The team will be demonstrating the solar skin at the 2014 Solar Decathlon at Versailles in June 2014. Termed the ‘Olympic Games for sustainable construction’, the Solar Decathlon is a competition between 20 universities from around the world taking place at a site adjacent to the Sun King's palatial gardens. Twenty houses have to function independently for two weeks, using only solar energy. The entries are assessed on ten criteria, hence the name Decathlon. With over 300,000 visitors, this is an opportunity for companies, students and universities to showcase their know-how and products on the world stage. The other entries are new-build villas or plans that consist of new-build additions to existing premises.
The Delft University students will build the solar skin around a typical Dutch terraced house. The skin incorporates solar panels and smart technology which renders the house carbon neutral. It is also affordable, social and completely sustainable and is called Prêt-à-Loger – ready to be lived in – because it can be wrapped around a house while the occupants are in residence, being able to live in the house while the renovations are carried out.
One of the great challenges for housing is to make it sustainable. The Dutch Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations is participating in the concept through the Energy Leap Innovation Programme and wants to implement it in various neighbourhoods in the Netherlands. The principle of the Energy Leap concept is that total net expenses of residents following modifications must not be higher than before, with the difference being that energy costs will be reduced to zero when the mortgage or rent is higher. Financial feasibility of Prêt-à-Loger is therefore an important area of concern.
The project is supported by a number of partners involved in the construction industry. TBI-nterprises ERA Contour will build the house, Hazenberg Bouw en Koopmans Bouwgroep. Putman Installaties BV en Solar Compleet BV will supply the climate control system, Van Dorp Installaties is responsible for the PCMs and domotics, Sto Isoned will supply the post-insulation panels and DMEGC the solar cells integrated in glass and the PV System. Additional support is being provided by TU Delft, Deerns, DPA Cauberg-Huygen, The Green Village, EcoBouw, Solarevent, Komplot and Printer Pro.
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