ARE WE SEEING THE DAWN OF A NEW KIND OF ARCHITECTURE?
WILL HOMES BE DESIGNED AND BUILT THAT BRING CLEAN, UNLIMITED ENERGY WITHIN REACH?
IT'S A DIFFERENT WAY OF THINKING, A DIFFERENT WAY OF DESIGNING, A DIFFERENT WAY OF BUILDING.
CAN THE IMMENSE POWER OF THE SUN BE TAPPED TO PROVIDE ALL THE CREATURE COMFORTS WE'VE COME TO DESIRE?
YOU CAN LIVE YOUR LIFE EXACTLY THE WAY YOU WANT TO AND DO IT ALL WITH SOLAR POWER.
♪ THE SOLAR DECATHLON, HELD IN WASHINGTON DC, IS SPONSORED BY THE US DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY.
TWENTY TEAMS OF COLLEGE STUDENTS DESIGN AND BUILD HOMES THAT MUST BE 100% POWERED BY THE SUN.
WE JOKE THAT THE REASON THEY CALL IT THE SOLAR DECATHLON IS WE HAD TO DO EVERYTHING TEN TIMES.
PART OF THE GOAL IS TO OVERCOME MISPERCEPTIONS ABOUT SOLAR DESIGN.
SOME PEOPLE THINK THAT SOLAR HOMES HAVE TO LOOK VERY MODERN OR STARK OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, BUT YOU CAN HAVE A TOTALLY TRADITIONAL LOOKING HOME THAT'S GOT SOLAR FEATURES AND SOLAR HARDWARE IN IT AND IT'S INDISTINGUISHABLE FROM CONVENTIONAL HOMES...
EXCEPT FOR THE BILL THAT THEY GET AT THE END OF THE MONTH.
I THINK EVENTS LIKE THE SOLAR DECATHLON DO HELP TO ADVANCE THE TECHNOLOGY OF SOLAR AND GREEN BUILDING AND HIGH PERFORMANCE BUILDING, JUST BECAUSE IT MAKES THE PUBLIC MORE AWARE OF WHAT'S HAPPENING OUT THERE.
I STILL THINK THERE'S THIS MISCONCEPTION THAT A GREEN BUILDING HAS TO HAVE DIRT FLOORS OR BE MADE OUT OF MUD.
THAT IS NOT THE CASE.
A GREEN BUILDING WILL LOOK LIKE ANY OTHER BUILDING THAT'S OUT THERE - IF YOU WANT IT TO.
THE TEAMS REPRESENT SPAIN, GERMANY, PUERTO RICO, CANADA, AND SIXTEEN AMERICAN UNIVERSITIES.
THE PARTICIPANTS SPEND MORE THAN A YEAR BUILDING THEIR HOMES ON CAMPUS, TESTING AND DE-BUGGING.
THE HOUSES ARE THEN TAKEN APART, TRANSPORTED, AND REASSEMBLED ON THE MALL - THE FIRST LINK IN A LONG CHAIN OF CHALLENGES.
WE HAD TO BUILD EVERYTHING TO TAKE IT APART AND SHIP IT HERE, SO YOU HAD TO THINK EVERYTHING THROUGH THREE TIMES - DOES THIS HAVE TO COME APART HERE?
CAN THIS STAY HERE? CAN THIS BE GLUED?
CAN THIS BE SCREWED?
IT JUST REALLY ADDED TO THE COMPLEXITY OF THE HOME.
EACH SCHOOL MUST FOLLOW CERTAIN GUIDELINES.
THE HOUSES CAN BE NO LARGER THAN 800 SQUARE FEET AND MUST STILL CONTAIN ALL THE ELEMENTS OF A NORMAL HOME: FUNCTIONING KITCHENS, LIVING AREAS, BATHS, LAUNDRIES, AND EVEN AN ELECTRIC CAR - ALL POWERED BY SOLAR ENERGY ALONE.
EACH TEAM HAD A VISION OF WHAT A SOLAR HOME COULD BE.
ONE OF THEIR CORE VALUES IN THE DESIGN OF THE PROJECT WAS NOT TO SACRIFICE DESIGN FOR THE TECHNOLOGIES, BUT TO INTEGRATE THEM AND MAKE THEM WORK TOGETHER SO THEY'D BECOME HARMONIOUS.
IT'S AN ATTRACTIVE AESTHETIC, IT'S SOMETHING INTERESTING AS WELL AS TECHNOLOGICALLY ADVANCED.
THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND DUBBED THEIR HOME THE "LEAF HOUSE", INSPIRED BY NATURE'S ABILITY TO USE SOLAR POWER.
WE SAW THE LEAF AS NATURE'S ULTIMATE SOLAR COLLECTOR SO WE WANTED TO MIMIC THE LEAF IN THAT WAY.
SO BOTH MIMICKING IT BUT ALSO ALLUDING TO IT IN DIFFERENT FEATURES OF THE HOUSE.
ON THE INTERIOR, THE RIDGE OF OUR ROOF IS PULLED AWAY AND THERE'S A SKYLIGHT THERE.
IT KIND OF EMULATES THE STEM OF A LEAF.
LAWRENCE TECH'S HOUSE WAS NAMED "ALOE TERRA", REFLECTING THEIR APPROACH TO CREATING HOMES THAT CAN "HEAL" THE EARTH.
