ENGINEERING A SUSTAINABLE HOUSE FOR SOLAR DECATHLON 2002

International Conference on

Sustainability Engineering and Science

By

Dr. Donald D. Liou

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

U.S.A.

What is Solar Decathlon?

• Student event sponsored by U.S. Dept. of Energy• Sponsors include NREL, BP Solar, Home Depot, EDS,

AIA• To illustrate how to use solar energy• To illustrate different daily activities are energy intensive• To demonstrate related market-ready technologies• To provide a beautiful structure for live, work, and play• To move event beyond classroom

DC Mall Layout

7th Street

4th Street

Jefferson

Madison

30 ft

shadows from trees

Solar Decathlon Layout - National Mall, Washington, DC

shadows from trees

to Washington Monument to CapitolN

473 ft

180 ft

555 ft

42 ft

38 ft 207 ft38 ft

42 ft

Tuskegee Colorado Crowder Auburn Virginia Tech Delaware Puerto Rico

Texas AMUUM-RollaUVANC-CharlotteUT AustinCarnegie M.Maryland

Key Solar Decathlon Requirements

• Building Plans• Building Energy Analysis• Transportation (Getting

Around) Analysis• Design presentation and

simulation

• Example building plans requirements

• Narrative description• Site plan drawings• Architecture drawings• Structural drawings• Electrical drawings• Mechanical drawings• Codes & Safety• Assembly process• Disassembly process• Disassembly process

Engineering Goals

• Easy to assemble, to transport, to disassemble• Uses only sun’s energy• Stable, load bearing, yet requires no on-site

excavation• Energy efficient• Collaboration between architectural and

engineering students

Challenges

• Schedule challenges: content changes of existing courses & individual study courses

• Design challenges: commitment of suppliers• Transportation and foundation: 3-section design• Construction challenges: student power• Budgetary matters: insurmountable• Different views between architectural and engineering

professors and students• Lack of adequate support from administration