garden for rainwater harvesting and food - from garden to kitchen
  • Greywater reuse for drip irrigation

WATCH: Fresno State Tiny House Project Commercial 

Check out all the students' progress and upcoming events on Fresno States Tiny House Project Facebook page and follow their social media handles on Instagram and Twitter: @FSTinyHouse 

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Fall 2016 Tiny House Team Past Team Members
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Yupeng (Vivien) Luo Faculty Advisor: Brad Hyatt
Project Manager: Arthur Hauzer Rodrigo Alcantar
Architecture Manager: Joseph Darpli Jr. Brian Cregar
Sponsorship Manager: Thomas Dailey Gabriel Hernandez
Engineering Manager: Nicholas E. Azua Zach Kazanjian
Public Relations Contact: Manuel Muniz Tammy Lee
Treasurer: Junior Vang  Brian Llamas
Health and Safety Officer:  Cedric Ruterana Christian Ramirez
Web Manager: Justin Carroll  Jesus Ramirez
  Edgar Ruiz
  You Xiong


Thank You to the Following Contributors & Sponsors: 

Data
American Sheet Metal Ashwood Construction BMI Mechanical, Inc.
Carroll Co, Inc. Curtis & Lane Davies DFS Flooring
Fresno State Horticulture Center Griggs Systems, Inc. Hodges Electric
Larry Tillman Laura Wass L&H Airco
Life Flower Lyles Mechanical Co. Morin Corporation
Ortiz LED Solutions Pacific Door San Joaquin Glass Co. Inc.
Sherwin-Williams Sol-Tek Industries, Inc.  US Green Building Council Central California
Westech Systems, Inc.