ASHRAE Insights

Solar Decathlon Energizes Young Engineers On Renewable Resource

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Guidance from ASHRAE was used by the student teams in the 2007 Solar Decathlon, held Oct. 12–20.

During the event, 20 college and university teams competed in 10 contests to design, build, and operate the most attractive and energy-efficient solar-powered home.

A team from German university Technische Universität Darmstadt earned first-place. Teams from the University of Maryland and Santa Clara University took second and third place, respectively. The Maryland team won the ASHRAE-­sponsored “Integration of Renewables for Sustainable Living” award.

The fourth-place team represented The Pennsylvania State University. The Penn State entry will be displayed at the AHR Expo in January in New York City. The house will be placed near the entrance to  the Jacob Javits Convention Center.

As part of its involvement as title sponsor of the competition, ASHRAE provided student teams with copies of select standards and publications to aid in energy-efficient and safe design of the solar-powered homes.

ASHRAE’s Ask the Expert program helped Solar Decathlon teams with technical inquiries relating to engineering or architectural questions.

“ASHRAE standards are written and adopted to provide for a healthy, comfortable and energy-efficient living environment,” said Don Colliver, Ph.D., Presidential Member ASHRAE, who oversaw the Society’s Decathlon activities. “There are three major ASHRAE standards which the students could or should have used. Each of these could have a considerable impact upon how the houses are designed and constructed.”

“The Solar Decathlon helps develop the future of sustainable engineering for the building industry,” said ASHRAE President Kent Peterson, P.E. “The knowledge and dedication of these students will help ensure that today’s interest in sustainable technology and renewable energy will propel the building industry into brilliant possibilities for the future.”

• ASHRAE standards and publications used by students included:
   Standard 55, Thermal Environmental Conditions for Human Occupancy, which describes the thermostat and humidity settings which should make it comfortable for the people in the house
•  Standard 62.2, Ventilation and Acceptable Indoor Air Quality in Low-Rise Residential Buildings, which describes the amount of fresh air which is needed to provide for adequate indoor air quality
•  Standard 90.2, Energy-Efficient Design of Low-Rise Residential Buildings, which describes the amount of insulation needed and the minimum specifications needed for such things as windows, doors and equipment.
•  ASHRAE Handbook–Fundamentals, which gives information about how to determine the way the energy flows within the house or works with the weather conditions in various locations 
•  ASHRAE’s GreenGuide, which gives the students technical information about building their houses in a green and sustainable manner and how the heating and cooling systems interact with and be influenced by architectural design.

ASHRAE also was involved in a variety of other Decathlon activities, such as sponsorship of a reception and student lunch, and had members involved in the competition itself, including judging, student members and team advisors.

Peterson served as a judge for this year’s competition, and Colliver spoke at the opening ceremony. ASHRAE hosted a student reception, student lunch, sponsor sessions at Building Industry Day and Consumer Day, and presented a team award at the Victory Reception.

For more information on ASHRAE’s involvement in the Solar Decathlon, visit www.ashrae.org/solardecathlon.