Built to Passiv Haus specifications, Team Massachusetts Solar Decathlon 4D Home is designed to be affordable and comfortable while creating more energy than it uses. Epoch Homes will build the sun powered modular home in our factory in Pembroke, NH. The house will be on display this September on the National Mall in Washington, DC
Epoch Homes is working with two Massachusetts colleges, the Massachusetts College of Art and Design Department of Architecture and the University of Massachusetts Lowell College of Engineering who are working together as “Team Massachusetts” to develop the 2011 Solar Decathlon 4D Home. The home will be a 1,000 square-foot house for a family of three that is powered by the sun. The 4D Home celebrates the New England vernacular and is designed to accommodate the many changes that all four seasons bring to Massachusetts. The Team is one of 20 university led teams from around the world taking part in the US Department of Energy sponsored competition.
Team Massachusetts chose Epoch Homes of Pembroke, NH to build the 4D home because of Epoch’s commitment to sustainable building practices, and their long history of custom Green homes. Epoch partnered with the Department of Energy in 1998 to build the Cambridge Co-Housing project, one of the first multi family projects in the country to be value engineered and sustainably built. Epoch went on to build the first LEED Platinum duplex in the country and continues to build some of the most sustainable custom homes in the country. Epoch Homes is the nation’s first Green Approved Modular factory by the NAHB Research Center.
“Our employees are very excited to be working with Team Massachusetts on the Solar Decathlon and to be a Leading Sponsor,” said Company CEO, John Ela. “Seeing the student’s enthusiasm as they push the sustainability design envelope is inspiring and provides a glimpse at the future of housing technology for the next generation.”
The 4D Home is designed to evolve with the changing needs of a family over the 4th dimension (time) by offering a flexible floor plan with movable interior walls. The Green Prefab design is based upon the Passiv Haus standard. A Passive House is a very well-insulated, virtually air-tight building that is primarily heated by passive solar gain and by internal gains from people, electrical equipment, etc. Energy losses are minimized. Any remaining heat demand is provided by an extremely small source. During the shorter and colder months of winter, the 4-D Home will have a net negative energy balance. However, by taking advantage of summer’s high sun and long days, its photovoltaic panels will produce an abundance of electricity during that season. The result is a small yearly surplus. Also, the home is able to lower electricity consumption substantially by using a solar thermal system to meet 85% of the domestic hot water load.
What is the Solar Decathlon?
The Solar Decathlon has grown into one of the most highly anticipated design competitions ever held. Thousands of people visit the National Mall to see the potential of houses that combine affordability, energy-efficient construction and appliances, and renewable energy systems available today. The twenty houses from all over the globe will assemble in Washington D.C. on the National Mall September 23 to October 2, 2011.
Links:
Tour the Decathlon House on the Epoch Production Line
http://www.solardecathlon.gov/ for more info on the competition.
Team Massachusetts Solar Decathlon Brochure
