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'WaterShed' To Serve Public Education, Research at Montgomery Site

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - WaterShed, the international-prize-winning solar house built by University of Maryland students, faculty and professional partners, has found a buyer and a permanent site: Electric service provider Pepco is purchasing the high-tech building, and plans to locate it at one of its facilities in Montgomery County, Maryland.

The purchase secures WaterShed's future and will make its innovative technology and design available to the public for educational purposes, the parties explain. Under the arrangement, Pepco and the University will partner on its operation, monitor its performance, conduct ongoing research and work closely on designing educational materials about WaterShed.

The house will serve as a "living classroom" and a "living laboratory" to demonstrate smart, clean energy options, blending its original technological and design innovations with Pepco's own advanced technology, such as its smart thermostats and home-based electric vehicle charging stations.

After its win at the U.S. Department of Energy's Solar Decathlon last October, WaterShed was disassembled and moved from the National Mall to College Park, awaiting a final home and buyer. Ultimately, PEPCO's proposal was selected because the company shared the team's vision of using the house to educate the public about sustainable, affordable and beautiful design, University officials explain.

"In purchasing this home, Pepco is recognizing the hard work, commitment and creativity of the University of Maryland's Solar Decathlon 2011 Team," says the company's Vice President of Business Transformation Karen Lefkowitz. "Their achievement cannot be overstated."

WaterShed overcame fierce competition by 19 other collegiate teams from around the world, each challenged to design, build, and operate solar-powered houses that are cost-effective, energy-efficient, and attractive. Like all of the Decathlon entries, WaterShed runs solely on solar power, but is also constructed to harvest, recycle and reuse water. Unique design elements, such as "manufactured wetlands" that both protect and produce resources, set WaterShed apart in the competition.

"The team is thrilled with Pepco's commitment because it ensures that WaterShed will continue to have a public voice," says the project's principal investigator Amy Gardner, an associate professor of Architecture at the University Maryland. "WaterShed speaks to the viability and untapped potential of sustainable strategies and technologies. It reminds us of the task before us - stewardship of the environment in which we live. The partnership of the University with PEPCO to further develop and teach these strategies is a fitting homage to the collaborative nature of the project."

Pepco plans to open WaterShed to the public at one of its Montgomery County facilities, though a final site selection has not yet been made. The plan is to use it for conferences, educational presentations and occasional public tours. It will also serve Pepco as an energy testing facility. University researchers will continue measuring performance of its various systems to assess its long-term operation.

"This is an unusual example of technology transfer to the commercial sector, and we're delighted to collaborate with Pepco in WaterShed's second act," says University of Maryland President Wallace Loh. "Our students, faculty, and the community of mentors that made this achievement possible, developed a patent-pending innovation, along with a series of design innovations that have attracted international interest from communities dealing with water-related issues. Their ideas will continue to reverberate in our region thanks to Pepco's purchase."

Under the agreement of sale, Pepco is covering WaterShed's outstanding project costs and will pay for its transport and reassembly. The sale price was not disclosed.

The agreement also draws on the Watershed team's expertise to facilitate its transport and siting. Student team members will serve as docents once the facility opens, explaining to visitors the house's capabilities and design features.

"The WaterShed team took on a double challenge when it built a house that would run on the sun and address a significant source of Chesapeake Bay pollution, so its first-place performance on the international stage was more than a major source of pride," says Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley. "We're extremely pleased that Pepco has agreed to provide a permanent home for WaterShed, so that its educational impact and research can continue."

The Maryland team designed WaterShed to help reduce storm water runoff. The house harmonizes modern, traditional, and simple building strategies, balancing time-tested best practices and advanced technological solutions to achieve high efficiency performance in an affordable manner, the team explains. Its winning design includes several technical innovations, including a patent-pending indoor waterfall that provides humidity control in an aesthetically pleasing manner.

"We inspired ourselves and thousands of others through the Solar Decathlon, but an organization such as Pepco has the resources and power to reach millions," says Leah Davies, WaterShed student team leader. "With Pepco, WaterShed can serve as an educational backbone for future innovations in residential energy use - just as we designed it!"

