Apr 15, 2012
Solar Homes
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Decathlon is a high-profile international competition in which 20 collegiate teams design, build and showcase solar-powered houses. Since the inaugural competition in 2002, each event has expanded the knowledge of solar living worldwide, through innovative and breathtaking designs.
Homes are designed to be a fully functional yet practical net-zero-energy home for a typical homeowner. They feature commercially available, high-efficiency systems and sustainable design, without sacrificing modern comforts and amenities. An open floor plan creates a large, comfortable and inviting space.
Only seven houses in the competition reached net-zero, which was accomplished with help from an 8.6-kilowatt SunPower photovoltaic array. The homes also featured mechanical systems that performed exceptionally well in the humid Washington, D.C., weather. The homes will be monitored to support ongoing research into the long-term performance of cost-effective net-zero-energy homes.
Written by: Tony Smith
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About The Author
Anthony Smith, PhD, is President and Founder of Secure Solar Futures. He brings over 40 years’ experience in energy efficiency, solar energy, and community economic development in Vermont, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Virginia. He founded Secure Solar Futures in 2004 as CEO and President and leads the company’s innovation development and strategic partnerships. He serves as a founding board member of the Virginia Renewable Energy Alliance (VA-REA). He served as co-director and associate professor of the Eastern Mennonite University MBA program from 2008 to 2015. He earned his Masters in Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania, and a PhD from the Wharton School of Management, University of Pennsylvania.