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The American Institute of Architects is a proud sponsor of the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2011 - to be held September 23 - October 2. The Solar Decathlon challenges 20 university-led teams to design, build and operate solar-powered houses that are cost-effective, energy-efficient and attractive. The 20 collegiate teams compete in the 10 contests including affordability, comfort zone, energy balance and the ability to provide hot water. The winner of the Solar Decathlon is selected for building the most affordable, attractive and easy-to-live-in home, in addition to meeting technical requirements of the other contests.

University of Maryland Wins the Solar Decathlon 2011!

PHOTOS

High Res Daily Images from the 2011 Solar Decathlon

Gallery of Houses

2009 PHOTOS














All photos by Jim Tetro, U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon

The University of Maryland took first place Saturday in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Decathlon 2011. The house, WaterShed, was inspired by the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem and proposes solutions to water and energy sortages. Highlights incude:

• A modular constructed wetland that helps filter and recycle greywater from the shower, clothes washer, and dishwasher

• A green roof that slows rainwater runoff to the landscape while improving the house’s energy efficiency

• A garden, and edible wall system, and a composting station to illustrate the potential for improved health, energy, and cost savings with a complete carbon cycle program

• A liquid desiccant waterfall, which serves as a design feature and provides humility control.

For more information, see the University of Maryland’s press release.



2011 TEAMS

Appalachian State University

Florida International University

Middlebury College

New Zealand: Victoria University of Wellington

The Ohio State University

Parsons The New School for Design and Stevens Institute of Technology

Purdue University

The Southern California Institute of Architecture and California Institute of Technology

Team Belgium: Ghent University

Team Canada: University of Calgary

Team China: Tongji University

Team Florida: The University of South Florida, Florida State University, The University of Central Florida, and The University of Florida

Team Massachusetts: Massachusetts College of Art and Design and the University of Massachusetts at Lowell

Team New Jersey: Rutgers - The State University of New Jersey and New Jersey Institute of Technology

Team New York: The City College of New York

Tidewater Virginia: Old Dominion University and Hampton University

University of Hawaii

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

University of Maryland

The University of Tennessee