Architecture

Solar Decathlon 2013: Five solar houses to watch

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The competition is due to take place this October (Image: Team Stanford)
Harvest Home is the result of a collaboration between Washington's Catholic University, George Washington University, and American University (Image: Team Capitol DC)
The house is to be constructed from unspecified reclaimed materials, and Team Capitol DC is aiming for LEED certification (Image: Team Capitol DC)
Harvest Home will follow American Disability Act (ADA) requirements for physical accessibility (Image: Team Capitol DC)
Wind and solar power will be harnessed to provide energy needs (Image: Team Capitol DC)
There's also a smart monitoring system which helps detect the onset of PTSD-related symptoms (Image: Team Capitol DC)
Harvest Home is the result of a collaboration between Washington's Catholic University, George Washington University, and American University (Image: Team Capitol DC)
The house is to be constructed from unspecified reclaimed materials, and Team Capitol DC is aiming for LEED certification (Image: Team Capitol DC)
Harvest Home will follow American Disability Act (ADA) requirements for physical accessibility (Image: Team Capitol DC)
Wind and solar power will be harnessed to provide energy needs (Image: Team Capitol DC)
Harvest Home is the result of a collaboration between Washington's Catholic University, George Washington University, and American University (Image: Team Capitol DC)
The house itself is to be constructed from unspecified reclaimed materials, and the team will be pursuing a level of LEED certification (Image: Team Capitol DC)
Harvest Home will also follow American Disability Act (ADA) requirements for physical accessibility (Image: Team Capitol DC)
Middlebury College's 2013 Solar Decathlon entry is dubbed InSite (Image: Middlebury Solar Decathlon)
InSite is envisioned as a practicable and comfortable home for a family of three (Image: Middlebury Solar Decathlon)
InSite features a mechanical chimney which houses all electrical, plumbing, and mechanical systems (Image: Middlebury Solar Decathlon)
InSite will be built using sustainable materials (Image: Middlebury Solar Decathlon)
The framework of the home is fabricated from high recycled content steel produced by a local metalworker (Image: Middlebury Solar Decathlon)
Middlebury College's 2013 Solar Decathlon entry is dubbed InSite (Image: Middlebury Solar Decathlon)
Middlebury College's 2013 Solar Decathlon entry is dubbed InSite (Image: Middlebury Solar Decathlon)
DesertSol is the work of University of Nevada, Las Vegas students (Image: Team Las Vegas)
The desert-based DesertSol aims to make full use of the scant natural resources available from the local Mojave Desert (Image: Team Las Vegas)
DesertSol is equipped with solar panels, controlled by a home automation system (Image: Team Las Vegas)
DesertSol is projected to cost US$320,000 to build (Image: Team Las Vegas)
Once the Solar decathlon competition comes to a close, DesertSol will be returned to Las Vegas and installed as a public exhibit (Image: Team Las Vegas)
DesertSol is the work of University of Nevada, Las Vegas students (Image: Team Las Vegas)
The desert-based DesertSol aims to make full use of the scant natural resources available from the local Mojave Desert (Image: Team Las Vegas)
DesertSol is projected to cost US$320,000 to build (Image: Team Las Vegas)
DesertSol is the work of University of Nevada, Las Vegas students (Image: Team Las Vegas)
The desert-based DesertSol aims to make full use of the scant natural resources available from the local Mojave Desert (Image: Team Las Vegas)
DesertSol is projected to cost US$320,000 to build (Image: Team Las Vegas)
Once the Solar decathlon competition comes to a close, DesertSol will be returned to Las Vegas and installed as a public exhibit (Image: Team Las Vegas)
The Phoenix House is designed to facilitate the reconstruction of communities after a natural disaster (Image: Team Kentuckiana)
Sustainability hasn't been skimped on, and the makers of Phoenix House hope for eventual LEED Gold certification (Image: Team Kentuckiana)
Wastewater from Phoenix House is fed into a filtration system (Image: Team Kentuckiana)
The Phoenix House is designed to facilitate the reconstruction of communities after a natural disaster (Image: Team Kentuckiana)
Sustainability hasn't been skimped on, and the makers of Phoenix House hope for eventual LEED Gold certification (Image: Team Kentuckiana)
Wastewater from Phoenix House is fed into a filtration system (Image: Team Kentuckiana)
Sustainability hasn't been skimped on, and the makers of Phoenix House hope for eventual LEED Gold certification (Image: Team Kentuckiana)
The Phoenix House is designed to facilitate the reconstruction of communities after a natural disaster (Image: Team Kentuckiana)
The Phoenix House is designed to facilitate the reconstruction of communities after a natural disaster (Image: Team Kentuckiana)
