Client: U.S. Department of Energy

Team: with the University of Texas at Austin

Scope: Fully Off-grid LEED Platinum Building

At 800 sqft with a solar array of 6.7 kilowatts, the BLOOMhouse demonstrates the richness a small solar dwelling can offer with the right efficiency and high-tech prowess. As a unique proving ground for many breakthrough residential solar energy technologies, the Solar Decathlon competition attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors to the National Mall in Washington DC. The teamwork provided by the University of Texas students and faculty from the architecture, art, engineering, communications, and business schools made the 2007 UTsolarD design a truly collaborative effort. The work includes a complete construction document set, building on-site, cost estimates and market projections, engineering reports, sale websites, sponsor and press kits, and a multitude of drawings that all communicate one message: LIVE LIFE in BLOOM.

The Solar Decathlon is an international competition bringing together 20 select universities to design, build, and operate the most attractive, effective, and energy-efficient solar-powered house. The design must meet the needs of the average lifestyle of the general public, supporting all the power supply of a typical household, including lighting, cooking, cleaning, telecommunications, and a computer for home/office use, with enough energy remaining to charge an electric vehicle for getting around.

Location: Washington D.C.

Press: