U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2015 | Irvine CA + Gainesville FL | 2013-2015
The Solar Living House is a modular single-family home designed by a team of faculty and students from the University of Florida, in collaboration with Santa Fe College, the National University of Singapore, and Alachua Habitat for Humanity.
The Solar Living House is a house for living. It centers on people and the activities of daily life while quietly introducing advanced design, construction, and engineering technologies. The 993 square-foot two-bedroom one-bath home was designed to embrace and frame an exterior courtyard space. This courtyard acts as an extension of the interior living spaces, maximizing the spatial potentials of a modest building footprint and introducing natural light into the primary living spaces of the house. Innovative solar thermal systems control humidity, increase comfort, improve air quality and reduce energy use.
The project was designed in accordance with the Solar Decathlon 2015, a research, design, education, and outreach program developed by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Organized and administered by the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), the program promotes the development and implementation of solar energy systems in residential construction.
Detailed information about the Solar Living House is available in the Final Technical Report, available online through the U.S. Department of Energy at: https://www.osti.gov/scitech/servlets/purl/1346167 or here: FLOR_FINAL-TECHNICAL-REPORT_2017-03-09.
Status: Built
Location: Irvine, CA, US
My Role: Principal Investigator + Team Leader
Additional Credits: Team Florida / Singapore
Team Florida / Singapore was organized around a core group of students and faculty at the University of Florida (UF) in Gainesville, Florida, with support from students and faculty at Santa Fe College (Gainesville, Florida) and the National University of Singapore (Singapore). The team leaders were principally graduate and undergraduate students in the UF School of Architecture, working directly with the team’s Faculty Advisor, Bradley Walters AIA, and other faculty. At the conclusion of the project, the team consisted of approximately 74 students and 15 faculty.
The student and faculty team was supported by approximately 20 administrative assistants, grant specialists, public relations professionals, development officers, and researchers from the College of Design, Construction and Planning at the University of Florida. In addition, the team included an expansive network of approximately 150 supporters, including direct family members of decathletes, volunteers, and sponsors.
Faculty, Staff, and Administrative Support
UF College of Design, Construction + Planning
Faculty:
Bradley Walters, AIA, NCARB, CPHC® (Principal Investigator)
Stephen Belton, AIA
Lee-Su Huang
Lisa Huang, AIA, NCARB
Mark Andrew McGlothlin, NCARB
Nawari O. Nawari, Ph.D., P.E., M.ASCE
Paul Oppenheim, Ph.D., P.E.
Robert Ries, Ph.D.
Ravi Srinivasan, Ph.D. CEM
James D. Sullivan, Ph.D.
Russell Walters, Ph.D., P.E.
Leadership and Administration:
Christopher Silver, Ph.D., Dean and Professor
Margaret H. Carr, Associate Dean and Professor
William L. Tilson, Assistant Dean for International Studies & Service Learning
Andrew J. Wehle, Ph.D., Assistant Dean
Jason S. Alread, AIA, Director, UF School of Architecture
Robert Ries, Ph.D., Director, M.E. Rinker, Sr. School of Construction Management
Margaret Portillo, Ph.D., Chair, Department of Interior Design
Maria C. Gurucharri, Chair, Department of Landscape Architecture
Joseli Macedo, Ph.D., AICP, Chair, Department of Urban and Regional Planning
University of Florida Foundation:
Ann Baker, Director of Development
Ramin Gillett, Assistant Director of Development
Communications, Media, and Public Relations:
Julie Frey
Katelyn Weber
Brent Ferraro
School of Architecture Staff Support:
Mary Kramer, Office Manager
Brenda Barefield
Lisa Haynes
Becky Hudson
Michelle Matckie
UF College of Engineering
H.A. (Skip) Ingley, Ph.D., P.E.
UF College of Journalism and Communications
Florida Bridgewater-Alford, APR
UF Office of Research
Brian E. Prindle, Associate Director for Sponsored Research, Division of Sponsored Programs
Robert J. Sessions, Jr., Research Administrator, Contracts & Grants Accounting Services
National University of Singapore
Yunn Chii Wong, Ph.D., Head
Abel Tablada de la Torre
Kazuhiro Nakajima
Santa Fe College
Dr. Edward T. Bonahue, Provost
John McNeely, Associate Vice President
Jane Parkin, Director, Construction and Technical Programs
Kurt Strauss
Justin MacDougall
Alachua Habitat for Humanity
Scott Winzeler, Executive Director
