Solar Decathlon 2011: The CHIP House Wears Its Thermal Mass on Its Puffy Sleeve

The 2011 SCI-Arc and Caltech Solar Decathlon team are well on their way to seeing their funky padded CHIP house to completion, and they're having a boat load of fun in the process. The CHIP house will feature an unconventional but up-and-coming puffy fabric exterior with a wooden frame. In keeping with the goal to maximize energy conservation and reduce the building's energy footprint, this <a href="http://inhabitat.com/a-serene-double-glazed-glass-facade-envelopes-the-british-embassy-in-warsaw/">unique envelope</a> provides maximum insulation. The skin is buttressed with other advanced <a href="http://inhabitat.com/lung-shaped-fuel-cell-increases-energy-efficiency">energy efficiency</a> and generating technologies that puts it high on the competition's list of top contenders.

The puffy white fabric exterior will have superior insulation properties.

The puffy white exterior will feature top of the line insulation properties.

The fabric will be held together by a timber frame.

Luckily, they are having a whole lot of fun.

The project aims for net-zero impact 80% of the time.

Top of the line energy efficient electronics, LEDs and CFLs combined with daylighting will keep the building's energy footprint really low.