RANTOUL, Ill. (WAND) - A student-led team at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is working to make energy-efficient housing more accessible through the Illinois Solar Decathlon’s latest project: the BEACON House in Rantoul.
The home is part of the Illinois Solar Decathlon program, which designs and builds net-zero homes alongside industry partners and community organizations. According to the team, BEACON stands for “Building Energy Efficient, Affordable, Community Oriented Neighborhoods.” The project focuses on creating affordable housing that generates as much energy as it consumes.
Students said the project began as part of the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon competition before the national competition was canceled. Instead of stopping, the team shifted its focus toward long-term community impact in central Illinois.
“So Illinois Solar Decathlon designs and builds net-zero homes,” team president Eshana Jain said. “People have this myth that net zero means that it’s expensive and it’s high-tech, but it’s really very accessible.”
The BEACON House is being developed in partnership with organizations including Habitat for Humanity, the Village of Rantoul and a general contractor. Students said the home will eventually be donated to a family.
Project manager Etienne Sirois said the experience has given students hands-on opportunities they would not normally get in the classroom.
“It’s an amazing experience to be able to contribute hands-on and throughout really the entire process,” he said. “This is a really meaningful opportunity for students to be able to work on something that directly impacts a family.”
The home includes high-efficiency systems, solar panels and sustainable construction materials designed to reduce long-term utility costs for homeowners. The house also features a modern design with a standing seam metal roof and contemporary black-and-white finishes.
“We wanted an architectural design that was also sleek and modern,” Sirois said. “Although it’s a simple color palette, it has a lot of thought and intentionality behind it.”
Students from across multiple majors at the university helped bring the project to life, including civil engineering, mechanical engineering, architecture, business, landscape architecture and urban planning.
Jain said seeing the home finally come together after years in development has been rewarding.
“To see it actually come to life and see it be tangible and concrete is just really meaningful to us,” she said. “The fact that we’re able to make such a positive impact on the community and donate it to a family is just really special to us.”
Students believe projects like BEACON could become more common as communities look for ways to lower energy costs and reduce strain on the power grid.
“I think net-zero homes are going to be the future,” Jain said. “Having homes that are energy independent is really important.”
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