WHAT WE'RE HOPING TO DO THROUGH SHOWCASING OUR DESIGN IS TO SEE OUR ARCHITECTURE AND SOME OF THE IDEAS THAT WE'VE USED TO GET PEOPLE TO ACT MORE ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE SO THAT THEIR SMALL CHANGES CAN HAVE A LARGER IMPACT.
AUSTIN CALLED THEIR DESIGN "BLOOM HOUSE" WITH AN EMPHASIS ON A DYNAMIC, BALANCED APPROACH AND A NOD TO THE PLANTS OF THE DESERT.
WE DO HAVE A GIANT AGAVE ON IT - WE FIGURED IT WAS PRETTY IMPORTANT TO HAVE PLANTS.
THEY BUILT THESE BEAUTIFUL PLANTERS FOR US AND THAT WAS ALWAYS PART OF THE DESIGN TO HAVE THEM WRAP AROUND PART OF THE HOUSE.
SO WE REALLY WANTED TO BRING SOME GREENERY - IT SEEMS TO FIT WITH THE IDEA OF CLEAN ENERGY AND SOLAR POWER.
IF YOU'RE BLOOMING, YOU'RE FEELING DELIGHT BY WHERE YOU LIVE - I THINK PLANTS ARE A BIG PART OF THAT FOR MOST PEOPLE.
MIT CALLS THEIR HOUSE "SOLAR 7" - A REFERENCE TO THE SIX OTHER SOLAR HOUSES THE SCHOOL HAS BUILT.
THE FIRST ONE WAS COMPLETED IN 1939.
AS THE CONCEPTS BEHIND THESE SOLAR STRUCTURES ARE DEVELOPED, TIME IS ALSO SPENT ON PRACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS.
HOW WILL THE HOUSES BE TRANSPORTED TO THE DECATHLON SITE?
MANY OF THE HOUSES WERE BUILT USING MODULAR CONSTRUCTION TO MAKE THE TRANSIT EASIER.
BUT THE AUSTIN TEAM HAD A DIFFERENT APPROACH.
THEIR HOUSE IS DESIGNED AS A BIG TRAILER.
IT'S TOWED TO THE DECATHLON SITE AS ONE LARGE PIECE.
OUR HOUSE TRAVELED HERE FROM TEXAS, 1500 MILES OVER LAND VIA TRUCK.
WE'VE DECIDED TO BRING A SINGLE UNIT ON A CHASSIS UP HERE AS THE EASIEST WAY TO BRING A HOUSE TO THE MALL AS OPPOSED TO DOING SOMETHING IN SECTIONS LIKE MANY OF THE OTHER TEAMS.
CONSTRUCTION STARTS AT MIDNIGHT ON THE FIRST DAY AND RUNS 24 HOURS A DAY FOR THE NEXT NINE DAYS.
SLEEP IS A LUXURY.
I GOT A LITTLE BIT OF SLEEP LAST NIGHT BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 5:30 AM AND 8:00 AM THIS MORNING.
SOLAR POWER IS A LESS THAN PERFECT TECHNOLOGY, SO THE HOUSES HAVE TO BE EXTREMELY ENERGY EFFICIENT.
CHOOSING BUILDING MATERIALS WISELY IS CRITICAL TO THE ULTIMATE SUCCESS OF THE HOME.
LAWRENCE TECH CHOSE STRUCTURAL INSULATED PANELS, OR SIPS.
THESE PANELS ARE TYPICALLY MADE BY SANDWICHING A CORE OF RIGID FOAM PLASTIC INSULATION BETWEEN TWO STRUCTURAL "SKINS" OF ORIENTED STRAND BOARD.
WE WENT WITH SIP PANELS BECAUSE THEY CREATE A MORE RIGID FRAME THAN NORMAL STICK BUILT HOMES AND WE NEEDED THIS RIGID FRAME BECAUSE WE'RE MOVING SO FAR AND WE DIDN'T WANT IT TO SHAKE AROUND TOO MUCH.
BUT ALSO IT HAS ABOUT THREE TIMES THE INSULATION VALUE OF A TYPICAL HOME.
LAWRENCE TECH ADDED EXTERIOR CLADDING, MADE FROM RECYCLED PAPER, THAT HELPED DEAL WITH A PROBLEM CREATED BY THE TIGHT SIPS CONSTRUCTION.
WE DECIDED TO GO WITH A RAIN SCREEN SYSTEM FOR OUR HOME BECAUSE STRUCTURALLY INSULATED PANELS THAT MAKE UP THE FRAMING OF OUR HOME CAN BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO MOLD AND MILDEW.
WE WANTED SOME SORT OF EXTRA DEFENSE AGAINST WATER SO WE WENT WITH SKATELITE BECAUSE IT'S A REALLY THIN AND DURABLE MATERIAL - IT'S ACTUALLY USED FOR SKATEBOARDING RAMPS.
RE-USE AND RECYCLING IS A DECATHLON THEME.
THE UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI USED SALVAGED METAL FOR THE SKIN OF THEIR BUILDING.
THE EXTERIOR OF OUR HOUSE IS MADE FROM SCRAP METAL FROM A ROOFING MANUFACTURING COMPANY.
