The Green Energy Challenge and Purdue Universitys NECA

By Megan Neely
While being apart of a campus of 40,000 Purdue students, making an impact within these four years can be
difficult. Finding a way to make an effective and influential imprint on the memories left here is almost impossible. How
can students learn to make a mark, create a legacy and establish something unforgotten? This is something an organization
called, NECA, has made easy.
The Purdue University student chapter of NECA, the National Electrical Contractors Association, is an
organization for students interested in electrical construction. While many members are studying Building Construction
Management, this experience includes various competitions, job site visits, and networking with professional companies.
The opportunities give hands-on experience, as well as allowing students to obtain the knowledge necessary for their
future careers.
NECA member, Collin Seren, is a junior studying Building Construction Management. Seren, interested in a
career in electrical construction, sees this involvement as the opportunity to pursue his future. The organization seemed
like a perfect fit. By giving me real life experience with competitions and projects, I can also gain great exposure to
companies looking to hirer Purdue graduates, Seren says.
While NECA is a national organization for students on campuses all over the country, NECA also exists in the
professional world for electrical contractors. This organization works as solution-finders for the most innovative and
energy-efficient strategies in constructing projects and using technology. They are responsible for the electrical
construction industry that uses their innovations of efficiency in building systems all over the country. NECA looks to
pass down their knowledge to students, hoping to develop their skills and experiences in creating potential employees for
construction companies.
With this, ELECTRI International, the Foundation for Electrical Construction, was established by NECA.
ELECTRI International works with research and funding within this industry to provide useful, informational programs.
Educational programs like the Green Energy Challenge, GEC, is a competition provided by ELECTRI International that

Purdue University NECA is currently involved in. The members of the team include Purdue Students, Joe Seacat, Wesley
Gunning, Taran Murphy, Collin Seren, Evan Solgere, Taylor Samsil, Nick Myers, Alec Bucks and Riley Seahorn.
The annual GEC is providing students all over the country with the experience of real challenges that electrical
contractors are dealing with today. The challenge is creating a proposal of solution for more energy-efficient options in a
building on campus. According to the competition description, this challenge will focus upon the development of a backup power system and resiliency plan for an existing facility with demonstrated critical power needs. For more
information on the details of the challenge, visit http://www.electri.org/content/2015-green-energy-challenge .
For Purdue University NECA, their proposal is targeting our own Lambert Fieldhouse on campus, Purdues
official athletic facility. Their ideas consist of the common theme of LED lights, light-emitting diodes, which work as a
better energy-saving option for lighting a building. By completing an energy audit, the students in NECA were able to
determine which lighting fixtures will save money and energy, compared to what was being used in the building before.
Going through all of the classrooms, bathrooms, offices, and hallways, the 78-year-old building will obtain new lighting
in hopes of saving money and energy overtime. The gym will also get new light fixtures in the ceiling and under
bleachers, as well as fans to solve the lack of air conditioning. The roof will get a solar panel ray and the east and west
wall will get window replacements.
After a jury of contractors evaluates the proposals, the three finalists will be apart of the national NECA
convention, having the opportunity to have their work seen by electrical construction companies within the industry. The
three finalists will not only be given a financial award, but they will also have undertaken an experience that has
developed their professional, problem-solving, and creative skills in a real-world situation.
Junior Joe Seacat, president of NECA at Purdue, hopes this competition allows his members to further their
education on things that cannot be taught in the classroom. Putting together a proposal like this will prepare our members
for similar tasks they will have to perform in the real world.
While Purdue University NECA continues in their process of developing a more energy-efficient Lambert
Fieldhouse, they will come even closer to making their mark at Purdue. By being involved with NECA and the GEC,
students within the organization have found an effective and influential way to leave that imprint. And thanks to NECA,
these students have developed their skills for their futures ahead, as well as created a legacy within the organization that
will not be forgotten.
The proposals for GEC are due on April 20th, 2015, while the national convention in San Francisco, CA, will be
October 3rd-6th. The NECA chapter at Purdue University gives thanks to the sponsors who have helped with the process:
Abcom, Titan Electric, Morse Electric, Miller Electric, and Cupertuno Electric.
For more information about NECA visit, http://www.necanet.org/about-us/overview or
https://www.facebook.com/purdue.neca.1