Team Hawai’i Withdraws From Solar Decathlon Competition Despite Amazing Design

In what can be only be considered a major disappointment, the <a href="http://www.solar.hawaii.edu/">University of Hawai'i</a> has announced their withdrawal from the upcoming <a href="http://inhabitat.com/category/solar-decathlon">Solar Decathlon competition</a>. Due to timing and financial challenges the team decided to withdraw from the 2011 competition, but wholeheartedly plans to try again in 2013. Despite dropping out, the team has made significant headway into the fields of sustainable architecture, engineering and design as they worked on their plans for their striking home - <a href="http://blog.arch.hawaii.edu/solar/" target="_blank">Hale Pilihonua</a>. With an <a href="http://inhabitat.com/curvaceous-solar-fablab-house-set-to-rock-european-solar-decathlon/">armored shell of solar panels</a>, aerogel high performance insulation, shading louvers, and interactive <a href="http://inhabitat.com/tag/LED">LED lighting</a>, Team Hawai'i's solar home surely would have made for a daring competitor.

Hale Pilihonua, who’s name translates to the “home that is one with the land”.

The home was designed using a holistic approach such to function in harmony with naturally available resources.

The tubular home is covered in shell, or semi-monocoque, structure is made of fiber-reinforced polymer, also commonly used in eco-friendly surfboards.

This rot and pest resistant shell is insulated with translucent and high performance aerogel.

The aerogel allows natural lighting to glow through the facade into the interior.

Inside the home is basically one open floor plan.

Mounted on the exterior are controllable shading louvers, solar photovoltaics and a solar hot water heating system

Landscaping is intended to supplement the family's food supply and makes use of an outdoor aquaponics system.

The modular parts for the home were designed to fit inside a standard shipping container for transport.

The roof's design takes advantage of the sun's path to collect the maximum amount of solar energy.

The electrical engineering students developed programs and demos for interactive LED lightingthat utilize Microsoft Kinect infrared technology to allow the walls to light only areas of the home where occupants reside.

A model of Team Hawai'i solar house.

Looking down on the solar house with it's solar armored shell.