ALL THE DIFFERENT COLORS ARE FROM DIFFERENT ROOFS THAT THEY HAD MADE AT ONE POINT OR ANOTHER.
WHILE MANY OF THE HOMES TAKE ON A FUTURISTIC LOOK, MIT LEANED TOWARD THE MORE TRADITIONAL.
MIT HAS USED A LOT OF MATERIALS THAT YOU ASSOCIATE NORMALLY WITH RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION.
SO THEY'VE USED WOOD SIDING, THEY'VE USED A PAINTED HARDIPLANK SIDING WHICH IS EXTREMELY DURABLE.
THE TEXAS HOUSE FEATURES A MORE INDUSTRIAL APPROACH BY USING A STEEL SKIN ACCENTED BY A VINYL WRAP OFTEN USED ON BUSES AND TRUCKS.
THE MATERIALS AREN'T INHERENTLY ASSOCIATED WITH RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION, THEY'RE ASSOCIATED MORE WITH COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION AND SO IT MAKES THE BUILDING VERY MODERN.
ON THE TENTH DAY, A SOLAR VILLAGE HAS ARISEN.
ALL OF THE HOUSES HAVE THEIR SOLAR PANELS FACING SOUTH TO CAPTURE THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF ENERGY.
SOUTH FACING WINDOWS ARE SHADED TO REDUCE PASSIVE HEAT GAIN WHILE WINDOWS FACING NORTH COLLECT REFLECTED, AND THUS COOLER, SUNLIGHT.
BUILDING ORIENTATION IS THE MOST IMPORTANT BECAUSE WHAT YOU WANT TO DO IS LOCATE MOST OF YOUR WINDOWS ON THE NORTH AND THE SOUTH SIDE OF YOUR BUILDING BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE DAYLIGHTING WORKS BEST.
YOU REALLY DON'T WANT AS MANY EAST/WEST WINDOWS BECAUSE THEY CONTRIBUTE TO BAD THINGS LIKE SOLAR HEAT GAIN.
DAYLIGHTING AND BUILDING ORIENTATION DEMONSTRATES THAT USE OF SOLAR IS NOT JUST ABOUT USING NEW TECHNOLOGIES.
SOME OF IT IS ABOUT GOING BACK TO IDEAS THAT HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS.
YOU GO BACK TO ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONS, THEY WERE USUALLY ORIENTED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE HEAT OF THE SUN IN THE WINTER TIME, SO THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE LOST IN THE COURSE OF PRODUCTION HOUSING IS, YOU KNOW, YOU BUILD TO A GRID AND THEN THE FRONT OF THE HOUSE FACES THE STREET IT'S ON AND THE HOUSE LOCATION'S GOT NOTHING TO DO WITH THE ORIENTATION OF THE HOUSE.
SO THAT'S A CONCEPT THAT'S FREE, DOESN'T COST A HOME BUYER ANYTHING IS ORIENTATION OF THE HOUSE.
SOME OF THE HOUSES ALSO USE SKYLIGHTS TO MAKE THE BEST USE OF DAYLIGHTING.
THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND ALSO USED A SKYLIGHT ON THE NORTH SIDE THAT GOES ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE BUILDING.
IT'S TRANSLUCENT SO IT'S AGAIN PROVIDING, ON THE NORTH SIDE, COMPLETELY REFLECTED BALANCED LIGHT THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE SPACE.
ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE BUILDING, THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND HAS INSTALLED LOUVERED DOORS, ALLOWING VENTILATION TO FLOW THROUGH THE DOORS BUT THEY STILL SHADE THE SOUTHERN GLASS.
AFTER SPEECHES AND THE RIBBON CUTTING, THE HOUSES ARE OPENED TO THE PUBLIC WHERE THEY CAN GET A GLIMPSE OF HOW THE SPACES LOOK, FEEL, AND FUNCTION.
ONE COMMON DESIGN CHALLENGE IS INTEGRATING THE PV, OR PHOTOVOLTAIC PANELS, INTO THE DESIGN IN A GRACEFUL WAY.
EACH PANEL IS MADE UP OF SEVERAL LAYERS AND IT TAKES A LOT OF PANELS LINKED TOGETHER TO POWER EVEN A SMALL HOUSE.
A PHOTOVOLTAIC PANEL WORKS BY THE INTERACTION OF THE SOLAR ENERGY, THE PHOTONS FROM THE SUN, AS THEY IMPACT THE MATERIAL IN THE PHOTO CELL.
THAT BASICALLY FREES UP ELECTRONS WHICH ARE THEN AVAILABLE FOR COLLECTION AND USED AS ELECTRICITY IN THE HOME.
BASICALLY THE PHOTO CELL PRODUCES THE ELECTRONS, THEN YOU HARVEST THEM THROUGH THE COLLECTOR SYSTEM, AND THEN YOU RUN THAT THROUGH - AFTER SOME CONDITIONING - INTO YOUR HOME FOR USE AS ELECTRICAL ENERGY.
STUDENTS NEED TO FIND JUST THE RIGHT SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR THE PV'S.
THE SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR THE PV SYSTEM IS SOMETHING THAT I WORKED ON WITH A COUPLE OF OTHER STUDENTS AND WE REALLY WORKED HARD ON MAKING IT SOMETHING THAT'S ADAPTABLE; KIND OF LIKE A SECOND SKIN TO THE BUILDING.
