The first international Solar Decathlon Europe Competition takes place this month, with Saint-Gobain and the University of Nottingham’s H.O.U.S.E (Home Optimising the Use of Solar Energy) flying the flag for Britain. With the final due to start on 18 June in Madrid, the H.O.U.S.E left the UK earlier this month on a fleet of low loaders supplied by logistics partner DHL en route to its site on the banks of the river Manzanares.
Students from the University of Nottingham’s Department of the Built Environment (DBE) began construction in February and, with the fully prefabricated, modular H.O.U.S.E proving to be one of the most popular exhibitions at Ecobuild 2010, the team have high hopes for the competition. More than 100,000 visitors are expected at the final which is supported by the Spanish Government’s Ministry of Housing and the US Department of Energy.
The University of Nottingham’s H.O.U.S.E, which is constructed almost entirely of materials supplied by Saint-Gobain, the main sponsor and materials partner, is the UK’s only entry in the competition which will see 19 universities from nine countries across Europe, Asia and the Americas compete to design a highly sustainable, solar powered home.
During the competition, the H.O.U.S.E will be judged in ten contests, each with its own jury. Throughout the design and build process, students have worked closely alongside experts from Saint-Gobain’s UK and Ireland companies and additional sponsors to ensure the H.O.U.S.E addresses the points highlighted in each of the ten categories.
From the outset, students aimed to demonstrate the project’s market viability by creating a home that will show how low energy architecture can lend itself to the mass market. At the heart of the Nottingham H.O.U.S.E concept is a highly marketable, zero carbon starter home for a new family. Its L-shaped design is so versatile it can be worked into terraces, rows or stacked as apartments.
Access to the latest products and expert advice from Saint-Gobain enabled the students to turn their concept into a reality. This enabled the team to demonstrate innovation through creativity in construction, with the use of comprehensive systems and solutions helping to maximise the overall sustainability of the H.O.U.S.E to ensure minimal environmental impact throughout its lifetime.
The jury will also assess comfort conditions within the H.O.U.S.E, examining the interior in terms of temperature control, humidity, acoustics, lighting and air quality. As well as a heavily insulated building envelope designed to meet Part E Building Regulations and provide optimal thermal efficiency, it also incorporates additional passive environmental design strategies.
A timber cassette panel structure incorporating Isover insulation, cladding from International Timber, fibreboard from British Gypsum and windows and doors supplied by Solaglas in partnership with AM Profiles has been used alongside a Passive Evaporative Cooling System to provide a comfortable environment, both in warmer and cooler climates.
Once reassembled in Madrid, the solar powered house will feature a fully integrated roof incorporating Avancis photovoltaic panels, thin-film modules based on advanced CIS (copper indium selenide) technology. Developed by Saint-Gobain in conjunction with Shell, the production process is based on second generation CIS technology, which will help the team meet requirements in the solar systems category by demonstrating world leading efficiency.
The H.O.U.S.E is designed to generate 100 per cent of its electricity via the photovoltaic panels, with no reliance on additional fuel sources, saving occupants money on fuel bills and providing an opportunity to benefit from the feed-in tariff introduced earlier this year. In addition, it is predicted that water bills will be reduced by up to 50 per cent through the use of grey water recycling and efficient appliances.
As part of its support for the project, John Lewis has specified sustainable furnishings and appliances from its range to ensure that the H.O.U.S.E’s sustainable credentials follow through into all furnishings and fittings. This will enable students to demonstrate the property’s performance in the household functionality category, which is used to determine whether the appliances and equipment sufficiently simulate the needs of a real home.
Other areas assessed will include architectural merit, construction, electrical energy balance and communication of the project to a wider audience. Points will be awarded following each contest, enabling participants to monitor scores throughout the final. The H.O.U.S.E has already demonstrated its functionality by playing host to a cookery masterclass from Michelin-starred chef Sat Bains. Sat was on hand to help the students create a low energy tapas meal which will form part of a sustainable dinner party menu for the final. The meal will be created using locally sourced ingredients, with intense heating processes replaced by solar powered slow cooking to maximise energy efficiency.
Dr Mark Gillott, Nottingham H.O.U.S.E project director: “The students and the faculty have worked hard as a team to create a finished home that we hope will do exceptionally well in Madrid. The Nottingham H.O.U.S.E has enabled us to showcase our excellence in zero carbon architecture and low carbon technology. The expertise and knowledge of Saint-Gobain has been invaluable and we would like to thank all our sponsors and supporters for enabling us to turn our vision into a reality and demonstrate a viable option for the future of housing.”
Peter Hindle MBE, general delegate for Saint-Gobain in the UK, Ireland and South Africa, comments: “The Solar Decathlon final is the culmination of months of hard work. The Nottingham H.O.U.S.E has helped to highlight the benefits that both business and academia can gain from working together on innovative projects. The students’ enthusiasm throughout the design and build process has been immense and we wish them well in this final stage of the competition.”
For further details on the Nottingham H.O.U.S.E. please visit www.solardecathlon.saint-gobain.co.uk or follow @SaintGobainUK on Twitter for the latest updates.