Wastewater from the house is also fed into a filtration system (Image: Team Kentuckiana)
The Start.home, by Stanford University students Team Stanford, is promoted as an affordable first home (Image: Team Stanford)
Start.home is Based around a prefabricated mechanical core, which the team likens to the engine of a car (Image: Team Stanford)
The Solar Decathlon entry is only intended as one possible iteration of the kind of home which the Start.home core could become (Image: Team Stanford)
The Start.home, by Stanford University students Team Stanford, is promoted as an affordable first home (Image: Team Stanford)
Start.home is Based around a prefabricated mechanical core, which the team likens to the engine of a car (Image: Team Stanford)
The competition is due to take place this October (Image: Team Stanford)
The Solar Decathlon entry is only intended as one possible iteration of the kind of home which the Start.home core could become (Image: Team Stanford)
The Start.home, by Stanford University students Team Stanford, is promoted as an affordable first home (Image: Team Stanford)
Start.home is Based around a prefabricated mechanical core, which the team likens to the engine of a car (Image: Team Stanford)
The Solar Decathlon entry is only intended as one possible iteration of the kind of home which the Start.home core could become (Image: Team Stanford)
The UrbanEden project, by UNC Charlotte is envisioned as a Net-Zero solar powered city home for young professionals (Image: UNC Charlotte)
The UrbanEden project, by UNC Charlotte is envisioned as a Net-Zero solar powered city home for young professionals (Image: UNC Charlotte)
The UrbanEden project, by UNC Charlotte is envisioned as a Net-Zero solar powered city home for young professionals (Image: UNC Charlotte)
Virginia's Team Tidewater's Canopy House looks promising for those looking to achieve idyllic off-grid living (Image: Team Tidewater)
Virginia's Team Tidewater's Canopy House looks promising for those looking to achieve idyllic off-grid living (Image: Team Tidewater)
Virginia's Team Tidewater's Canopy House looks promising for those looking to achieve idyllic off-grid living (Image: Team Tidewater)
Virginia's Team Tidewater's Canopy House looks promising for those looking to achieve idyllic off-grid living (Image: Team Tidewater)
Virginia's Team Tidewater's Canopy House looks promising for those looking to achieve idyllic off-grid living (Image: Team Tidewater)
Virginia's Team Tidewater's Canopy House looks promising for those looking to achieve idyllic off-grid living (Image: Team Tidewater)
We previously reported on the Net Zero DALE house by SCI-Arc and Caltech students in greater detail (Image: SCI-Arc and Caltech)
The Chameleon House, by Missouri's S&T Solar House Team, is designed as an adaptable living environment (Image: S&T Solar House Team)
The Chameleon House, by Missouri's S&T Solar House Team, is designed as an adaptable living environment (Image: S&T Solar House Team)
The Chameleon House, by Missouri's S&T Solar House Team, is designed as an adaptable living environment (Image: S&T Solar House Team)
The Chameleon House, by Missouri's S&T Solar House Team, is designed as an adaptable living environment (Image: S&T Solar House Team)
The Chameleon House, by Missouri's S&T Solar House Team, is designed as an adaptable living environment (Image: S&T Solar House Team)
The Chameleon House, by Missouri's S&T Solar House Team, is designed as an adaptable living environment (Image: S&T Solar House Team)
The Chameleon House, by Missouri's S&T Solar House Team, is designed as an adaptable living environment (Image: S&T Solar House Team)
The Chameleon House, by Missouri's S&T Solar House Team, is designed as an adaptable living environment (Image: S&T Solar House Team)
The Chameleon House, by Missouri's S&T Solar House Team, is designed as an adaptable living environment (Image: Solar House Team)
SHADE, by Arizona State University and University of New Mexico students, allows greater flexibility with the use of multiple patios and living areas (Image: Team ASUNM)
SHADE, by Arizona State University and University of New Mexico students, allows greater flexibility with the use of multiple patios and living areas (Image: Team ASUNM)
SHADE, by Arizona State University and University of New Mexico students, allows greater flexibility with the use of multiple patios and living areas (Image: Team ASUNM)
SHADE, by Arizona State University and University of New Mexico students, allows greater flexibility with the use of multiple patios and living areas (Image: Team ASUNM)
SHADE, by Arizona State University and University of New Mexico students, allows greater flexibility with the use of multiple patios and living areas (Image: Team ASUNM)
SHADE, by Arizona State University and University of New Mexico students, allows greater flexibility with the use of multiple patios and living areas (Image: Team ASUNM)
View gallery - 76 images

