Editor’s Note: This post is one of a series of technology spotlights that introduces common technologies used in U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon team houses.

Good ventilation is vital for maintaining healthy indoor air quality. Houses built to modern energy efficiency standards, such as U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon competition houses, are tightly constructed to allow very little outside air to leak in. As a result, odors, chemicals, particles, and humidity can become trapped, increasing indoor air pollution.

Team Austria from the Vienna University of Technology has won the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2013.

At an awards ceremony this morning, winners of the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2013 Affordability and Market Appeal contests took center stage by demonstrating that innovative, energy-efficient houses can be cost-effective and appealing to a variety of target markets.

Editor’s Note: This entry has been cross-posted from DOE’s Energy Blog.

For the teams competing in the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon, every cent counts. From researching design options and building supplies to transporting houses and communications materials, the costs of developing a competition house can add up. But before the teams even start on the building process, they must first master the art of fundraising.