GERMANY USED SOLAR PANELS ON THEIR ROOF WHERE THEY COULDN'T HAVE BEEN SEEN FROM THE GROUND LEVEL AND BLENDED ADDITIONAL PANELS INTO WINDOW SHADING.
THE ENERGY CAPTURED BY THE SOLAR CELLS MUST BE STORED SO THAT THE HOMES CAN TAP INTO IT TO RUN THEIR SYSTEMS.
ONE SCHOOL CHOSE TO PUSH THE ENERGY GENERATING CAPABILITIES OF SOLAR CELLS TO THE LIMIT.
MIT MADE THE BOLD MOVE OF ADDING APPROXIMATELY ONE KILOWATT OVER OTHER SOLAR SYSTEMS THAT ARE USED ON THE MALL HERE.
AND THEIR CONCEPT IS THAT THEY'RE GENERATING MORE POWER THAN THEY'RE GOING TO USE.
SO REALLY WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS PROVIDE POWER TO THE POWER GRID.
SO WE OPTED TO MAKE THIS HOUSE NOT JUST A HOUSE, BUT A DISTRIBUTED POWER GENERATOR ABLE TO ALWAYS FEED ENERGY INTO THE GRID.
FOR CLIMATE CONTROL, ALL THE HOUSES HAVE EVACUATED TUBES WHICH ACT LIKE GIANT THERMOSES, CAPTURING 90% OF THE SUN'S RADIATION.
THESE TUBES HEAT WATER WHICH THEN WARMS THE HOMES USING UNDERFLOOR RADIANT SYSTEMS.
THERE ARE OTHER INGENIOUS APPLICATIONS ON DISPLAY.
LAWRENCE TECH USED A HIGH TECH MATERIAL ON THEIR EXTERIOR DOORS - AN ELECTROMATIC GLASS THAT RESPONDS TO A CONNECTED PV PANEL.
THERE'S A SOLAR PANEL MOUNTED ABOVE THE TWO DOORS WHERE IT'S APPLIED.
AND AS SOON AS THE SUN HITS THE SOLAR PANELS, THE GLASS TINTS.
IT TAKES ABOUT 15 MINUTES TO GET TO ABOUT A 97% TINT.
THE GLASS ALLOWS REFLECTED LIGHT TO ENTER THE SPACE ON CLOUDY DAYS BUT BLOCKS OUT DIRECT SUN AND HEAT.
MIT TOOK AN IMAGINATIVE APPROACH TO SOME OF THEIR WINDOWS - A DOUBLE PANE VERSION FILLED WITH A SUBSTANCE CALLED AEROGEL, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS FROZEN SMOKE.
IT LETS IN LIGHT WITHOUT LETTING OUT ANY HEAT.
WE'VE GOT A WINDOW IN THIS BUILDING THAT'S EVACUATED AND PACKED FULL OF AEROGEL AND SO IN THAT WINDOW WE'VE GOT A VERY GOOD RESISTANCE TO HEAT FLUX ACROSS THE SPACE.
SO IT'S A NICE TRANSLUCENT DIFFUSE GLOW THAT COMES INTO THE BEDROOM.
IT ALSO HAS AN R VALUE OF EIGHT FOR TWO PANES OF GLASS.
MIT TAPPED THE POWER OF THE SUN IN ANOTHER WAY.
MIT HAS ONE WINDOW ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THEIR BUILDING THAT IS WHAT'S CALLED A TROM WALL AND WHAT A TROM WALL IS, IS ESSENTIALLY A THERMAL MASS WALL THAT CAN ABSORB AND RETAIN AND STORE THE HEAT ENERGY FROM THE SUN.
THAT WINDOW, OR THAT WALL, ACTUALLY TAKES SUNLIGHT AND CONVERTS IT INTO HEAT THAT IS REJECTED I NTO THE SPACE WHILE NOT ALLOWING THE HEAT TO REJECT OUT OF THE SPACE.
ALL OF THESE APPROACHES DEMONSTRATE THE IMPORTANCE OF INNOVATIVE DESIGN.
A HOME THAT IS WELL DESIGNED DOESN'T REALLY HAVE ANY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ONE WITH SOLAR AND ONE WITHOUT.
USE OF MECHANICAL SYSTEMS, DUCT PLACEMENT, WHERE YOU'RE BRINGING THE THINGS INTO A COMMON CORE, A UTILITY CORE, ALLOWS YOU TO MINIMIZE THE RUNS OF DUCTS WHICH ALLOWS YOU TO MINIMIZE THE WASTE THAT YOU GET FROM THEM.
IT ALSO COSTS LESS TO INSTALL AND COSTS LESS TO MAINTAIN.
SO A WELL-DESIGNED HOME REMAINS A WELL-DESIGNED HOME REGARDLESS OF WHETHER YOU HAVE SOLAR ON THE HOUSE OR NOT.
AND WORKING WITH THE DESIGNERS YOU CAN MAXIMIZE THAT VALUE.
THE HOUSES ARE DESIGNED NOT ONLY TO GENERATE ENOUGH POWER TO RUN ALL THE SYSTEMS AND APPLIANCES, BUT ALSO CHARGE UP AN ELECTRIC CAR.
