The 2007 Solar Decathlon Showcases the Future and Present of Green BuildingIt Takes a Village

  • By Katy Tomasulo

Continued from page 2

Indeed, in his opening remarks DOE assistant secretary of energy efficiency and renewable energy Andy Karsner equated young people's enthusiasm for green building to similar excitement in the technology sector two decades ago.

"We're the generation to make a change," confirmed Nora Hendrickson, a senior mechanical engineering major at Santa Clara. "I think we have a lot of power."-- BUILDING PRODUCTS

Technische Universität Darmstadt. The overall winner in the 2007 Solar Decathlon, the German team focused on passive energy design and developed the house specifically for the Washington, D.C., climate. The house's outer segment of oak louvered frames outfitted with photovoltaics generates electricity while providing shading and protection. The second layer of the house is the thermal envelope; the third layer is the living space. The living area features furniture and a bed integrated into the platform while shelves incorporated into the walls define the home's zones. www.solardecathlon.de.

Penn State University. The "MorningStar Pennsylvania" house boasts an ensemble of local products, including Pennsylvania bluestone, recycled steel, and furniture made from fallen wood found on campus. An eye-catching sliding panel made of glass milk containers diffuses light and may eventually be filled with liquids that absorb heat. In addition to a fixed photovoltaic array on the roof, the house has Solar Slates on the east and west façades that power a dedicated DC/LED lighting system. A gliding movable wall allows the bedroom and living room to shift in size. solar.psu.edu.
Santa Clara University. Finishing third overall under a theme of "design with purpose," the Santa Clara "Ripple" house offers sustainable features in a space and style that are traditional and livable. The team designed industry-first bamboo I-joists, and bamboo also is used for the cabinets and flooring. Air conditioning is solar-powered thanks to an absorption chiller that uses hot water from flat-plate thermal collectors. Insulated Nana Wall telescoping doors open the house up to the outdoors. scusolar.org.

MIT. This WarmLight wall on the south-facing side of MIT's "Solar 7" house converts sunlight into heat during winter days and radiates it into the home. Other highlights from the project include Kirei sorghum cabinets, SIPs construction, a white rubber roof membrane to keep solar cells cooler, and pocket and telescoping doors that allow for a flexible interior design. mit.edu/solardecathlon.
University of Maryland. The "LEAFHouse" (Leading Everyone to an Abundant Future) was the second-place finisher and the winner of the People's Choice Award. One of the most unique features is its liquid desiccant wall, a waterfall that removes humidity with very little energy to help reduce the workload on the air conditioner. Other details include solar water heating tubes; rainwater collection, filtration, and irrigation; greywater collection and filtration; ductless mini-split air conditioning with a 16.5-SEER rating; radiant floor heating; and an energy recovery ventilator. Tags throughout the house identify how the various systems conserve energy. www.solarteam.org.

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