Team Canada’s TRTL Solar Decathlon House is a Modern Take on a Native American Home

At the 2011 <a href="http://www.solardecathlon.gov/index.html">Solar Decathlon</a> in Washington D.C., a turtle-shaped house stands out from the masses of rectilinear homes currently on display in West Potomac Park on the National Mall. Looking somewhat like an elongated teepee with solar panels, Team Canada's <a href="http://solardecathlon.ca/" target="_blank">TRTL</a> house fuses traditional Native American tribal traditions with twenty-first century technology. The zero-energy sun-powered prefab was designed and built by students from the <a href="http://www.ucalgary.ca/">University of Calgary</a>, and it is currently competing with <a href="http://www.solardecathlon.gov/teams.html">18 other homes</a> in the biennial design-build competition. Featuring a tight, highly insulated envelope, <a href="http://solardecathlon.ca/" target="_blank">TRTL</a> can withstand frigid northern temperatures and functions using only the energy provided by its rooftop solar array. Click through our exclusive gallery to learn more about the <a href="http://solardecathlon.ca/" target="_blank">TRTL</a>, whose name stands for "technological residence, traditional living!"

TRTL's distinctive turtle “shell,” is made up of highly durable steel and TitanWall SIPs (structural insulated panels), which are fire and mold resistant and can last 75 to 100 years without maintenance.

While we like the rounded shape of the house, the Solar Decathlon judges seemed to be less enthused, as <a href="http://www.solardecathlon.gov/team_canada.html" target="_blank">TRTL</a> placed at the bottom of the pack in the <a href="http://www.solardecathlon.gov/scores_contests_architecture.html" target="_blank">architecture</a> category.

Building on the importance of family and community gathering, the open plan of Team Canada's 1000 square foot <a href="http://solardecathlon.ca/our" target="_blank">TRTL house</a> features a flexible dining and living area that fosters family relationships.

The two bedroom TRTL home can be assembled quickly and can also be easily modified to accommodate more space.

The <a href="http://solardecathlon.ca/our" target="_blank">TRTL house</a>'s interior is designed with warm decor and comfortable furnishings with patterns reminiscent of Canada's Native American culture.

TRTL's modern kitchen is the focal point of the home, located adjacent to the main living space. The design encourages family cooking, and the kitchen is outfitted with energy-efficient appliances and ventilation to discourage humidity when cooking.

The open social space of the <a href="http://solardecathlon.ca/our" target="_blank">TRTL house</a> draws from the design of traditional teepees. The space is also directly connected to the home's porch, so residents maintain a connection to the land.

The Canadian Solar Decathlon team made a conscious effort to include even the tiniest cultural details in the TRTL home, like using colorful Native American textiles to create a comfortable interior environment draws upon tribal traditions.

TRTL's prominent photovoltaic system is made up of 37 P235PA panels by <a href="http://www.conenergy.org/">Conenergy</a>, and it operates at 93 percent of its optimal efficiency.

The 8.7kW solar panels produce enough energy to power the home all year round with excess energy to boot, making <a href="http://solardecathlon.ca/our" target="_blank">TRTL</a> a net zero Solar Decathlon home.

Interestingly, one of the stipulations for building on Native American reservations is that if the building has a permanent foundation, it becomes the property of the government, which gives residents of reservations little reason to invest in a home. Team Canada wanted to use their Solar Decathlon house to create a structure that would encourage Native Americans to build their own homes, so they partnered with the native so they partnered with the native tribes that of <a href="http://www.treaty7.org/TreatyNo7.aspx">Treaty Seven</a> to ensure that the house would be suitable for reservations in Canada.

Therefore, <a href="http://solardecathlon.ca/">TRTL</a> is based on a system of screw-piles for its foundation, making it a <a href="http://inhabitat.com/quadrant-house/" target="_blank">temporary modular home</a> that can be removed with no effect on the land. Many of the homes on reservations in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alberta" target="_blank">Alberta</a> are powered by coal burning power plants, which are responsible for tremendous amounts of CO2 emissions each year. <a href="http://solardecathlon.ca/our" target="_blank">TRTL</a> eliminates the need for this polluting power source while encouraging Native Americans to own their own homes and foster family relationships.

A diagram showing the space use of the <a href="http://solardecathlon.ca/" target="_blank">TRTL House</a>.

A rendered floor plan of the <a href="http://solardecathlon.ca/" target="_blank">TRTL House</a>.

A diagram outlining the <a href="http://solardecathlon.ca/" target="_blank">TRTL House</a>'s mechanical systems.

A diagram outlining the <a href="http://solardecathlon.ca/" target="_blank">TRTL House</a>'s private spaces.

A cross section drawing of the exterior of the <a href="http://solardecathlon.ca/" target="_blank">TRTL House</a>.

A cross section drawing of the interior of the <a href="http://solardecathlon.ca/" target="_blank">TRTL House</a>.

An architectural floor plan of the <a href="http://solardecathlon.ca/" target="_blank">TRTL House</a>.