The solar decathlon is one of the most innovative competitions in green building design. College teams vie for the award to build the most efficient solar home within prescribed parameters including cost. Two year ago, I toured several of the houses at its Washington DC location and was amazed at the teams’ out of the box innovations. Although this year’s competition was held in California and despite being east coast bound, I was still able to receive a virtual tour of winner, Team Austria via a video interview. Team spokesperson, Phillip Klebert, “walked” me around the house. Be sure to watch the video or listen to the audio podcast below.
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Features of the House
Although I could write a 1000 word essay of why I love this house, I want you to watch the interview as Klebert explains not only the green design features but the practical energy efficiency of the home. However, to wet your appetite, I will throw you some scraps of lumber:
- The house merges indoor and outdoor spaces seamlessly through the use of a glazed wall of sliding glass doors similar to NanaWalls. According to Klebert, no energy efficiency issues were noted even though windows are known for notorious heat loss. Learn why.
- The teflon curtain surrounding the house offers shade wrapped in a pleasing aesthetic design to give interest to the house structure.
- The house did not contain solar hot water panels, which seems to be the standard among solar decathlon houses in the past. Learn why. {Yes, this was shocking to me.}
- Some old technologies resurfaced in this house such as passive house construction, heat pumps, Gravity-Film Heat Exchanger, and good ventilation system which made this house so efficient.
- Great green design was used especially in the case of the recycled material to make the chairs and wall covering. {Not telling. You have to watch the interview.}
Like I said above, I could muse about this house for days but I don’t want to spoil the story.
Thoughts About the Solar Decathlon
I just want to leave you with one thought. This house is very practical and many of the thought processes to create this house were old school. There is no reason why we can’t take what we learn from the college teams at the Solar Decathlon to build better, healthier houses.
Join the Conversation
What innovative design feature did you like about the house?
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