Twenty teams from around the world are busy answering the all-important question – “How would you build your dream solar power house?” These design and technology students are participating in the 2009 Solar Decathlon in Washington, D.C.
The challenge is to research, design, build and operate the most attractive and energy-efficient solar power house, in effect the dream solar power house for the U.S. average family.
Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy, the challenge for engineering, design and building students is to construct a 700 to 800 square-foot solar power house that is completely run on solar power alone. Using the very latest developments in solar technology, the solar power house has to be suitable for Washington, D.C.’s climate and it must be “attainable for the typical home.”
To create this solar power house, teams will need to discover, obtain and utilize cutting edge solar-collection technology. The materials and devices chosen for the solar power house could be the factor that has teams win or lose the competition.
So, market viability is crucial, but experts will also judge the teams based on energy balance, architecture, communications, engineering, and other factors. As marketing is also a factor, students will want to talk to the public about the market viability for aspects such as having their solar power house go completely off-grid.
The challenge is increased by the need to design and build a solar power house that can easily be built then taken down and transported to the East Coast.
The Department of Energy awarded $100,000 grants to each of the participating universities. It would appear that many are happy to go well over budget to scoop this award. The teams’ construction plans are due to the Department of Energy by December 16 and the actual building begins in January.
We can expect to see much more than just the now traditional combination of photovoltaic panels to generate electricity and solar thermal panels to heat water. It’s likely that typical green features such as radiant heating and energy-saving appliances will be just the starting point for these keen student technologists.
Teams are already out there looking for the most highly efficient solar panels available. Suggestions include panels that are embedded in the envelope of the house and in the exterior cladding, insulating solar panels in the house.
The Solar Decathlon is designed as an event to which the public is invited to observe the powerful combination of solar energy, energy efficiency, and the best in home design. So you too can go along and view the solar power house designs at close-hand in October of 2009 after the teams have reassembled their houses on Washington DC’s National Mall.
Exact dates of the 2009 event are:
• Oct. 1—Teams arrive at the National Mall and begin assembling their houses
• Oct. 8-16—Teams take part in 10 contests
• Oct. 9-18—Houses are open for public viewing
• Oct. 19-21—Teams disassemble their houses
The Solar Decathlon brings attention to one of the biggest challenges we face – the ever-increasing need for clean, sustainable energy. This internationally recognized event is set to present powerful solutions to questions like ‘how to use energy more efficiently’ and ‘how best to capture our renewable energy sources’.
We at Go Solar Power For Homes Dot Com look forward to reporting on the event further and keenly await some big breakthroughs in solar power house design and construction.
From Sam Deane,
your solar power for homes guide,
at www dot go solar power for homes dot com.
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Info via: solardecathlon.org and finance-commerce.com Pic via: finance-commerce.com
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by Sam Deane, unless otherwise expressly stated, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.
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by Total Solar Energy, on December 11 2008 @ 9:07 am
$100k for a self sufficient home? i’d buy one. i must admit, the US is way ahead of the UK when it comes to solar power. We invest in wind power but nothing much in the way of solar really.
by Solar Power House, on March 7 2009 @ 3:46 pm
This is a fantastic effort on the part of government and Department of Energy. For years we have had similar competitions to put a man in space by private agencies ( The X-Prize), and to develop unmanned autonomous vehicles (Dept of Defence). About time, our tax dollars were put to use to encourage development of green homes too!