Solar Decathlon 2011
Team Belgium: Ghent University
Ghent University’s E-Cube was rebuilt at the West Flemish Greenbridge Science Park, located in the outer port of Oostende, Belgium. The house serves as a lab to support research into new energy-efficient building and installation concepts. Students and researchers are able to use the E-Cube to test how energy systems like heat pumps and solar panels interact with a smart grid.
For the Solar Decathlon 2011, Team Belgium aimed for simplicity with E-Cube. Its market appeal was its simple construction methods and its affordability. The house was designed as a building kit for a self-builder who lacks the time and expertise to build a house from scratch. This strategy paid off, and E-Cube tied for first place in the Affordability Contest.