Aptos

Warmboard wins competition spot

Warmboard Radiant Subfloor has been chosen by five universities, including MIT and University of Texas, for solar-powered homes to be entered in the Department of Energy's 2007 Solar Decathlon Competition Oct. 12-20.

"We needed something quick and simple," said student engineer Sam Covey of the University of Texas.

Warmboard, based on Soquel Drive in Aptos, is contributing its patented radiant subfloor to the student teams. All 20 homes in the contest, which is sponsored every two years, will be on display this fall on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

Teams must build homes that use only energy from the sun. In 2005, Warmboard was selected by teams at the University of Colorado and the University of Texas. Both schools made it into the top 10, with the University of Colorado taking first place.