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Photo of a University of Louisiana at Lafayette student decathlete standing next to a wall of plants outside the Louisiana house.

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette won the Solar Decathlon 2009 Market Viability contest. The team's design reflects the culture and climate of its native Louisiana.

Solar Decathlon 2009

Market Viability

(100 points)

Teams built their houses for a target market of their choosing. They were then asked to demonstrate the potential of their houses to keep costs affordable within that market. A jury of professionals from the homebuilding industry evaluated how well suited the houses were for everyday living, determined whether the construction documents would enable a contractor to construct the houses as intended, and assessed whether the houses offered potential homebuyers within the target market a good value. The jury considered:

  • Livability—Whether the house is well suited for everyday living, could accommodate the specific needs of the targeted homeowners, and offers a safe, functional, convenient, comfortable, and enjoyable place to live

  • Buildability—Whether the construction documents would enable a contractor to generate an accurate construction cost estimate and then construct the building as the design team intended it to be built

  • Marketability—The house's curb appeal, interior appeal, and quality craftsmanship; how well its sustainability features and strategies contribute to its marketability; and whether the house offers potential homebuyers within the target market a good value.