The Latest In Solar Powered Houses

PR Log (Press Release) – Nov 05, 2009 – Chosen from around the globe, university teams constructed sustainable houses in the solar village, as an entry into this year’s U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Decathlon Competition.

The twenty teams nominated to go to the National Mall, Washington, D.C. had to compete against each other in designing, building and operating the most attractive and best solar-powered, energy-efficient house.

The public were able to see the most powerful combination of solar energy, energy efficiency and the best in home design. The houses were judged on points ranging from architecture, lighting design to comfort zone.

The competition consisted of three major phases. Designing and constructing the house, using innovative, high-tech elements in ingenious ways. The students needed to raise the funds and work with the contractors. This section is where the team is either made or broken.

Once in Washington the teams had to reassemble their solar homes in the National Mall. The homes were then opened for public viewing.

The Solar Decathlon is considered to be a learning curve for the students in green building technologies. It also increases public awareness of renewable energy and energy efficiency. Through the research and development required for the competition the Decathlon helps support energy technologies to reach the marketplace faster.

The Decathlon also causes both engineering and architecture students to form a working relationship, as they promote an integrated ‘whole building design’ to the project.
The ultimate aim is to create a zero-energy house for the home owner.

In 2007 Germany took home the prize. A feat they repeated this year. Many of the team members came from the Technische Universitat Darmstadt (architecture students). The German team was very small with only 24 members. Their two-storey cube shaped house, completely covered by solar panels, produced surplus power despite three days of rain, during the two-week contest.

Team Germany's surplus power production earned the Net Metering award, which carried the greatest weight at 150 points. Team Germany also won the Comfort Zone contest for 100 points by best maintaining a comfortable temperature and humidity in their home. Construction costs around $650,000-$850,000.

Preparation is already under way for the ten event Solar Decathlon 2011.
Dr Wendy Stenberg-Tendys and her husband are CEO's of YouMe Support Foundation (http://youmesupport.org) provide high school education grants for children who are without hope. You can help in this really great project by taking a few minutes to check it the Tropical Island Treasure Chest at Win a Resort (http://winaresort.com) It really will change your life.
Feel free to contact Wendy on admin@youmesupport.org