Solar Decathlon Europe: Two French Teams Selected

The Solar Decathlon is an international competition open to universities and organized every two years in Washington by the U.S. Department of Energy. Objective: to build a home solar energy positive. A European edition of this prestigious event will be held for the first time this year in Madrid. Two French teams have been selected.

For the first time, the Polytechnic University of Madrid with the Spanish Ministry of Housing offers a European edition of Solar Decathlon. This event is organized as a trade fair in Madrid in June 2010. The home solar Solar Decathlon Washington Nous are pleased to present here the two French projects selected by the organization to compete. Note that this is no small matter: beyond the technical challenge, the houses must be built and tested in France by their respective designers, and then dismantled, transported and reassembled in less than a week in Madrid. At the last American Solar Decathlon is a German team who won. [see the gallery]

Teams will be rated on ten criteria, hence the name “Decathlon”. Among these criteria: architecture, building techniques, energy balance, openness to public knowledge, sustainable development. The stated aim of the competition is to promote solar energy through a home produces as much energy as it consumes, while offering contemporary design and comfort of living.

Armadillo Box: Adaptation to climate

The project Armadillo Box is worn by the team “Architecture and constructive culture” of the Ecole Nationale Superieure Architecture of Grenoble (ENSAG), in partnership with the National Institute for Solar Energy (INES) and Grands Ateliers of Isle Abeau (GAIA).

Solar house for the Solar Decathlon Europe The concept revolves around three modules: the center of the house, a core technical welcoming kitchen, bathroom, machinery and fluids, a thermal envelope watertight and air, made with natural materials, local, economic and easy to implement, a protective outer shield and the sensor Eneg solar.

The house is thought to be easily reproduced at a cost affordable to the greatest number: the core technology is designed to be prefabricated and industrialized; thermal envelope may instead be carried out in self-construction. Its design also lends itself to the achievement of terraced house, or apartment buildings that it constitutes the basic unit of housing.

Thermally it is to minimize the need for heating and cooling according to the seasons. Among the solutions implemented: reinforced insulation course, roller blinds to keep out the summer sun, ventilated space under the solar panels, interior panels in the ground to capture the freshness of the night and return the day or the Conversely in winter), bay window in the south to take advantage of solar gain in winter. Power is supplied by solar panels and solar thermal. The awnings can regulate the intake, storage and return of heat (or cold) walls in the ground outside. A double-flow ventilation complete the whole course.

As documented presentation of the project on the team website, the calculation of embodied energy, ie the only energy required for production, maintenance, recycling of materials and equipment, is state figure of 70 kwh / sq. year for 50 years, 60% are attributable to solar.

More than 35 partners in the energy sector and the building are now grouped carriers of the project which, Bouygues Immobilier, Tenesol (subsidiary of Total and EDF), Schneider Electric, CSTB (Scientific and Technical Center Building) and Léon Grosse. The partners, which must be added the Rhone Alpes region involved as financiers or by contributing equipment. According to Ines, he is an indispensable aid for such a project. One thing is sure, with such support, the team can put the bar very high, and run the highest distinction.
Nápévomó: respect for the environment

The twelve instigators of the project Nápévomó are engineering students from the School of Arts and Crafts in Bordeaux. The team focused the strength of the research laboratories of the School of Engineering and Arts and Crafts Center technology resources Ecocampus / Nobatek. She has also combined the creativity of the architect of Chile Gonzalo Rodriguez, and know-how of some regional firms, rather SMEs with skills sharp in their respective fields.

Nápévomó, Cheyenne language, means “do you feel? . According to its designers, “the house symbolizes respect for the environment by representing a leaf arises gently on the Earth. By controlling light, the use of natural materials and the view outside is Nápévomó Evidence of a high quality of architectural space, combining outside and inside as if they were one. “

This is a nice program of inspiration and bioclimatic very technical. The whole house is prefabricated in the workshop. The energy solutions implemented show a very forward thinking technology and a desire to limit the environmental impact (carbon and non-energy) production system by solar concentration and tracking axis 1 (micro) system heating, ventilation and cooling 3 in 1 (VMC turbofan thermodynamics); passive cooling of air change materials phase; green roof light and self-irrigated natural system of wastewater treatment by Vermifiltration; home automation system allowing a simple and transparent interface with the user complete solution for natural insulation (fiberglass and wood cellulose wadding); 100% wood construction maritime pine; appliances, energy efficient water use.

The team has set itself the ambition of winning the race “Sustainaibiliy” (sustainable development), which is clearly reflected in technical decisions (see details on the full project team site).

[via: ddmagazine]

 

Solar Decathlon, Solar Decathlon Europe, solar energy

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