2005 Solar Decathlon Team at Competition in Washington D.C.
The United States Department of Energy and National Renewable Energy Laboratory have challenged universities around the world to design and build a fully solar-powered house. This challenge is offered in the form of the Solar Decathlon, a competition that strives to promote and demonstrate solar energy in the domestic setting. The Cornell University Solar Decathlon (CUSD) team developed a unique approach to this challenge that exceeded the expectations of the competition and strives to improve industry, academia, and the environment through the synthesis of innovative, marketable, and most importantly, sustainable living solutions.
Evident in the composition of the CUSD team, as well as the physical structure of the house, is the whole systems approach upon which the design is based. CUSD values the diversity of their team, and believe that the fusion of disciplines is key to the successful integration of all systems and ideas. The CUSD team is comprised of over 70 students that have come together from 7 different colleges within Cornell. Although CUSD is purely student-run, several experts and faculty have been consulted in the overall design.
CUSD has designed the house according to the following design objectives:
The 2005 Solar Decathlon house on the National Mall.
- To win the Solar Decathlon competition by surpassing the standards and constraints as set forth in the Solar Decathlon guidelines.
- To maximize the positive impact on humanity by encouraging sustainability in scientific, social, economic, and political contexts.
- To research, design, and construct a living system that embodies the concepts of overall system integration and optimization.
- To educate industry, academia, legislators, and students about sustainable living systems and strategies.
- To achieve financial feasibility by keeping the repeatable construction cost of the home competitive with current market values.
The team was judged in 10 distinct contests: Architecture, Dwelling, Documentation, Communications, Comfort Zone, Appliances, Hot Water, Lighting, Energy Balance, and Getting Around. The final plan includes a number of innovative and creative design and building techniques, including:
- 56 photovoltaic solar panels are installed on an operable canopy that adjusts to the angle of the sun. The operable canopy allowed the panels to adjust to the optimal angle in both Washington D.C. and Ithaca, N.Y. climate.
- A solar thermal hot water system uses evacuated tubes and a solar-electric hot water tank to efficiently provide the house with hot water.
- The use of Structurally Insulated Panels (SIPs) replaces traditional stick framing to better insulate the house.
- A zero-emissions electric car (GEM4) is powered solely by the house.
- The use of renewable and non-toxic materials is extensive; for example, all of the flooring and cabinetry is made from bamboo, a US Green Building Council approved Low-Emitting material.
- The separation of permanent and disposable building components extends the life cycle of many materials within the house.
- Extremely efficient, Energy Star rated appliances and lighting, including a convection oven and induction stove.
- Gray water re-use system- gray water is filtered through a natural filtration wall.
- Harvested rainwater is captured, filtered through the gray water wall, and stored for irrigating the landscaping.
The next competition will be held in October 2007 in Washington, D.C. The Cornell University Solar Decathlon team entered the competition for the first time in 2005, where they achieved a second place finish out of eighteen teams. For the next competition in 2007, they aim to do even better.
For more information, check out the websites in the sidebar above, or contact Jeffrey Gunther at jmg229@cornell.edu.
Related Articles:
Cornell's solar house takes second place in national competition
10/14/05 Source: Cornell News Service/Chronicle Online
Solar Competition
6/22/05 Source: Ithaca Times
