Purdue University has found place in the list of 20 collegiate teams which are selected to participate in the DOE Solar Decathlon 2011.
The competition requires the teams, from 16 U.S. and four foreign universities, to design, build, and operate solar-powered houses that are affordable, energy-efficient, and attractive. The team that best blends cost-effectiveness, consumer appeal, and design excellence with optimal energy production and maximum efficiency will be announced as winner of the competition.
Purdue University will present its ‘flex/home’ at the competition, which is designed as a functional, net-zero living space created by utilizing proven, traditional methods to reduce energy demand. It incorporates natural thermodynamic and solar phenomena into its design.
The flex/home features air and heat recovery systems that reuse energy; a vertically hanging garden or bio-wall that is integrated with the HVAC system to filter volatile organic compounds and carbon dioxide out of the air; passive solar heating strategies that make use of natural air currents; photovoltaic array and other systems that are automated and adjustable via Internet or cell phone; and modular expansion options that enable interior adaptations as families grow in size and age. Purdue is participating in the competition for the first time.
The solar-powered houses by different teams will be displayed at the National Mall in Washington, DC in late 2011. The first Solar Decathlon was held in 2002. The competition has since occurred biennially in 2005, 2007 and 2009.