THE TEAMS SEE HOW MANY TOTAL AMOUNTS OF MILES THEY CAN RACK UP.
YOU KNOW, IT ONLY GOES 25 MILES PER HOUR, BUT PRETTY GOOD FOR THE CITY.
WE ACCIDENTALLY TOOK IT OUT ON THE FREEWAY ONE DAY - THAT WASN'T TOO GOOD.
AND PARALLEL PARKING, I MEAN, IT'S AMAZING.
YOU CAN GET THREE CARS IN WHERE ONE REGULAR CAR IS.
ALL OF THE TEAMS FEATURE A MIX OF ARCHITECTURE AND ENGINEERING STUDENTS.
TWO GROUPS WITH THEIR OWN AGENDAS.
THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE SO FAR ON THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN WORKING TOGETHER.
IN THE FIELD, AS YOU PROBABLY KNOW, ARCHITECTS AND ENGINEERS ARE AT ODDS WITH EACH OTHER CONSTANTLY.
FROM THE VERY FIRST TIME WE STARTED EVEN THINKING ABOUT WHAT THIS HOUSE WOULD LOOK LIKE AND HOW IT WOULD ACT, WE HAD ARCHITECTS AND ENGINEERS IN THE SAME ROOM DRAWING ON THE SAME PIECE OF PAPER.
SO THE ENGINEERS WOULD COME AND SAY, "THIS IS THE RIGHT WAY TO DO THINGS".
THE ARCHITECTS WOULD COME AND SAY, "THIS IS THE BEAUTIFUL WAY TO DO THINGS" AND WE JUST TRY TO MEET IN THE MIDDLE.
ARCHITECTURE STUDENTS AND ENGINEERING STUDENTS ARE NOTORIOUS FOR NOT GETTING ALONG AND WHEN WE FIRST STARTED MEETING AS A GROUP IT WAS A LITTLE BIT DIFFICULT.
YOU HAD TO ADJUST TO HOW THE ENGINEERS COMMUNICATE AND HOW THE ARCHITECTS COMMUNICATE BUT NOW IT'S BEEN TWO YEARS, WE'VE FORMED A PRETTY CLOSE BOND, WE ALL GET ALONG REALLY WELL AND WE'RE COMFORTABLE WITH EACH OTHER.
I THINK THAT'S GOING TO HELP US EVENTUALLY WHEN WE GO INTO OUR OWN CAREERS, TO KNOW WHERE THE OTHER SIDE IS COMING FROM.
THE BIGGEST THING THAT I'VE LEARNED AS AN ENGINEER IS HOW TO WORK WITH THE OTHER PROFESSIONS.
I AM AN ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEER SO WE ARE TRAINED TO WORK WITH ARCHITECTS AND UNDERSTAND THAT DESIGN LANGUAGE.
BUT WHEN YOU ACTUALLY SIT DOWN AND PUT IT INTO PRACTICE WITH ENGINEERING SYSTEMS AND YOU SAY WE WANT TO INTEGRATE THE ENGINEERING SO THERE'S ALSO A DESIGN COMPONENT, AN AESTHETIC COMPONENT, SO THAT PEOPLE SEE HOW THEIR HOUSE OPERATES.
THEY SEE SORT OF THE LIVING, BREATHING "GUTS" OF THE HOUSE, AS IT WERE, AND IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT DETRACTS FROM THE HOUSE.
WORKING TOGETHER PAID OFF WITH SOME INGENIOUS INNOVATIONS.
MARYLAND CREATED A LIQUID DESICCANT WATERFALL - AN EYE CATCHING FEATURE WHICH ALSO REDUCES HUMIDITY IN THE HOUSE, MAKING COOLING EASIER.
THIS REGION, THE CHESAPEAKE BAY WATERSHED, THE MID-ATLANTIC REGION HAS AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF HUMIDITY IN VARIOUS SEASONS OF THE YEAR.
AND THE LIQUID DESICCANT WATER FALL ESSENTIALLY - IT'S A BIG LIQUID SALT LICK.
IT'S A SALT SOLUTION - CALCIUM CHLORIDE - WHICH DRAWS MOISTURE FROM THE AIR.
AND SO IT SOUNDS COUNTER INTUITIVE THAT IT'S A WATERFALL THAT'S DRYING OUT THE AIR, BUT THAT'S IN FACT WHAT IT DOES.
A DESICCANT IS A SUBSTANCE THAT DRAWS WATER TO IT.
YOU OFTEN SEE A LITTLE TINY GEL PACK THAT SAYS "DO NOT EAT" WHEN YOU BUY SOMETHING AND WHAT THAT'S DOING IS IT'S KEEPING, INSIDE THE PACKAGING IT'S KEEPING THE HUMIDITY LEVEL DOWN BECAUSE ALL OF THE WATER THAT'S IN THE AIR IN THAT PACKAGING IS ABSORBED INTO THE DESICCANT.
SO YOU CAN USE THE SAME STRATEGY ON A LARGER SCALE INSIDE A BUILDING.
MARYLAND'S HOUSE IS BUILT WITH A FEATURE FOR MAKING USE OF WATER OUTSIDE AS WELL.
EVERY DROP OF AVAILABLE RAIN WATER IS CAPTURED AND COLLECTED.
