University students will travel to China to compete against students from around the world to build the best solar-powered home. 

This will be the first year the U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Decathlon, an international design competition where 20 universities design and construct sustainable homes, is held in China. The competition will take place in Datong, China in August, and the winning house will be built there. Winners will return in the spring to help with construction.

The University first started participating in the U.S.-based competitions in 2007 but has not placed since 2009, when the team won second prize.

Some universities have teamed up with universities in other countries. This year’s University team, which is composed of students from various colleges, has partnered with Peking University in China.

“It is an honor to be the partner to Peking University because they were selected to organize China’s first solar decathlon competition,” said Kevin Donovan, project manager and graduate student in architecture. “Peking chose us based on our success in previous competitions. It is really a great thing for U of I.” 

The ultimate goal of the team is to make a net zero house, meaning its energy consumption has to break even with its energy production, which in this case will be via solar power. The houses will be judged on their performances in 10 categories: architecture, market appeal, engineering, communications, affordability, comfort zone, hot water, appliances, home entertainment and energy balance. Donovan said the University will compete against countries such as Israel, Iran, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Australia and Egypt.

The University will build its fourth house in 2013. This year, University competitors have designed their home with unique features such as LED lighting, automatic controls for lighting and devices like TVs and sustainable materials, such as bamboo, cork floors and recycled glass countertops. The design for the home also includes elements of Chinese architecture.

“Since it is in China and we are working with a Chinese partner, we tried to model our house conceptually after a Chinese traditional house,” said Zak Helmick, project architect and graduate student in architecture. “So we utilized features like the entry courtyard using a private entrance and tried to relate our design as much as we can to the general public in China while keeping it energy efficient and modern.”

Datong has been making efforts to transition to being more environmentally friendly. At the same time, they are hoping to retain elements of its history and culture.

“This competition is truly unique because in China, as part of this entire new sustainable development, they are going to permanently site their houses if they perform well enough, and they will buy the houses and showcase them,” Donovan said.

Mike Wang, project engineer and graduate student in Engineering, said the solar decathalon is about more than building a home.

“The solar decathlon China competition gives me the opportunity to work with and learn from so many talented people from different academic disciplines,” Wang said. “I am humbled by the enthusiasm, drive and intelligence of this year’s team.”

Abigail can be reached at [email protected].