Since its inception back in 2002, the biennial US Department of Energy-sponsored Solar Decathlon has given collegiate teams a chance to show off their best solar powered home designs. Gizmag takes a closer look at five of this year's 20 entrants which will compete in October.

As the competition isn't due to run for another few months, some of the details could change. That said, we can still get a good feel for each project's ambitions.

Harvest Home (Team Capitol DC)

Wind and solar power will be harnessed to provide energy needs (Image: Team Capitol DC)

Harvest Home, designed with war veterans in mind, is designed to be constructed from reclaimed materials. The house features a pop-up garden space, rainwater-collection, and gray-water recycling. Wind and solar power will be harnessed to provide energy needs, and there's also a smart monitoring system which helps detect (and presumably warn against) the onset of post-traumatic stress disorder.

Harvest Home will follow American Disability Act (ADA) requirements for physical accessibility, enabling occupants, regardless of physical ability, to live comfortably in the home.

Once the Solar Decathlon competition is complete, the prototype home will be donated to a wounded US veteran, and for its laudable intentions and carefully considered sustainable tech, is probably our current favorite.

Harvest Home is the result of a collaboration between Washington's Catholic University, George Washington University, and American University. The three came together under the banner "Team Capitol DC" to produce a home aimed primarily toward serving the needs of US war veterans. Team Capitol DC will pursue a LEED certification with its design.

Team page: Team Capitol DC

InSite (Team Middlebury)

InSite features a mechanical chimney which houses all electrical, plumbing, and mechanical systems (Image: Middlebury Solar Decathlon)

Middlebury College's entry is dubbed InSite. The project focuses on promoting the benefits of local living, and is envisaged as a practicable and comfortable home for a family of three.

Team Middlebury's vision calls for a 956 sq ft (89 sq m) Net-Zero energy home, which would be accomplished with a combination of passive and active heating and cooling systems. Energy-efficient appliances, and a 26-panel solar array are also used, and a sloping green roof helps insulate the home and manage rainwater runoff. Large south facing windows maximize natural light.

InSite features a mechanical chimney which houses all electrical, plumbing, and mechanical systems. The mechanical chimney pulls cool air into the home, and releases unwanted hot air through automated dampers placed high on the walls.

The house will be built using sustainable materials, including sugar maple flooring, reclaimed barn wood, and recycled cellulose insulation. The framework of the home is fabricated from high recycled content steel produced by a local metalworker.

Team page: Team Middlebury

DesertSol (Team Las Vegas)

DesertSol is the work of University of Nevada, Las Vegas students (Image: Team Las Vegas)

DesertSol is the work of University of Nevada, Las Vegas students. The desert-based dwelling is intended to make full use of the scant natural resources available from the local Mojave Desert, and the students will eventually seek LEED Platinum certification for the design.

DesertSol sports solar panels which are controlled by a home automation system that adjusts their position to maximize sun exposure. The home also features LED lighting, a highly efficient ventilation system, and a ductless heat pump that's said to eliminate the energy losses typical in a traditional forced-air duct system. Rainwater and moisture collection will be integrated too, and the resulting liquid will be used for both evaporative cooling and irrigation.

DesertSol is projected to cost US$320,000 to build, and once the Solar Decathlon competition comes to a close, will be returned to Las Vegas and installed as a public exhibit with the intention of educating local residents about sustainable living.

