Solar Decathlon Team Maryland

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The Solar Decathlon is a series of international competitions that challenge collegiate teams to design, build and operate solar-powered houses that are cost-effective and attractive. It is based upon an initiative of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the Solar Decathlon was inaugurated in 2002.It consists of ten contests, juried or metered, with prizes for the overall three highest cumulative scores. Teams comply with competition rules, building codes, and graphic standards. Teams enter a Memorandum of Understanding with the Organizers that requires a scheduled set of deliverables. Teams may be either single institutions or a multi-institutional effort.

The Solar Decathlon has expanded internationally to include five additional worldwide competitions: Solar Decathlon Africa, Solar Decathlon China, Solar Decathlon Europe, Solar Decathlon Latin America and Caribbean, and Solar Decathlon Middle East. It is the largest sustainable building research and innovation competition in the world. Technology demonstrated at the decathlon’s have a 5-10 year lead to broad market availability and adoption.

Tens of thousands of students, educators, and industry mentors at over 500 educational institutions from nearly 60 countries on five continents have raised public awareness of the importance of renewable energy, sustainability, and energy efficiency. it has emerged as a core 20th century pedagogy for educating future engineers, architects, and ecological scientists, operating in multidisciplinary teams, to advance sustainability technology. The very scale and complexity of competing in the Solar Decathlon are essential elements in mastering sustainability competence and leadership skills development.

Team Maryland competed as a single institution in 2002, 2005, 2007, 2011, 2017. Maryland took first place overall in 2011, and first place US institutions (second place overall) in 2007 and 2017. In 2002 UMD placed 4th overall. In 2005 Maryland received the People’s Choice Award. Recognized for its record of excellence, Team Maryland has been invited to collaborate on multi-institutional teams for Solar Decathlon Europe and Solar Decathlon Africa, both held in 2019.

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    Solar Decathlon 2017 D-8: Innovations Narrative
    (2017-08-10) Team reACT; Cossard, Patricia Kosco; Lagomarsino, Matt; Binder, Michael P; Rockcastle, Garth C; Adomaitis, Raymond A
    This report describes the team’s approach to innovation, from design to execution. It includes details on how and what research was conducted and how it informed decisions on design solutions. It discusses how the team integrated innovative sustainable strategies, products, and solutions, as well as how the house maximizes sustainability through the use of passive solar strategies, smart materials selection, and/or local considerations in the design. It explains how the innovations relate to and improve the lives of the selected target market. The environmental, social, and commercial benefits are described. Lastly, it answers the questions: Are the innovations durable relative to the life cycle of the house? Will the innovations improve or maintain occupant safety?
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    Solar Decathlon 2017 D-8: Architectural Narrative
    (2017-08-27) Team reACT; Rockcastle, Garth C; Courtney, Christopher
    Architectural Concept and Design Approach including, overall clear concept, idea or ideas to guide the development of the whole design process, design solution and competition prototype house demonstrate overall coherence among disciplines and systems of the home, relation of the home to its target site, unique issues and challenges in its design and execution, sense of inspiration and delight. As well as, Architectural Implementation and Innovation including, use of architectural elements (scale and proportion, indoor/outdoor connections, composition), holistic and integrated design (space, structure, and building envelope) natural and electric lighting integration, material selection, well-conceived details, architectural implementation, energy-efficiency concerns, energy production technology, performance considerations, transportation and pre-fabrication strategies and detailing.