The 200-member UMD Solar Decathlon Team includes students and faculty from the Maryland School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation, the A. James Clark School of Engineering, the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, the College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences, and the University Libraries. Maryland businesses and professional groups provided significant financial and mentoring support as well.

Pepco, a subsidiary of Pepco Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: POM), delivers safe, reliable and affordable electric service to more than 789,000 customers in Maryland and the District of Columbia.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Neil Tickner
University of Maryland Public Affairs
301-405-4622
ntickner@umd.edu

Maggie Haslam
Communicator
UMD School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation
202-258-8946
maggiehaslam6@gmail.com

Arthur Garcia
Social Media Representative
Pepco Holdings, Inc.
Arthur.Garcia@PepcoHoldings.com

Success Thwarted by State-Local Disconnect

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Maryland planners, developers and land-use advocates consider the state's smart growth tools too weak, frustrating their desire for development within existing urban areas, finds a new University of Maryland study based on interviews with a representative group of stakeholders.

"Just about everyone feels squeezed between a rock and a hard place - wanting development where state laws intend to promote growth, but often seeing it thwarted by both local opposition and regulatory barriers," says study co-author Gerrit Knaap, who directs the University of Maryland National Center for Smart Growth.

"All stakeholders express a great deal of frustration, and most urge a more coordinated system," he adds.

The report, Barriers to Development Inside Priority Funding Areas: Perspectives of Planners, Developers, and Advocates, is based on in-depth interviews with 47 representatives of three key stake-holder groups active in the Baltimore-Washington corridor.

The study was commissioned by NAIOP Maryland, which represents the commercial real estate industry, and the Maryland State Builders Association, which represents the state's residential builders, developers, remodelers, suppliers and contractors.

SPECIFIC FINDINGS: The researchers find that a majority of stakeholders believe it is easier to develop outside areas designated for smart growth - so-called Priority Funding Areas (PFAs). Storm water regulations, citizen opposition, and adequate public facility ordinances were the reasons most frequently cited as hindering development inside PFAs.

Earlier research by Knaap and the National Center for Smart Growth found objective indications that the state's regulatory system is "barely moving the needle on most widely accepted measures of smart growth."

The new study is one of the first systematic investigations of the perceptions of stakeholders, with knowledge based on personal experience, the researchers say.

"The findings of this report confirm what we have been saying for some time: Priority Funding Areas need to be strengthened if Maryland wants to grow smart," Knaap says. "But the unanimity of opinion is striking. The majority want more effective tools and better coordination of policies."

More than three-quarters of respondents say PFAs are only "somewhat effective" or "not effective at all."
Nearly four times as many respondents say it's more difficult to develop land inside than outside PFAs.
High rise apartments and mixed use developments are viewed as the most difficult products to develop within PFAs.
Zoning and the adequacy of infrastructure are viewed as the most influential public policy tools.
PARTICIPANTS: The planners interviewed included representatives from the twelve counties in the study area as well as the eight largest municipalities with zoning and planning authority.

The policy advocates ranged from staff of local community-based groups, to staffers at prominent statewide nonprofit agencies.

The developers interviewed were from a diverse group, including firms specializing in mixed-use urban-infill development; traditional single-family residential development, and commercial development.

While the sample size is too small to support rigorous statistical analysis, the researchers say the study is indicative of widely held perceptions.

RECOMMENDATIONS: The report lists a series of recommendations that it says are needed for state and local governments to balance economic development, population growth and improve the water quality in the Chesapeake Bay.

These include steps designed to integrate PFA targets more fully into a county's overall planning process; make sure that PFAs are drawn to accommodate non-residential development and mixed-use projects; give local governments greater flexibility in defining the PFAs, provided they adequately restrict growth in other locations; give local areas greater flexibility to reduce infrastructure and other regulatory restrictions within the PFAs; among other incentives designed to make development in PFAs more attractive to developers and local governments.

"If the system is to work more smoothly, areas designated for smart growth need to be practical and attractive for all parties, and that entails building a lot more flexibility into the system," Knaap concludes. "State and local governments need to assure there is capacity and political support to grow inside PFAs."

