Issue 32 – October 2011
Wowing jurors with its attention to detail, craftsmanship, and unusual energy visualisation system, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand received first place in the Engineering Contest of the US Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2011. In the overall competition, the University of Maryland took first place, Purdue University took second place, and Victoria University took third place.
'The New Zealand house was beautifully executed, with extreme attention to detail and craftsmanship and an intuitive tree-ring visualisation system, which makes it easy to understand energy use throughout the house,' said Engineering Contest juror Dr Hunter Fanney, chief of the building energy and environment division of the engineering laboratory at the National Institute of Standards and Technology.
The Solar Decathlon challenges 20 university teams, through a series of 10 contests, to demonstrate inventive clean-energy solutions by building solar-powered houses that feature cost-effective, energy-efficient construction and incorporate energy-saving appliances and renewable energy systems.
Visit the Solar Decathlon (www.solardecathlon.gov/about.html) website for more information.
Summarised from media releases by Carol Anna, communications manager of the US. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 30 September 2011 and 2 October 2011.
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