{"id":22666,"date":"2017-11-15T15:02:09","date_gmt":"2017-11-15T20:02:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/blog\/?p=22666"},"modified":"2022-03-16T12:22:10","modified_gmt":"2022-03-16T16:22:10","slug":"umd-solar-decathlon-award-sustainable-house","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/blog\/umd-solar-decathlon-award-sustainable-house\/","title":{"rendered":"UMD Student Team Wins Solar Decathlon Award for Sustainable \u2018House as a Kit of Parts\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

A student team from the University of Maryland <\/span>placed first in the U.S. and second in the world<\/span><\/a> at the <\/span>Solar Decathlon 2017<\/span><\/a>, which is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy, for its entry of a prototype energy-efficient, solar-powered house, named resilient Adaptive Climate Technology (reACT). <\/span><\/p>\n

The decathlon is an annual, international competition <\/span>that challenges student teams from around the world to design and build full-size, solar-powered house<\/span>. Competing teams are judged on <\/span>10 contests<\/span><\/a>: architecture, market potential, engineering, communications, innovation, water, health and comfort, appliances, home life, and energy. Two of the contests — water and innovation — are new for this year\u2019s decathlon. This is also the first year that the winning teams won cash prizes.<\/span><\/p>\n

The UMD team, made up of students from various disciplines, took home $225,000 in winnings.<\/span><\/p>\n

The team\u2019s prototype house is designed as a \u201chouse as a kit of parts\u201d with five modules centered around an interior courtyard, which operates as a spacious solar collector to preheat air and water. <\/span><\/p>\n

The house also includes a paneled interior with living systems separate from its structure, allowing owners to adapt the house according to their unique and specific needs. Additionally, through systems that capture waste, water and energy, the house is able to function with complete self-sufficiency. <\/span><\/p>\n

reACT\u2019s many sustainable features include: a mechanical core to manage the flow of water, air and energy; a hydroponic garden; movable living walls; a barrel composter and composting toilet; a solar-powered washer and dryer; and rainwater and grey water collection and treatment systems. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWater balance was an essential part of our <\/span>net zero<\/span><\/i> design; therefore, from the very beginning, we challenged ourselves to go beyond the use of grey water,\u201d said Chris Cestello Hinojosa, assistant director of communications and external relations for the School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation. \u201cInstead, we created a filtration system using inputs from rain water and dual-filtration systems that would designate two streams of filtered water: one to grey water standards (for washing and irrigation) and the other to potable standards (drinking water), an achievement heretofore not achieved.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The new innovation contest also encouraged the team to focus on complete harmony with nature in its design. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIntegrated and holistic design solutions were sought in as many places as possible in order to construct a home in harmony with nature where nothing organic is wasted,\u201d said Hinojosa. <\/span>
\n<\/span>\u201cWe based our design on the philosophy of Biophilia and regeneration; that is finding a use for the \u2018waste\u2019 product of one process that can serve as a resource for another.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The team also made sure that innovation was married with market realities, as market potential was one of the contests. In this aspect, the team was inspired by the Nanticoke Indians. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNative Americans are the only identifiable cultural\/ethnic group that is clearly ecologically centered and proactive,\u201d said Hinojosa. <\/span><\/p>\n

The guiding principles behind reACT and the Nanticoke Indians are aligned, said Hinojosa. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe [reACT] home\u2019s design facilitates an ethical and culturally authentic Nanticoke life,\u201d she said. \u201cDespite its humble size, reACT enables families to create a home capable of evolving with its occupants, only using the footprint that is necessary at a given time in the life of a family. In addition, the reACT living systems\u2019 attention to optimizing resources by limiting waste is aligned with the Nanticoke\u2019s desire to reduce their negative impact on Mother Earth.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

reACT is rooted in the belief that a living space should be designed with the earth and future generations in mind, explained Hinojosa. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTeam Maryland views Mother Earth as a living, breathing being that should harmonize with the house,\u201d she said. \u201creACT attends to Mother Earth\u2019s breath (air) through our unique heating ventilation and cooling system (HVAC). We bring the Earth into the house by incorporating portable living green walls and outdoor living spaces. Our commitment to water protection is evident: each drop of water is accounted for and reused or recycled. The sun\u2019s energy is directly harvested by reACT\u2019s photovoltaic solar panels. The adaptive technologies developed through reACT are designed to improve our connection to local ecosystems. reACT recognizes that we as humans are intimately linked to all existence in an intricately designed web.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n