COMPLETE REPORT AVAILABLE ONLINE: ter.ps/7j

Located at the University of Maryland, College Park, the National Center for Smart Growth is a non-partisan center for research and leadership training on smart growth and related land use issues in Maryland, in metropolitan regions around the nation, and in Asia and Europe.

MEDIA CONTACTS

Casey Dawkins
Report Co-Author
301-405-2158
dawkins1@umd.edu

Gerrit Knaap
Report Co-Author
301-405-6083
gknaap@umd.edu

Maggie Haslam, communicator
UMD School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation
202-258-8946
maggiehaslam6@gmail.com

COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- Prince George's County residents may be getting a call from one of their "neighbors" soon -- the University of Maryland School of Public Health. The school will conduct a telephone survey in late January and February to ask Prince George's County residents about their views on health and health-care services in the county.

The public health survey will provide information that will help the county assess its current health-care system and determine how to best meet the health-care needs of its residents. A redesigned county health system may include a new regional medical center and a comprehensive outpatient care network.

"The information we glean from this survey will help shape how health care is delivered to the people of Prince George's County," said County Executive Rushern L. Baker III. "It is critically important that we get responses from as many people as possible so that the residents of this county receive the type of health-care service they want and deserve."

Residents may receive a call on their land line or cell phone from the 301-405-0000 University of Maryland exchange, and will be asked about their health and well-being, health-care behaviors and experiences, perceptions of health care available in Prince George's County, and attitudes toward county hospitals. Survey participants will also be asked for their opinions about the health-care needs of their family and of the county. Social Science Research Solutions will conduct the survey of a random sample of 1,000 county residents. The survey is completely anonymous.

"This survey will make a significant contribution to a new primary health-care delivery system for Prince George's County," said University of Maryland President Wallace Loh. "It is another demonstration of our university's land-grant mission as our School of Public Health seeks to improve the health of the people of our state, especially the residents of our home community."

The survey, which is being overseen by the School of Public Health's Maryland Center for Health Equity, is part of a larger public health impact study that the school is leading at the request of the University of Maryland Medical System Corp.; the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene; the University System of Maryland; the Office of the County Executive, Prince George's County; and Dimensions Health Corp. The study will provide input into the design of a health-care delivery system for Prince George's County that will improve health outcomes and be world-class, efficient and financially viable.

"Advancing a better state of health in Maryland depends upon promoting health and preventing disease in Prince George's County. This survey gives us real data with which to plan an integrated health system that can help prevent diseases and provide first class treatment to our county residents." said Dr. Stephen B. Thomas, director of the Maryland Center for Health Equity, which is dedicated to eliminating racial and ethnic health disparities in the state.

For further information on the survey, call 301-405-8859 or visit Maryland Center for Health Equity website or Prince George's County website.

Media Contacts:
Kelly Blake
Communications Director
School of Public Health
University of Maryland
301-405-9418
kellyb@umd.edu

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The University of Maryland has surpassed the $900 million mark in its Great Expectations fundraising campaign, following a surge of gifts in the first half of the academic year.

More than $56 million in gifts and pledges were secured since July 1, and the grand total for the campaign now exceeds $907 million, placing the effort ahead of schedule to reach the $1 billion goal by the end of December 2012. It is the largest fundraising drive ever undertaken by a public institution in the Washington, D.C/Baltimore region.

"There is tremendous momentum building as we approach the home stretch of this bold campaign," said university President Wallace D. Loh. "I applaud our University of Maryland College Park Foundation Board of Trustees and our campaign leadership for their dedication to achieving our goal, and I thank all of the donors - more than 118,000 to date - who have partnered with us."

The University of Maryland College Park Foundation has played an important role in the campaign, providing strategic management and oversight. "Our team of volunteers and campus leaders have brought prestige and influence to our fundraising efforts," said Alma Gildenhorn, co-chair of Great Expectations. "Dr. Loh's visionary leadership and energy in the last year have given this campaign the boost it needs in its final stages. We are grateful for his continuous inspiration and unwavering support."

Recent major gifts include a $10 million contribution from Baltimore real estate developer and philanthropist Edward St. John for the creation of a high-tech classroom building and a $1 million pledge from the family of the late Washington Post columnist Shirley Povich to create a sports journalism center at the Philip Merrill College of Journalism. Other large gifts have been made in support of Israel Studies, Physics, and science education.