Team page: Team Las Vegas

The Phoenix House (Team Kentuckiana)

Wastewater from the house is also fed into a filtration system (Image: Team Kentuckiana)

Comprising students from the University of Kentucky, University of Louisville, and Ball State University, Team Kentuckiana (Kentucky and Indiana – get it?) has produced a home designed to facilitate the reconstruction of communities after a natural disaster, such as a tornado.

As befits its remit of offering safety following a natural disaster, The Phoenix House focuses on structural integrity, and the house is to be supported on a steel chassis, with the bathroom acting as a safe-room in case of emergency.

Sustainability hasn't been skimped on either, however, and the team is aiming for eventual LEED Gold certification by utilizing the usual array of sustainable technology, which includes solar panels, LED lighting, and a highly efficient hot water heater.

Wastewater from the house is also fed into a filtration system based around layers of rock, sediment, and plants.

Team page: Team Kentuckiana

Start.home (Team Stanford)

The Solar Decathlon entry is only intended as one possible iteration of the kind of home which the Start.home core could become (Image: Team Stanford)

The Start.home, by Stanford University students Team Stanford, is promoted as an affordable first home. Based around a prefabricated mechanical core, which the team likens to the engine of a car, or a computer motherboard, this modular design is perhaps the most adaptable we've yet seen in the competition. Indeed, the Solar Decathlon entry is only intended as one possible iteration of the kind of home which the Start.home core could become.

This particular model focuses on sustainability and blurring the line between indoor and outdoor activities. Passive ventilation, natural lighting, and something referred to by the team as "a real-time eco-feedback system" all combine to keep energy use to a minimum.

While we'll hold judgement until we see a working prototype design, Start.home could well be a potential winner.

Team page: Team Stanford

Who will win?

The 2013 US Solar Decathlon will be held in Orange County Great Park, Irvine California, over two weekends: October 3 to 6 and October 10 to 13, October. We'll be sure to keep you updated with any further news regarding the competition, including its eventual winner.

There are more pictures of the five entries, and others, in the image gallery.

Source: Solar Decathlon

View gallery - 76 images
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6 comments
BigGoofyGuy
Those are really nice designs. IMO; it shows that going green does not have to be boring. I am glad I am not a judge since I would have a difficult time choosing one over another. It would be neat to see them in person.
Robert Hirsch
nice, but Earthships blow them all out of the water for using recycled materials, water catchment and using the water 4 times, thermal mass and insulation, food production inhouse, etc.... LEED needs another catgegory beyond platinum for these houses.
John Hogan
Great to see to nice, smaller dwellings. I love spacious places but as time goes on, I see them more as indulgences. I could live in any of these places, but raised or built into a hill so that underneath is usable for storage, recreation etc. For every unit area of roof, it makes sense to maximise the useful volume under it.
martinkopplow
These competitions clearly demonstrate what is possible. We could go ahead and just build this kind of home as a standard. At least I'd like to. But then, local building regulations show us what is not possible/wanted/conforming, and you end up in a shed that looks and functions like they did for the past hundred years. So excited I am about the possibilities, so frustrated am I about the authorities not learning their lessons, at least here in Germany.
jerryd
I'd be a lot more impressed if they did them to cost well under $100k. I can build, sell an off grid self contained 144sq' cabin including solar/PV powered A/C for $15k. No reason these need to be $250k or so many of them cost.
It's not like humans haven't been doing this for 200k yrs!! It's only since the 1900's that such wasteful building have come into favor. Now we act like it's a big deal. The big deal is why we waste so much.
Don Duncan
R.H.: Good point. The DesertSol project was a very poor attempt to reinvent desert passive solar. No heating or cooling system is needed with proper design. It's been done by RMI.
jerryd.: A better designed house could be built for a tenth of the cost. A good start would be adobe. Some earthen structures have existed over a thousand years. And the building material is under foot.
We waste so much out of ignorance. Ignorance comes from intellectual laziness. No public school teaches self education or even that it is necessary as a continuing lifetime practice. As this, our "greatest depression" continues, that should change. And our powerful new tool, the net will be there for those who choose to be responsible for their survival.