The University of Illinois at Champain-Urbana is set to compete in the U.S. Department of Energy's Solar Decathlon. Architecture graduate students are entering the competition with a building that can be heated with the energy it takes to run a hair dryer.
The home follows the Passive House model that has been discussed a few times on this blog (here and here). The goal of this design is to conserve energy and maximize the benefits of passive solar heating, skylights, and a highly energy efficient heating and cooling system.
It has been constructed using renewable materials and salvaging wood from other places like unused barns. Steve Venden of Homeway Homes said the building costs about $130 per square foot, about 10 percent more than its standard modular of that size
A roof will be installed on June 24, followed by solar panels on the south side.
The team plans to have an open house as a fundraising event, perhaps based on a dinner party theme with input from the UI culinary students at the Spice Box in Bevier Hall.
Come October the house will be moved to the National Mall in Washington, DC for the competition.
Here is an article about the team and the competition in The News-Gazette.
Photo credit: Heather Coit, The News-Gazette
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