• What is it?

• Why are we participating?

• What’s being done

Overview

What is the Solar Decathlon?• An international, student-lead competition of 20 colleges

working to Design, Finance, Construct, Test and Operate net-zero energy houses.

• Decathlon – 10 events• Net – Zero Energy House - on an annual basis it

generates and puts back onto the utility grid as much (or more) electricity than it takes from it.

• Objectives– Build capacity – technical and physical– Demonstrate net-zero energy houses are feasible – Show that these houses can be attractive and

marketable

• Houses are less than 800 square foot living space - Must be at least 450 square feet.

• The team-constructed houses are built on their home campuses.

• They are then transported and assembled on the National Mall.

• There they will be evaluated in ten areas testing the next generation of net-zero energy solar-powered homes.

• It is a tremendous media event – 2007 event had over 1 billion media impressions

What is the Solar Decathlon?

• An interdisciplinary project - thus will enhance interdisciplinary learning and inter-professional training,

• A project which can directly be applied in classroom and homework projects,

• Addresses an issue which has significant personal impact on everyone – will engage research and scholarship which addresses significant, current and relevant problems that face the Commonwealth,

• Can have significant undergraduate and graduate applied research projects,

• Will prepare students with knowledge for leadership in a growing economy,

Why is UK Participating?

• Enhance UK stature among peers by participating in an elite international group competition due to its very high visibility and significant PR upside potential (>1 Billion impressions),

• Will be an intellectual endeavor that improves communities across the Commonwealth by demonstrating that sustainable net-zero energy houses are possible in Kentucky,

• Builds upon current research and teaching strengths in the emerging interests of sustainable, energy efficient building design and construction, and

• Can serve as an economic development partner by providing intellectual and research materials which will be used by qualified students in a developing industry

Additional UK Objectives

The 10 Decathlon Contests (2009)(1000 points possible)

Jury Evaluated

1. Architecture 100 pts

2. Market Viability 100 pts

3. Engineering 100 pts

4. Lighting Design 75 pts

5. Communications 75 pts

The 10 Decathlon Contests (2009)Measured/Metered Contests

6. Comfort Zone 100 pts

72-76F, 40-55%RH

7. Hot Water 100 pts

3-15gallon draws/day @110F

8. Appliances 100 pts

Frig (34 to 40F), Freezer (-20 to -5F),wash & dry 10 loads of clothes, wash 5 loads of dishes

9. Home Entertainment 100 pts

Cooking, lighting, public exhibit, home theater

10. Net-Metering (Grid tied – no batteries)

Energy Balance 100 pts (NZE)

Energy Surplus 50 pts (% of max house)

2009 Teams1. Boston Architectural College/Tufts2. Cornell ’07

3. Darmstad (Germany)‘07

4. Illinois ‘07

5. Iowa State University6. Madrid ‘07

7. Missouri Rolla (S&T) ‘07

8. Ohio State9. Penn State ‘07

10. Puerto Rico ‘07

11. Rice University12. Santa Clara ‘07

13. Team North (Calgary/SAIT/Mount Royal)14. Team Ontario (Waterloo/Ryerson/Simon Fraser)15. University of Arizona16. University of Kentucky17. University of Louisiana at Lafayette18. University of Minnesota19. Univ. of Wisconsin – Milwaukee 20. Virginia Tech ‘05

• Communications• Architecture• Engineering

– PV / Electrical Distribution– PV Cooling– Water Heating– HVAC– Energy Management– Frame & Deployment

UK Teams

Concepts• Living under the sun• Connection with our surroundings

• “Floating roof”• Utilize many KY products• Setup / deployment quick and easy• Self contained• ADA Compliant

• Quick deployment (96 hrs)• Restricted space – vertical, horizontal

– Shipping– On site

• Large visitor latent loads & quick recovery• No liquid cooling for PV (Safety issues)• No batteries• Cost• ADA accessible

“Non-Typical” Design Constraints

• Quick deployment (96 hrs)Quick deployment (96 hrs)• Restricted space – vertical, horizontalRestricted space – vertical, horizontal

– ShippingShipping– On siteOn site

• Large visitor latent loads & quick recoveryLarge visitor latent loads & quick recovery• No liquid cooling for PVNo liquid cooling for PV• No batteriesNo batteries• CostCost

• Not “Non-Typical”

• Superior Learning Opportunities

“Non-Typical” Design Constraints

??

Unique Features

•11 KW Photovoltaics (36 panels 305W) + 1.9 kW on front •4 Inverters•Single axis tracking (Altitude)•Evacuated tube solar water heater•Water source heat pump(s)•Water thermal storage tank•Central switched circuits for chargers•Extensive use of high efficiency lighting•Electrochromic glass•Weather-forecast-based control optimization•…

2009 Solar Decathlon Schedule• Proposals delivered to NREL Dec 2007• Awardees announced Jan 2008 ($100K given to

20 schools)• Fundraising 2/08-9/09 ($500-700K needed)• Start Construction – Spring 2009• Testing – Late Summer 2009• Competition – Oct 1-21, 2009

2009

Uses after the ’09 Solar Decathlon

• World Equestrian Games

• State Fair

• Home Shows

• Test and Experimental Uses

2009

www.uky.edu/solarhouse

How to stay in contact with what’s going on?