Oct 20 2009

Everyone a Winner at 2009 Solar Decathlon

Posted by: Jonathan Marshall

This year's bienniel Solar Decathlon competition, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy, produced another remarkable outpouring of home design innovation from university-led teams around the world--including Team California, which combined the talents of Santa Clara University and California College of the Arts.

Although Team Germany ("Old Europe") won for the second time in a row, leaving California in third place, nearly every team excelled in some area.

For example, the University of Illinois, with its Midwest-style Gable Home, won the appliance competition, managing to run a refrigerator, freezer, washer, dryer and dishwasher entirely from solar power. They also won for producing the most solar-heated water for their shower.

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette's BeauSoleil home won for market viability, based on cost-effective construction and solar technology.

Team Germany, with its "Cube House," won for most comfort--based on indoor temperature and relative humidity--and for generating the most excess solar power for sale back to the utility grid. It managed to produce surplus power despite three days of rain.

And Team California? I'm proud to say, as a communications professional, that they won for best PR, with a score of 69.75 points out of a possible 75. Way to go, California!

All snarking aside, Team California's Refract House also won for best architecture, based on aesthetics, functionality, use of space, integration of design and design surprises.

Well done, all.

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