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About Solar Decathlon

Solar Decathlon is an award-winning program that challenges collegiate teams to design, build, and operate solar-powered houses that are cost-effective, energy-efficient, and attractive. The winner of the competition is the team that best blends affordability, consumer appeal, and design excellence with optimal energy production and maximum efficiency. The first Solar Decathlon was held in 2002. And 2013 was the first time the international competition held in China.

O-house, the works from Solar Decathlon

O-house

Construction: 2011 winter
Completion Time: 2013 summer
Design & Architecture Team: 59 students and 18 teachers from architecture, building environment, civil engineering, environment, construction management, electrical engineering and so on.
Construction Area：80m2

What does “net-zero” mean?

“O-house” means zero energy which is a real building includes production, module, unit, house and community, is targeted to solve typical problems in China and tailored to the Chinese market. The house is a component of several related elements, such as product, modular, unit, house and community, which can function individually or combine in innovative ways. They can be plugged into the old city and combined with tourism industry.

Challenge

The whole processing of the project lasts two years, which requires the team members maintain continuous enthusiasm. However, the assembling period is very short, only 10 days, and disassembling also has time limitation which requires the method of design and system in higher level.

Surprise

Besides energy efficiency the O-House offers nearly 80 square meters of living, eating, cooking, sleeping, bathing and home automation space. The modular design can be easily changed and adapted to the individual needs of the residents. The mechanical system of expansion and contraction products such as countertop in kitchen, PV panel structure and tool boxes were made by the students. They also designed changeable and movable interior furniture for bedroom, living room, kitchen and storage room, and realize the ideas finally with the help of Häfele Hardware solutions.