The Solar Decathlon made its debut last week (10/03/13) at the Orange County, Grand Park, in Irvine. This is the first “Solar D” (as nicknamed) to take place somewhere other than Washington DC, so this was an event I couldn’t miss. The experience was rich in innovation, and the hot and airy climate of Irvine served as a supportive host.
A quick park and ride took you to and from the main strip which displayed homes along both sides. In a nutshell, the Solar Decathlon is a competition among universities to see who can design and build the most sustainable and appealing home. This year there is 19 schools competing, including a few from Europe and two local schools, Sci-Arc and USC.
Unfortunately I didn’t walk through all 19 homes, the sun and those long lines kept me going back to the shade. I’ll probably go back after all that Sci-arc hype is gone.
Fortunately, I did get to see the majority of the homes, and got plenty of cool pamphlets and pictures. All structures were raised and had ramps leading to their entrance. Most of these ramps had panels with illustrations and information to keep us entertained while we waited to go in.
It was a great experience to see so many examples of sustainability in person. From the inside out, these homes were designed using amazing technologies, reclaimed materials, and other various sustainable building methods. As we entered the homes, the students themselves welcomed guests and also gave brief explanations of what was occurring inside.
The winner of this year's solar decathlon: Team Austria
congratulations to all the students who participated.
A quick park and ride took you to and from the main strip which displayed homes along both sides. In a nutshell, the Solar Decathlon is a competition among universities to see who can design and build the most sustainable and appealing home. This year there is 19 schools competing, including a few from Europe and two local schools, Sci-Arc and USC.
Unfortunately I didn’t walk through all 19 homes, the sun and those long lines kept me going back to the shade. I’ll probably go back after all that Sci-arc hype is gone.
Fortunately, I did get to see the majority of the homes, and got plenty of cool pamphlets and pictures. All structures were raised and had ramps leading to their entrance. Most of these ramps had panels with illustrations and information to keep us entertained while we waited to go in.
It was a great experience to see so many examples of sustainability in person. From the inside out, these homes were designed using amazing technologies, reclaimed materials, and other various sustainable building methods. As we entered the homes, the students themselves welcomed guests and also gave brief explanations of what was occurring inside.
The winner of this year's solar decathlon: Team Austria
congratulations to all the students who participated.
By: E.G
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