This passive solar home was submitted by Brian Knight of Springtime Homes. It is an efficient, passive and active solar home with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. Constructed with SIPs (Structured Insulated Panels) it boasts a HERS...
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Asheville Passive Solar Homes
An Efficient Modular Passive House for Disaster Areas
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign built the Re_Home for the 2011 Solar Decathlon. The idea behind the home is that it can be trucked into a disaster area to provide rapid housing for families without a...
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An Active & Passive Solar Home Inspired by Emerson
The team from Middlebury College built a passive and active solar home called Self-Reliance that performed well and was awarded 1st place in the Market Appeal competition in the 2011 Solar Decathlon. Inspired by Ralph Waldo Emerson, not only would...
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The Ultimate Net-Zero Beach House: The Kiwi Bach
The Victoria University of Wellington designed and built a New Zealand weekend home for this year’s Solar Decathlon. Called ‘”First Light” and lovingly referred to a “Bach” – pronounced (batch), the home won the Engineering and Energy...
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Fast, Sleek and Electric – The Roadster Car from Tesla Motors
It was after nightfall as I walked down the sidewalk when a glistening bright red car caught my eye. Being in Washington D.C. for the 2011 Solar Decathlon, like a kid in a candy store, I instantly...
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Blending Native Traditions with Solar Technologies
The graceful curve and shape of the home was inspired by the teepee. Solar panels arc toward the sun in a home that was designed for Aboriginal peoples in Canada. It is the joint effort of the...
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A Modernized Solar Homestead
Ever wanted to escape from it all, yet have the comforts of modern living? Appalachian State University built a house that has the best outdoor living space in the Solar Decathlon. The 1000 square foot deck has as...
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New Technology Combined with the Traditional American Look, the Solar INHome
Purdue University designed and built a house, complete with clerestory windows, garage and a self-watering biowall. Called the INHome, paying homage to their home state of Indiana, the home is powered by 36, 240-watt solar panels for...
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The Mini Ecosystem Zen House – WaterShed
The winner of the 2011 Solar Decathlon consistently led and outperformed the other houses with its smart design and intelligent integration within its engineering and living systems. Entitled WaterShed, the University of Maryland has designed and...
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Solar Decathlon Competition Homes
See the "Best of" the 2011 Solar Decathlon competition homes.
Arranged by final overall standing.
- University of Maryland
- Purdue University, Indiana
- Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand
- Middlebury College, Vermont
- Ohio State
- So Cal Institute of Architecture and CalTech
- University of Illinois
- University of Tennessee
- Massachusetts College of Art & Design / University of Mass
- University of Calgary, Canada
- Florida International University
- Appalachian State University, North Carolina
- Parsons NS Stevens, NYC & NJ
- Old Dominion / Hampton University, Virginia
- Tongji University, China
- Ghent University, Belgium
- City College of New York
- Rutgers / New Jersey Institute of Technology
- Univ. of S. Florida / Florida State U / U of Central Florida / U of Florida