Maryland’s House. Photo credit: Stefano Paltera / Solar Decathlon

The 2005 Solar Decathlon took place on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., October 7-16th 2005. The event featured 18 collegiate teams from across the U.S, Canada, Puerto Rico and Spain.
The teams designed, built, operated and monitored small super-efficient solar homes. The Sun’s energy powered day-to-day activities- including driving around in electric cars.

The Univeristy of Colorado created a
‘Petroleum Alternative’ Building System called The BioS(h)IP. This building is a Net Zero Energy Home (NZEH) that makes use of what I would call high-tech natural building materials. The Colorado team unveiled the innovative new product called called BIO-SIPs, a biobased structural insulated panels. Net Zero Energy buildings create as much energy as they use on an annual basis. All of these buildings were off the grid, so they would have to create all the power needed for consumption. The BioS(h)IP will find a permanent home in the Solar Village, part of the Prospect New Town housing development, in Longmont, Colorado.

I’m glad to see students have created housing that can be powered by clean renewable energy. After all, the large constant nuclear explosion 887,000,000 miles away happens to power our solar system… why not our house hold appliances? I can’t wait to see what they come up with in 2007.

The 16th annual Energy Design Conference is coming up this February 7th and 8th at the Convention Center in Duluth, Minnesota.

Update Feb 9th 2006

I posted a few photos » of vendor displays that caught my interest.

The Science Museum of Minnesota has created a permanent ( but seasonal) attraction called The Science House. This house is designed to be a zero-emissions building. The goal is to produce as much energy as it uses on an annual basis. It includes a passive solar orientation, geothermal heat pumps, integrated solar panel roofing, air tight building envelope, and energy efficient lighting.

I was unable to visit the building due to it being a seasonal facility. So if you plan on visiting- check the hours first!

More Photos »

The University of Minnesota’s Borealis III comes in 2nd at the 2005 North American Solar Challenge.
First to the finish line, was University of Michigan’s ‘Momentum’. This race is the longest solar car race in the world. Covering approximately 2,245 miles from Austin, Texas to Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

The Hunt Utilities Group, LLC has created a large research office building constructed with strawbale and cob up in the Northland of Minnesota. Much of the work has been documented in their website www.hugllc.com. Their guiding philosophy is to shorten the loop by using local construction materials, local energy sources ( the sun ), raising food locally, and recycling water… To be a symbiont, not a parasite.

This wonderful artwork created by Pete Anderson.
Photo by Paul Hunt.

Goals for the Research Campus

• Every building will be able to heat and cool itself without fossil fuel
• The campus will create no sewage effluent
• Some of the houses will use little or no additional water other than what falls upon their roofs
• Use permaculture in the planning, development and growth of the campus
• Raise food in adjoining greenhouses for ongoing harvest year round
• Build a community that lives in a manner that is sustainable without degrading the environment

Hunt Utilities Group, LLC
2502 24th St SW
Pine River, MN 56474
(218) 587-5001
Fax (218) 587-5002
www.hugllc.com

Google Map

Update: Jan 2006
See HUG Video »