Virginia Tech’s Lumenhaus Wins the 2010 European Solar Decathlon!

The US may have lost in <a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/06/11/world-cup-2010-carbon-footprint-will-be-6x-that-of-last-event/" target="_blank">soccer</a> over the weekend, but we pulled out an incredible victory in the <a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/06/18/solar-decathlon-europe-starts-today/" target="_blank">European Solar Decathlon</a> in Madrid! <a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/06/27/virginia-tech-lumenhaus-wins-2010-solar-decathlon/" target="_blank">Virginia Tech's elegant shape-shifting Lumenhaus</a> received the grand prize for the most efficient solar home after ten days of competition against 16 other brilliant homes. Over the course of ten different contests, the <a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/06/25/lumenhaus-pulls-ahead-at-the-solar-decathlon-with-smart-adaptable-design/dual-shading/?extend=1" target="_blank">Lumenhaus</a> steadily pulled ahead, earning a total of 811 points out of 10,000. It was a tough battle, and it's likely that the Lumenhaus' win in the Architecture competition pulled them through -- they barely beat out Germany's <a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/06/26/german-ikaros-house-takes-the-lead-at-solar-decathlon/" target="_blank">IKAROS</a> house by one point!

This the second time in one year that the team from Virginia Tech has competed with the Lumenhaus.

Back at the <a href="http://inhabitat.com/2009/10/16/germanys-solar-coated-surplushome-wins-solar-decathlon/" target="_blank">US Solar Decathlon</a> in October, the team finished 13th overall out of 20 teams with 704 points.

In the ensuing months between October and May, the team tweaked and improved their overall design and even had a <a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/01/28/virginia-techs-solar-powered-lumenhaus-lands-in-times-square/" target="_blank">test run in Times Square</a> before crossing the pond to Madrid.

The design of the Lumenhaus is fantastic and was well received in DC as well as Madrid, taking home first place for architecture in a three-way tie and receiving a maximum of 120 points.

Lumenhaus' distinguishing feature is its automatic moving facade that can shade or protect the home depending on the weather, yet still lets in natural daylight.

The 800 sq foot home includes one bedroom, a bathroom, and a kitchen and dining room. Even though it isn't much space, it still seems spacious inside.

The roof of the Lumenhaus includes a solar array that can automatically adjust its pitch to receive the optimum solar gain.

The Eclipsis System is an advanced building façade composed of two layers: a metal shutter shade and a translucent insulating panel.

Rainwater is collected and filtered for use withing the home, and gray water from the shower is directed into filtration ponds located next to the house.

A central system monitors and controls the energy systems within the home. A screen in the living room shows how much energy is produced, how much is consumed, and how much is given back to the power grid at any given time.

Landscape ponds include hydroponic plants that treat wastewater, prevent the growth of algae, and repel insects to prevent infestation.

The back deck features sustainable IPE decking and offers space for outdoor living, and expanding the home's usable space.

The moving shade screen not only protects the home from inclement weather, but also shifts throughout the day to provide optimum light and heat (or cooling) within the home.

The moving outdoor screens not only look great, but also let natural light in through translucent aerogel wall panels, helping to insulate the home from heat and cold.

The Lumenhaus Solar Decathlon team.

The home's solar system is located on the roof and is made up of 45 grid-tied solar panels.

The beautiful and luxurious bathroom inside the Lumenhaus uses Daltile bathroom tiles made from recycled materials.

The small home features an open, flexible floorplan that allows the living space to expand in various ways. Virginia Tech's Bauhaus inspired architecture and design made the difference in winning the competition.

An iPhone interface allows residents to easily control the home's climate and lighting as well as the façade's advanced LED light system.

The Lumenhaus also features concrete floors, water-efficient Kohler fixtures, Energy Star Appliances, and Low-VOC paint from Sherwin Williams.