Take a Peek at the Solar Decathlon 2015 Competition Houses
Monday, March 30, 2015By Carol Laurie
Curious what the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2015 teams are planning for the competition? Can’t wait until October to see their houses in person? You’re in luck. We’ve posted a treasure trove of information about the team houses—including computer-animated walkthroughs, renderings, and video interviews of the decathletes discussing their projects—on the Solar Decathlon website.
“The team walkthroughs and renderings introduce the public to each team’s house design,” says Joe Simon, Solar Decathlon 2015 competition manager. “This material also helps the teams articulate their competition strategies and what makes their houses unique.”
A computer-generated rendering of DURA (diverse, urban, resilient, and adaptable), the New York City College of Technology Solar Decathlon 2015 house. (Courtesy of the New York City College of Technology Solar Decathlon 2015 team)
The walkthroughs, less than 1.5 minutes each, move viewers from the outside through the inside of each house, often accompanied by audio that describes the design philosophy. The renderings include (at minimum) two exterior views, one birds-eye perspective, and two interior views of each competition house. Recorded in Irvine, California, during the Design Development Review Workshop in January, the team videos capture students’ enthusiasm for their projects and feature footage from the walkthroughs and renderings.
These solar-powered, energy-efficient houses represent diverse target markets, technological innovations, and design approaches. Take a look to see what the Solar Decathlon 2015 teams plan to unveil on Oct. 8 at the Orange County Great Park in Irvine, California.
Carol Laurie is the communications manager for the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon.
Tags: NY City Tech, Solar Decathlon, Solar Decathlon 2015, Teams, West Virginia/Rome