WaterShed was the University of Maryland's entry into the 2011 U.S.DOE Solar Decathlon.  It won first place in Architecture and in the overall competition.  

In addition to being a beautiful net-zero-energy modular home, WaterShed conveys a strong message of water conservation and management. The dwelling is divided into two modules: the Living Module (living room, dining room and kitchen) and the Sleeping / Working Module (home office and bedroom). The bathroom forms the bridge between the two modules, spanning the homes 'water axis' - a constructed wetland to treat greywater and to capture, filter and store rainwater.  The visual connection between the bathroom and the wetlands (via a large glazed wall) beautifully underscores the fact that whatever we flush down the drain ultimately ends up in nature.  Stewardship of our natural resources is essential to sustaining our quality of life.

The landscape also includes a modular vegetable garden adjacent to the kitchen, bridged by a deck that includes a composting station.  Here again, the goal is to make a closed cycle of nutrients (waste = food) visible.

WaterShed also contained many innovative technologies including a liquid desiccant dehumidifier that also serves as a beautiful piece of interior furniture and as a water feature.  Minisplit heat pumps provide the main heating and cooling functions, supplemented by the desiccant system and by space heaters tied to the solar thermal array.  The entire system is redundant and reconfigurable, capable of utilizing differnt sources of energy (solar electricity or heat) to provide for resident comfort.

WaterShed currently serves as an educational interpretive center for Pepco, the local power utility.