Team Zaragoza’s Cylindrical Casa Pi Solar Decathlon House Produces Twice as Much Energy as it Uses

<a href="http://www.unizarcasapi.com">Casa Pi</a> is the only circular house to make its debut at this year's <a href="http://inhabitat.com/tag/solar-decathlon/">Solar Decathlon competition in Madrid</a>. Designed by the University of Zaragoza's team of architects and engineers, the solar-powered <a href="http://inhabitat.com/why-our-ancestors-built-round-houses-and-why-it-still-makes-sense-to-build-round-structures-today/">cylindrical home</a> produces twice as much energy as it consumes, and it also uses 50% less water than average. The bottom 45 square foot level is comprised of a covered terrace while the upper level topped with an extensive photovoltaic array that includes a living area for a single couple.

Casa Pi is the only cylindrical house at the solar decathlon this year

With a PV array of 5.5 kilowatts, it produces twice as much energy as it consumes

The modular home has two levels, the lower of which is a covered terrace

This is also the only home to use glass-reinforced concrete to improve the thermal massing

Construction is almost complete

Water conservation and energy efficiency were strong mandates for the team from Zaragoza