"The fact that more than 118,000 individuals, companies, and foundations have contributed to Great Expectations underscores how a great university can instill pride and allegiance far and wide. Gifts have come from alumni in Bangkok and from thousands of faculty, staff, and students right here on campus," Loh observed.

The President added, "I also wish to thank my predecessor, Dan Mote, for his leadership during much of Great Expectations. I am delighted to be able to build on his great work and, together with the Board of Trustees, University Relations staff, and the deans and other campus leaders, to drive this campaign to a successful conclusion.

Campaign Snapshot
More than $300 million has been raised in support of scholarships and other programs directly benefitting students. The "Keep Me Maryland" emergency assistance fund has attracted some 2,000 donors.

A number of schools, colleges, and programs have exceeded their goals and continue to secure gifts. The A. James Clark School of Engineering ($213 million), Athletics ($139 million), and the Robert H. Smith School of Business ($103 million) have raised the most funds.

Those units that have exceeded their goals by the largest margins include Agriculture and Natural Resources (204 percent of goal), the University Libraries (175 percent), Student Affairs (117 percent), Engineering (115 percent), the School of Business (114 percent) the School of Public Policy (110 percent), the College of Arts and Humanities (110 percent), and the School of Public Health (109 percent).

Individuals, both alumni and non-alumni, have collectively contributed $416 million, or 46 percent of the campaign total. Corporations have added $250 million, charitable foundations and support organizations $215 million, and other entities $26 million.

More than 4,000 students have contributed an impressive $640,000 to the campaign.

For more information, visit giving.umd.edu.

Media Contact
Millree Williams
UMD Public Affairs
301-405-4621
millree@umd.edu

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Maryland women had a unique and activist role during the Civil War. Their perspectives take center stage thanks to a new digital exhibit from the University of Maryland Libraries.

The online exhibition focuses on the lives and experiences of ordinary women living in Maryland at the time as revealed by letters, diaries, photographs, sheet music and rare books. The material is all part of Special Collection's rare and manuscript holdings related to the state and the Civil War.

"We have never looked at our Civil War collections through the lens of women's history before," says exhibition curator Elizabeth Novara. "And the war's sesquicentennial provided a wonderful opportunity to do so."

Women in Maryland managed farms and headed households with their husbands, fathers, and brothers gone, Novara says. "Women were activists. They organized fairs to raise money to support the troops and buy medical supplies," she says. "They also published political tracts and opinions."

One view of the war comes from the wife of a Union officer stationed in Annapolis. "The secession feeling prevails here," wrote Tillie Sterling in a letter to her mother in 1863. "I hear the secessionists are very bitter in their feelings&Still I hear that the women of Annapolis (although so bitter) have never acted in the unladylike manner and outrageous manner that the women of Baltimore and the other Southern cities have done."

The online exhibition complements the gallery exhibition "Women on the Border: Maryland Perspectives of the Civil War," currently on display at the university's Hornbake Library. In conjunction with the exhibitions, a scholarly symposium will be held on Friday, April 27, 2012 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in Hornbake Library.

Thavolia Glymph, associate professor of history and African American studies at Duke University, will present the keynote address for the symposium. Both the exhibitions and the symposium are free and open to the public.

"Women on the Border: Maryland Perspectives of the Civil War" is on display in the Maryland Room Gallery of the R. Lee Hornbake Library on the University of Maryland, College Park, campus through July 13, 2012. Free and open to the public during the Maryland Room's open hours (Monday - Friday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Wednesday 10 a.m. - 8pm, Sunday 1 p.m. - 6 p.m.). A companion exhibition, "A College Divided: Maryland Agricultural College and the Civil War" is on display in the Audrey Armistead Ruckert Reception Foyer.

The University of Maryland Libraries comprise the largest academic library system in the Washington D.C.-Baltimore area. The eight-library system supports the teaching, learning and research needs of University of Maryland students and faculty.

For more information about the symposium and the "Women on the Border" exhibitions, please contact Elizabeth Novara at enovara@umd.edu or 301-314-2712.