Eco Factor: Self-sustaining prototype house powered by renewable solar energy.
teamhawai‘i has been selected as one of the 20 university teams to participate in the 2011 Solar Decathlon competition sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy and the National Renewable Energy Lab. With a challenge to build the best solar-powered house for the future, the university team has created designs for a house that includes advancements in composite and renewable materials, photovoltaic panels and building-integrated heating and cooling systems.
The photovoltaic array of the house will be able to generate about 10KWh electricity each day, which will be more than what the house actually needs. Moreover, the louver-type photovoltaics will also be able to reflect indirect light into the house. Energy-saving LED light fixtures will be installed to reduce overall energy demands.
Other design strategies include use of water for thermal storage, which is coupled with a water-to-air heat pump. Moreover, fiber-reinforced polymer semi-monocoque shell has been incorporated for high strength, low weight and a well-insulated thermal envelope.
Via: Solar Hawaii
