Jeld-Wen Canada Sponsors Team Ontario in U.S Department of Energy Solar Decathlon

Online, April 2, 2013 (Newswire.com) - Following their tradition of being a leader in energy efficiency and sustainable living, JELD-WEN Canada is proud to announce their donation of windows and doors to the Ontario Solar Decathlon Team. The team, currently working to complete their sustainable house for entry in to the competition, accepted and installed the JELD-WEN windows and doors in early February.

Team Ontario is a collaboration of students and faculty from Queen's University, Carleton University and Algonquin College, united by a passion to promote renewable energy and sustainable living. The team of over 100 has students from multiple disciplines to truly make for a group effort. The home, named ECHO is currently being built in Perth, Ontario, roughly halfway between Ottawa, ON and Kingston, ON.

"Right now the house is about 50-60% complete, keeping us right on schedule," says Ontario Solar Decathlon spokesperson Leia de Guzman. "Having JELD-WEN come on board to sponsor the windows and doors when we were under such a tight time crunch and having them be so accommodating was really helpful in bringing us closer to our goal of showcasing affordable, sustainable living."

"JELD-WEN Canada is heavily invested in developing high-performing, energy-efficient, sustainable solutions for all," says Senior Marketing Manager Laura Kirk. "The work that's being done by the future leaders of sustainable building in Canada over the course of this competition is something that JELD-WEN is proud to support and we wish Team Ontario the best of luck in their quest to win the Solar Decathlon."

The Ontario Solar Decathlon team will continue to work on the house throughout the summer for presentation during a 10-day showcase in early October. A recent open house was held for the media on March 1, which offered the first look at the house with the walls and roof in place.

The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon is a biennial competition held in Irvine, California. Twenty collegiate teams from around the globe will compete with the winner being the team that best blends affordability, consumer appeal, and design excellence with optimal energy production and maximum efficiency and will develop the next generation of building professionals in the process. Since its origins in 2002, the Solar Decathlon has quickly become one of the most prestigious and publicized events of its kind. This year, Canada has teams from both Ontario and Alberta. For more information on Team Ontario's progress, visit their website at www.ontariosd.ca or connect with them on Facebook.