YOU CAN SEE THAT ON THE ROOF THERE ARE GUTTERS AND DOWNSPOUTS THAT ARE COLLECTING THE WATER OFF OF THE ROOF SURFACE AND COLLECTING THEM UNDERNEATH THE PORCH IN A LARGE CISTERN.
WHAT THAT ALLOWS THEM TO DO IS THEN USE THAT RAIN WATER FOR THINGS LIKE FLUSHING TOILETS OR IRRIGATION OF A GARDEN OR OTHER THINGS THAT YOU MIGHT USE NON-POTABLE WATER FOR.
THIS NON-POTABLE WATER, OR RAIN WATER, IS USED BY MARYLAND TO IRRIGATE THEIR VERTICAL GARDEN.
ONE OF THE REASONS I LIKE THE GREEN WALL SO MUCH IS THAT IT REPRESENTS VERY CLEARLY OUR IDEAS ABOUT THE HOUSE.
IT'S NOT JUST A HOUSE THAT'S POWERED BY THE SUN, BUT OUR HOUSE HAS AS ITS MISSION THE STEWARDSHIP OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY.
IMAGINATIVE DESIGN AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY ARE TWO ASPECTS OF THE DECATHLON.
BUT THE HOMES ALSO HAVE TO FUNCTION WELL.
THE MOST VEXING CHALLENGE IS KEEPING THE HOMES AT A CONSTANT TEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY, AS THE HEAT ON THE MALL CAN GET QUITE HIGH.
WE NEED TO KEEP THAT BETWEEN 72 AND 76 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT.
WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO RUN HOT SHOWERS OF AT LEAST 110 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT.
ALSO WE USE THAT HOT WATER FOR THINGS LIKE HEATING THE FLOORS AND RAISING THE TEMPERATURE OF THE HOUSE.
STUDENTS ARE ABLE TO MONITOR EVERY HOUSE'S TEMPERATURE READINGS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY'S SENSORS AND ONLINE DATA FEED.
I CONSIDER THIS A LOT OF FUN.
IT'S VERY RARE THAT YOU GET THE CHANCE TO DEAL WITH A SYSTEM THAT HAS SO MANY INPUTS AND OUTPUTS.
I HAVE FOUR WIRELESS SENSORS, FIVE WIRED SENSORS, AS WELL AS THE DOE SENSOR, IN ADDITION TO EVERYONE JUST YELLING AT ME FROM ALL DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS THAT ONE ROOM IS TOO HOT OR WHATEVER.
AND IN ADDITION I HAVE SO MANY BUTTONS AND KNOBS TO PUSH THAT IT'S A GREAT AMOUNT OF FUN.
EVERY SINGLE WINDOW, EVERY SINGLE BIT OF THE RADIANT FLOOR IS UNDER MY COMMAND.
THE TEXAS HOUSE IS USING A LOW-TECH METHOD OF CONTROLLING INTERIOR TEMPERATURES BY USING A MOVEABLE SCRIM WALL.
ON THE EAST SIDE THEY HAVE A MOVEABLE SHADING SYSTEM SO THAT YOU CAN STILL GET AMBIENT LIGHT THROUGH BUT NO HEAT GAIN.
THE TEXAS TEAM'S APPROACH TO COMFORT ALSO INCLUDES A HOT TUB THAT USES NO ELECTRICITY.
THE DUTCH TUB IS AN INCREDIBLE THING.
IT'S FUN, IT'S FUNCTIONAL, IT'S HEATED BY EITHER COALS OR WOOD IN THE COILING SYSTEM.
IT PULLS WATER OUT IN CONVECTION UP THE SPIRALS AND BACK INTO THE TUB AND WITHIN TWO OR THREE HOURS YOU'VE GOT A HOT TUB READY TO GO.
IN THESE SMALL BUT COMPLETE HOMES, THE WISE USE OF SPACE TAKES DISCIPLINE AND CLEAR THINKING.
THE FLOOR PLAN INSIDE THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AUSTIN STRUCTURE IS A VERY OPEN FLOOR PLAN AND THAT GIVES YOU SEVERAL BENEFITS.
ONE IS IT ALLOWS YOU TO CREATE MULTI-FUNCTION SPACE.
THE OTHER LARGE BENEFIT THAT YOU GET FROM AN OPEN FLOOR PLAN IS THE ABILITY TO USE NATURAL VENTILATION ACROSS THAT WHOLE SPACE.
THEN YOU GET AIR FLOW THROUGH THERE SO YOU CUT BACK ON THE NEED FOR POWERED VENTILATION, FANS, OR OTHER KINDS OF COOLING METHODS.
WHILE THE TEXAS INTERIOR FEATURES AN OPEN FLOOR PLAN, MIT HAS A FEW DEGREES OF SEPARATION BETWEEN THEIR HOME'S PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SPACES.
LAWRENCE TECH HAD ANOTHER IDEA WHEN IT CAME TO SPACE.
THE UNIT BEHIND ME HERE, WE CALL IT MODULE #3 AND IT HOUSES BOTH OF OUR BEDROOMS.
THERE'S ANOTHER UNIT ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE HOUSE THAT'S SEPARATED BY THAT CORE SPACE.
AND THAT UNIT HAS OUR LIVING ROOM, KITCHEN, AND BATHROOM.
