The top six homes in the final results of the 2012 European Solar Decathlon are: 1. Canopea House by Team Rhône-Alpes 2. Patio 2.12 by Team Andalucia 3. MED in Italy by Team Italy 4. ECOLAR by Team
Both vertical and horizontal stacks of Canopea homes can produce nanotowers that respond to the dearth of urban space in France. Each level is a fairly spacious, complete home, and only the very top is
ECOLAR's basic construction, comprised of beams and columns, essentially stays the same but can be configured differently based on the homeowner's preferences. In keeping with the mandates of genuine
Let's put the elevator aside for a moment in order to recognize the value of Unizar's unique Casa PI home, which relies on geometry to reduce overall surface size and therefore slash the home's energy
The Solar Decathlon competition is designed to foster creativity and innovation, not winners. As a result, we admire the teams who have risked their chance of winning in order to experiment with new
Hungarians don't enjoy a lot of great weather, but when they do, the ODOO house terrace will ensure they can make the most of it. The day-lit interior is comfortable too, heated as it is by insulated
Only 86 mm thick, the rooftop RAcell PVT system developed specifically for FOLD also covers a hot water system placed directly beneath it. The overall framing is thin too, but that doesn't mean it isn't
The last time we checked, the Casas Em Movimento House is not actually rotating, but its performance scores are climbing despite some delays in construction. Conceptually, the robust envelope of
Team Brasil chose wood as the main construction materials for their solar-powered Ekó House since these are more readily available in their home country and because they help to raise awareness of the
Although one of the lower scoring teams at this year's Solar Decathlon Europe competition in Madrid, the Sumbiosi house has extraordinary potential and shouldn't be discounted just yet. Not only does Team
MED in Italy is a clever play on words that refers to the fact that the home was made in Italy, but it also refers to the Mediterranean climate around which the home was designed. In order to be able to
The PRISPA's envelope has a dual function: not only does the photovoltaic array produce twice as much energy as the home can use, but it also provides solar protection. Albeit a rather expensive
In addition to its unique circular shape which results in a heat reduction loss of 11%, Casa Pi is the only home made of concrete. Reinforced with glass, this material has a high thermal mass that will
To the team from Denmark that is presently working around the clock to finish the Fold House in time for the official SDE 2012 opening, sustainability entails a collective mindset that requires a sense of
Combining hi and lo technology to create a comfortable powerhouse suitable for the Mediterranean climate, team Roma focused a lot of attention on Med in Italy's thermal massing. Being a more eco-friendly
Designed for a couple without children, Counter Entropy is almost completely open save for the bathroom, which is slightly set apart on the northern side. A large cantilevering roof made of seven prefab
Of the numerous projects we have already reviewed ahead of the Solar Decathlon's official opening next week, the Astonyshine has been the easiest to navigate so far. Their website is super clear and
Taking inspiration from tree canopies that absorb 95% of the forest's overall solar energy and capture 30% of the rainfall, the nanotowers are less than 10 stories high and each floor is its own home. The
Constructed out of pre-stressed wood panels, the Ekó House from Brazil has a modular veranda system that not only respects the Brazilian tradition of having both private and open spaces, but also
Even though ECOLAR is a veritable solar powerhouse, that hasn't prevented the team from Germany from maximizing the home's energy efficiency. Why waste energy, even if it is renewable, right? Enriched
