News Brief
Germany Wins Solar Decathlon for Second Time
![](https://www.buildinggreen.com/sites/default/files/styles/smartphone_full/public/Germany.jpg?itok=Q6jWL-hv×tamp=1462015444)
Team Germany focused on making the entire building a platform for photovoltaics; the 11-kW system provides more power than the house needs.
Photo: Jim Tetro, U.S. Department of Energy Solar DecathlonTeam Germany’s home was covered in solar cells: an 11-kW photovoltaic (PV) system on the roof made up of 40 single-crystal silicon panels and about 250 thin-film copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) panels spread over all four walls. Taken together, the PV systems produce approximately twice the electricity needed by the house, carrying the team into first place in the net-metering contest, new to this year’s competition. Team Germany also used some cutting-edge materials, including vacuum-insulated structural panels and phase-change materials in the walls and ceiling. Automated louvers on the windows were designed to maximize daylight exposure while controlling solar heat gain.
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign took second place in the competition with its superinsulated house designed to echo traditional designs from the Midwest. Using salvaged barn wood, the team constructed a house with large amounts of insulation and high-performance windows, boasting that it could be heated with the equivalent of a hair-dryer. A 9.1-kW photovoltaic system on the gabled roof provides more electricity than needed by the house. The Illinois team hopes that a version of the house will soon be available to the public through a partnership with a modular home manufacturer.
![](https://www.buildinggreen.com/sites/default/files/styles/smartphone_full/public/articles/Illinois.jpg?itok=RhPmf5oS×tamp=1462015444)
The Illinois team’s Solar Decathlon house uses salvaged barn wood for siding to help it blend in with other midwestern architecture.
Photos: Jim Tetro, U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon![](https://www.buildinggreen.com/sites/default/files/styles/smartphone_full/public/articles/California.jpg?itok=jtb95ynq×tamp=1462015444)
Team California’s project is designed for a mild climate, with a protected courtyard to promote outdoor living.
For more information:
Solar Decathlon
Published October 30, 2009 Permalink Citation
Wendt, A. (2009, October 30). Germany Wins Solar Decathlon for Second Time. Retrieved from https://www.buildinggreen.com/newsbrief/germany-wins-solar-decathlon-second-time
Add new comment
To post a comment, you need to register for a BuildingGreen Basic membership (free) or login to your existing profile.