THE REASON WE DID THAT, WE TRIED TO LOCATE ALL THE PLUMBING AND THE MORE PUBLIC SPACES OFF TO ONE SIDE OF THE HOUSE AND THEN SOME OF THE MORE PRIVATE SPACES OFF TO THE OTHER SIDE.
ONE OF THE SPACE SAVING STRATEGIES THAT LAWRENCE TECH HAS USED IS THEY HAVE A SINGLE BATHROOM THAT SERVES AS A HALF BATH FOR A TOILET AND A SINK AS WELL AS THE WHOLE ROOM IS A SHOWER.
SO WHEN YOU CLOSE YOUR TOILET LID THERE'S A SHOWER HEAD RIGHT ABOVE, THE WHOLE THING BECOMES YOUR SHOWER STALL.
LAWRENCE ALSO USED A KIND OF COURTYARD IN THE MIDDLE OF THEIR HOME TO EXPAND THE FEELING OF SPACE.
ONE OF THE FEATURES THAT PEOPLE NOTICE IN THE HOME IS THAT THERE'S AN EXTERIOR ROOM, REALLY, IN THE CENTER OF THE HOME.
WE HAVE A COURTYARD SPACE THAT CAN BE CLOSED OFF, MAKING IT A PRIVATE COURTYARD AREA FROM THE REST OF THE DECK.
AND BASICALLY IT KIND OF TRICKS PEOPLE INTO THINKING THE HOME IS A LOT LARGER THAN IT IS.
THE ROOFS ARE AN ADDITIONAL ASPECT INTO WHICH THE STUDENTS PUT QUITE A BIT OF THOUGHT AND PLANNING.
AND IT'S AN AREA THAT CAN HAVE REAL WORLD IMPLICATIONS IN THE FUTURE.
I THINK IN THE FUTURE HOME OWNERS ARE GOING TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE ROOF IS AN ASSET.
INSTEAD OF SOMETHING THAT THEY WORRY ABOUT LEAKING, IT'LL BE SOMETHING THAT PRODUCES ENERGY FOR THEIR HOUSE.
WHAT'S MORE IMPORTANT AS ARCHITECTS ARE DESIGNING NEW HOMES IS TRYING TO KEEP THAT SOUTH-FACING OR SOUTHEAST-FACING ROOF CLEAN SO THERE'S NOT MANY SHADOWING OBSTRUCTIONS ON IT OR PLUMBING VENTS AND SO FORTH SO THAT YOU CAN PUT A GOOD SIZED SOLAR RAY ON THAT ROOF.
SO AS TIME GOES ON AND PEOPLE BECOME MORE AWARE OF THAT WE'LL SEE A BIT OF CHANGE IN THE ARCHITECTURE AS PEOPLE RECOGNIZE THAT THEIR SOUTH-FACING ROOF IS REALLY AN ASSET.
YOU WANT TO KEEP THAT AVAILABLE TO THEM TO GENERATE ENERGY.
THE KITCHENS ARE A PLACE TO SHINE.
THEY'RE NOT ONLY SLEEK AND MODERN, BUT FULLY FUNCTIONAL.
STUDENTS EVEN TAKE TIME TO HOST DINNER PARTIES FOR THEIR NEIGHBORS, SHOWING OFF THE KITCHEN DESIGNS AS WELL AS THEIR CULINARY SKILLS.
EVERY HOUSE ACTUALLY HAS TO DO A DINNER PARTY, TO SIMULATE COOKING AND HAVING THE LIGHTS ON AND HAVING A BUNCH OF PEOPLE IN THE HOUSE.
I WAS OVER AT CINCINNATI LAST NIGHT AND THE NIGHT BEFORE THAT I WAS HANGING OUT OVER AT THE CORNELL HOUSE.
SO, A LOT OF GOOD FOOD, CHATTING ABOUT SOLAR TECHNOLOGY.
DESIGNING AND BUILDING A FULLY FUNCTIONING SOLAR HOME THAT CAN BE TRANSPORTED, CONSTRUCTED, AND THEN TAKEN APART AGAIN TO RETURN BACK HOME IS A UNIQUE UNDERTAKING.
THE DECATHLON HOUSES COST AS MUCH AS HALF A MILLION DOLLARS OR MORE, USING MONEY RAISED FROM THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS.
ONE QUESTION THIS EXPERIMENT RAISES IS WHETHER OR NOT THESE TEST SOLAR HOMES CAN BE MADE VIABLE FOR THE REAL WORLD.
MARKET VIABILITY IS ASSESSED BY PROFESSIONAL BUILDERS.
I CAN REMEMBER I WALKED INTO ONE HOUSE, MY FIRST REACTION WAS I COULD LIVE IN THIS HOUSE.
YOU KNOW, THEY'RE NOT YOUR TRADITIONAL LOOKING HOMES.
BUT IT DOESN'T REALLY HAVE TO BE THAT WAY; YOU CAN CREATE A CAPE COD HOME THAT'S A GREEN BUILDING OR ANY OTHER TYPE OF HOME THAT YOU WANT AND IT CAN BE A SOLAR-ORIENTED BUILDING THAT WORKS OFF SOLAR ENERGY.
IT MAY NOT MAXIMIZE THE SOLAR EFFECT TO THE LEVEL THAT THESE HOMES OUT HERE DO, BUT STILL YOU CAN GET A VERY SOLAR HOME AND MAKE IT LOOK ANY WAY YOU WANT.
