The Solar Decathlon competitions are intended to be a “research goal of reducing the cost of solar-powered homes and advancing solar technology,” according to the Solar Decathlon 2007 (SD07).[7] Illinois Solar Decathlon began its involvement with the Solar Decathlon competitions in the 2007 competition.
The 2007 Solar Decathlon Competition is the third competition held and the first time the University of Illinois competed in.[7]
The concept for the University of Illinois' Solar Decathlon Team's 2007 house is a flexible modular system that can provide utility-independent housing for temporary or seasonal use.[8] Beyond the goal of winning the competition, Illinois hopes that its final product can serve as a model for emergency housing situations such as those experienced by citizens of the Gulf Coast as a result of Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
Immediately following success in the 2007 competition, ISD began work on the 2009 competition entry. The primary concept of ISD's 2009 entry, named Gable Home, is to create a synthesis between innovative technology and vernacular Midwestern architecture.[9] This synthesis results in a synergetic relationship between the two, creating an environmentally sustainable home of the future. The design exhibits a strong preference for reused/reclaimed materials over the production of new material. The siding of the house was reclaimed from a barn being deconstructed in Rockford, Illinois. The decking material was salvaged from a demolished grain silo in Champaign, Illinois. Restoring and repurposing material from farm structures strengthened the overall design emphasis on local vernacular architecture.[10]
For the 2011 Solar Decathlon competition, Team Illinois has designed the Re_home. For rapid assembly after a natural disaster, the solar powered home will demonstrate how environmentally aware living can be brought to the forefront of a community-led recovery effort.[11] Through a carefully thought out process the Re_home can be pre-constructed and quickly deployed immediately following a natural disaster.
When called upon, the house mobilizes quickly from its constructed location towards new communities. Upon arrival the house is assembled within several hours. Once sealed, the home becomes a livable space the day it arrives, providing new shelter for disaster victims. During the days following delivery the rest of the house can be assembled by members of the community. Pre-installed adjustable solar panels provide renewable energy quickly, and prefabricated modular decks, planters, and canopies ease installation of all exterior elements of the home.[12]
The 2011 competition team was led by Dr. Xinlei Wang, Ph.D. and Mark Taylor, AIA.[13] To complement the leadership, members from the College of Agriculture, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences (ACES) joined the team, including David Weightman, James Anderson, Joe Harper, Sarah Taylor Lovell.[13]
The 2013 Solar Decathlon Competition featured the first ever Solar Decathlon competition held in China.[14] For the 2013 competition, Illinois Solar Decathlon from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign designed their project in collaboration with Peking University in Beijing. The international team hopes that their house will increase public awareness for solar technology and promote low-carbon development.[14]
Etho is centered around a feeling of solace; an urban oasis. It meets the Chinese market’s need for a refuge from overcrowded cities and inspires the Chinese public to see the potential in a high-quality sustainability.[15] Ethos’s design philosophy is centered on creating a better future, creating a link to China’s rich past, and sculpting a home perfectly suited to meet the needs of its inhabitants. Designed for the next generation of young families as a sustainable getaway, this solar-powered home will demonstrate how educating one influential demographic can help to spread awareness of environmental sustainability and energy.[15] Its design emphasizes natural daylighting and maximizing solar gains on the PV arrays.
Similar to the 2011 competition, the 2013 competition team was also led by Dr. Xinlei Wang, Ph.D. and Mark Taylor, AIA.[16] Mike McCully, a professor at the Illinois School of Architecture, joined the leadership and assisted in the architectural aspects of the project.[16]
