Future home owners influence Solar Decathlon designs

By Steven Lincoln College of Technology Writer/Editor (Photo: The team from the University of Calgary discuss the interior of their home (TRTL), pointing out the native influences that will make the home more appealing to that population in Canada.) The team at 201 Decathlete Way – Purdue IN_Home – is ready for its National Mall close-up at the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2011. One of 19 teams, IN_Home showcased their house for media, VIPs and other teams Sept. 21. Opening ceremonies and more tours on the slate for today (Sept. 22). It is fun to see the thinking and planning that went into each house in the competition. They aren’t just houses trying to win a competition (though they certainly are doing that). They have a specific market in mind, and in a few cases, very specific markets. For example, Team New York from The City College of New York, has created a Solar Roofpad specifically designed to sit atop a skyscraper (aka the host building). They incorporate thermal energy to heat and cool the house, rain management systems and multiple-use spaces. Their audience is a definitely an urban one. The call their home the penthouse with a purpose. The team from Belgium and Ghent University created a do-it-yourself home, where no construction knowledge is necessary. The three flat packs of raw materials were assembled in three days by 30 students for the competition. No special tools are needed (I’ll be touring this house today). Team Calgary focused on the native people of Alberta who traditionally have low-quality housing. They created TRTL (Technological Residence. Traditional Living) for the First National of Treaty 7. They design is tipi-inspired and includes decorations specifically for its future native inhabitants. Others worried about hurricane resistance (New Jersey), disaster relief (University of Illinois), young families (Middlebury), low-income housing in Washington, D.C. (Parsons, The New School for Design, and Stevens Institute of Technology), and of course traditional Midwestern families (Purdue). This variety and obvious attention to details makes each of the homes even more fun to tour.