Students of Technical University of Denmark (DTU) has formed Team DTU to participate in the 2012 edition of Solar Decathlon Europe, which takes place in Madrid, Spain, 13-30 September.

Solar Decathlon Europe is an international competition among universities which promotes research in the development of efficient houses. The objective of the participating teams is to design and build houses that consume as few natural resources as possible and produce minimum waste products during their life cycle. Particular emphasis is put on reducing energy consumption and on obtaining all the necessary energy from the sun.

Read more about Solar Decathlon Europe 2012

Bringing together academia and business

Team DTU combines students from various study backgrounds, such as architectural engineering, sustainability engineering, computer science and strategic management. The multidisciplinary team participates in the contest with its project named FOLD – a house designed by the students at the Technical University of Denmark with the support from professors and faculty supervisors, sponsors and other partners.

Among the partners are leading Danish companies such as Grundfos, Rockwool and VELUX. The partners have ensured that Team DTU has not lacked equipment nor knowhow in the design and construction of FOLD.

The FOLD concept

The Solar Decathlon Europe competition is a chance for Team DTU to show that it is crucial for the energy-friendly buildings of the future that building design, indoor climate and energy consumption are addressed as early as possible in the design process. 

FOLD took its shape from a folded rectangular paper. The house is characterized by a spacious and non-linear structure that allows it to be flexible depending on the locality where it will be situated: the angle of the folding elements can be altered to allow for the maximum exposure of the solar cells towards the sun and as such improved energy-efficiency.

FOLD is a plus-energy house, which means that it produces solar energy both for itself and for the society. 

Read more about FOLD

Visit FOLD in Madrid

The public can visit the FOLD house at Villa Solar, Madrid, until 30 September, to see a real-life presentation of the housing of the future - for opening hours, go to the website of Team DTU.

Unexploited potential in low-energy buildings

In Denmark, almost half the energy consumed by buildings goes on heating, ventilation, cooling and lighting. In other words, a huge unexploited potential exists for cutting the energy consumption in buildings through the use of solar energy. With the Solar Decathlon project, Team DTU explores new standards for the low-energy buildings of the future. 

Sources: www.solardecathlon.dk and www.sdeurope.org

Photo source: www.solardecathlon.dk

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