INNOVATIVE AND CREATIVE ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN IS CERTAINLY NOT LIMITED TO THE US.
THE DECATHLON DEMONSTRATES THAT FORWARD THINKING IS GOING ON AROUND THE WORLD.
THE UNIVERSITY OF MADRID'S HOUSE FEATURES A GLASS-ENCLOSED FLOATING CORNER, A LIVING WALL, AND A WARM WOOD-PANELED EXTERIOR.
AND THE GERMAN TEAM FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF DARMSTADT CONSTRUCT A FRESH CONTEMPORARY HOUSE THAT FEATURES CLEAN SIMPLE LINES AND PV SYSTEMS THAT ARE SEAMLESSLY WORKED INTO THE STRUCTURE.
ONE KEY ASPECT OF THIS EXPERIMENT IS GETTING THE WORD OUT.
EACH SCHOOL IS COMMUNICATING THEIR VISION TO THE PUBLIC.
EACH TEAM CREATES A WEBSITE AND IS FULLY PREPARED TO TALK TO THE MORE THAN 120,000 PEOPLE LINING UP TO GET A LOOK INSIDE THE HOUSES.
AT FIRST IT WAS KIND OF ENTERTAINING TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS OVER AND OVER AGAIN, THEN IT GETS A LITTLE TIRING. BUT IT'S AWESOME TO SEE THAT THE PUBLIC IS SO INTO LEARNING ABOUT SOLAR TECHNOLOGY AND ALL THIS STUFF.
IT'S REALLY AMAZING TO ME HOW MUCH PEOPLE ARE INTO IT.
THE TOUR GUIDE ASPECT OF ALL THIS WAS GREAT.
BEING ABLE TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC ABOUT THE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT ARE OUT THERE AND THAT CAN BE USED ON HOUSES RIGHT AWAY IS REALLY GRATIFYING.
AND SO, AFTER AN EXHAUSTING AND EXHILARATING WEEK, THIS GRAND SOLAR EXPERIMENT COMES TO AN END.
BUT IT'S NOT AN END FOR THESE HOUSES, AS MOST OF THEM CONTINUE ON TO A NEW LIFE.
THE BLOOM HOUSE ULTIMATELY IS GOING TO END UP BACK IN AUSTIN, TO GRADUATE STUDENTS OR OTHER STUDENTS WHO CAN'T AFFORD HOUSING AT THE TIME CAN LIVE IN THEM, TAKE CARE OF THEM, BE RESPONSIBLE FOR MONITORING HOW WELL THE HOMES FUNCTION.
SO WE CAN GET SEVERAL DECADES OF GOOD DATA IF WE'RE LUCKY.
THE FUTURE FOR THE HOUSE, IT'S ACTUALLY GOING TO BE GOING BACK WITH US TO MICHIGAN, TO A CITY CALLED TROY, MICHIGAN.
THEY'VE PURCHASED THE HOME FROM US AND THEY'RE GOING TO USE IT IN THEIR WELCOME CENTER AREA AS A LEARNING LABORATORY AND FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS WE'RE ALLOWED TO COME INTO THE HOUSE AND MONITOR THE SYSTEMS AND ACTUALLY FEED THAT INFORMATION BACK TO THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY.
THE HOUSE IS GOING TO GO BACK ON CAMPUS AND IT'S GOING TO BE A HOME FOR AN OFFICE IN A PROFESSIONAL TRADE ORGANIZATION.
ONCE THERE, IT WILL BECOME THE NEW HOME OF A LOCAL CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS.
MANY OF THE DECATHLON HOUSES WILL SURVIVE, BUT WHAT WILL THE PARTICIPANTS TAKE AWAY WITH THEM?
THE BIGGEST THING I LEARNED FROM THIS PROJECT WAS ABOUT COMMUNICATION.
COMMUNICATING WITH EACH OTHER BOTH WITHIN THE INDUSTRY AND IN THE SCHOOL - ARCHITECTS AND ENGINEERS BUT ALSO COMMUNICATION TO THE PUBLIC.
AND GET THE PUBLIC AND THE GOVERNMENT TO KNOW ABOUT SOLAR TECHNOLOGY AND GREEN TECHNOLOGY SO THAT THEY CAN REALLY APPRECIATE IT AND IT CAN BE INTEGRATED INTO OUR EVERYDAY LIVES.
IT'S ABOUT FUTURE LEADERS LEARNING TO DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY THAN OTHERS BEFORE THEM BUT IT'S ALSO ABOUT CURRENT LEADERS DOING THINGS DIFFERENTLY.
EVERYBODY LEARNS FROM THIS PROJECT AND THE WAY WE STRUCTURED OUR TEAM EVERYBODY HAD A CHANCE TO LEARN FROM EACH OTHER.
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING HERE IS WHAT WE'RE ALL LEARNING, BECAUSE WE CAN TAKE THIS AND MAKE EVERYBODY ELSE KNOW ABOUT IT.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE ON THE MALL.
FORM, FUNCTION, INNOVATION, COMMUNICATION - THE SOLAR DECATHLON CHALLENGES ARCHITECTS TO BE THE BEST IN NEW WAYS, IN A NEW ERA.