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Phases of Construction    Essential Design Elements

Our 800 square-foot Contest Home features the latest in sustainable buildingmethods, integrating the philosophy of eco-design, which takes into consideration the origins, energy use, and lifespan of materials used in the home. It also means designing ahome that fits into existing landscape by considering climate, topography, trees, plants, and soil type. Eco-design balances economic and environmental aspects by using minimal amounts of materials, recycled materials, and those that consume the least amount of energy and emit the least amount of pollutants.

Many of our building materials and unique interior furnishings come from the ReStore Home Improvement Center in Springfield, MA, which carries building materials and furnishings harvested from demolitions, remodels, and contractor leftovers.

We are thrilled to have two eco-designers consulting with our Team: Tim Lyden of New Genesis Construction in Dartmouth, MA, and Al Rossetto of Weitsfield, VT. Rossetto was featured in the March 2004 issue of Fine Homebuilding magazine for having the highest Energy Star rated home in Vermont. Like our home, his was built using Insulspan Panel Pros Structurally Insulated Panels (SIPS). Our home also contains what Rossetto calls the 5 essential design elements for an energy efficient home.   

       

 

5 Essential Design Elements for an Energy Efficient Home

1. Foundation should be insulated, stable, and contain adequate drainage away from home to allow for ventilation.

2. Structurally Insulated Panels (SIPS) both frame and insulate the home.

3. Multi-pane windows with sealed frames   

4. Radiant heat, which can be provided by a second water heater

5. Balanced ventilation using a heat recovery ventilator (HRV)

To read more about how these design elements combine to create an energy efficient home, see Al Rossetto's article and pictures of his Energy Star rated home in Fine Homebuilding magazine. The article is available as a free pdf at Insulspan's website.

 

Phases of Construction

Creation of our 800 square-foot Solar Decathlon Contest Home occurs in five phases.

Phase 1:  Design, September 2003 - December 2004
During this phase students attend classes, learn, research, troubleshoot, test, accept, and reject architectural designs and technologies for the home using the test home. They submit their design suggestions in December 2004 to the National Renewable Energy Lab and DC Habitat For Humanity. Panel Pros prepare the structurally insulated panels (SIPs), received from Insulspan, that will form the shell of the home.

Phase 2:  Constructon of the Contest Home Shell, May 1 - May 15, 2005
The SIPs panels, provided by Panel Pros of Keene, New Hampshire, are delivered and the shell of the home is assembled on a flatbed-trailer. The shell is a conventional design to blend in aesthetically with an existing traditional neighborhood. It is weatherized for Phase 3.


Phase 3:  Construction of the Contest Home, May 16 - September 15, 2005
During the summer, UMD Solar Decathletes build the home with students and staff from Greater New Bedford Vocational Technical High School and D.C. Americorps volunteers.

The work includes installing:

Many of the products installed come from the Center for Ecological Technology's ReStore Home Improvement Center in Springfield, MA.

Phase 4: Competition at the National Mall, September 29 - October 19, 2005
The Contest Home is transported to the National Mall and we compete in the Solar Decathlon. The home stays on a transporter during the contest to eliminate the need for truck-mounted cranes at the National Mall.

Energy Use. We will track the energy for heating, lighting, and other electrical usages. The solar home will have at a minimum, 3kW of photovoltaic panels on the roof and we will be able to measure the daily energy cost and the affordability of living in the home. We will also evaluate the home using the LEEDs (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standard.

Phase 5:  Delivery and Dedication of the Home to DC Habitat For Humanity
The Contest Home is transported to its permanent site, connected to the infrastructure, and dedicated to DC Habitat For Humanity.

The contest is over, but the UMD Solar Decathlon Project Team just won't stop building! Learn about our additional building projects.

                                                 

                                 A traditional, non-solar, home built by DC Habitat For Humanity, Washington, D.C.

                                                  

Last updated: Tuesday, October 4, 2005 2:06 PM