Local builder earns 2nd place overall in international competition to build the most attractive & energy efficient solar powered home.

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Category: Press Releases

Created on Friday, 29 October 2010 11:38

Homeway Homes, as the University of Illinois’ builder partner for the International Solar Decathalon Competition, finishes the week with their modular home displayed on the National Mall in Washington DC .

SPRINGFIELD, IL – After months of hard work, and one long week of competition, Homeway Homes as the builder partner with the University of Illinois in the International Solar Decathalon, finishes the worldwide competition in 2nd place. Germany earned 1st and California earned 3rd place. The Illinois home, a response to rural vernacular that showcases modern technology and energy efficiency with a historically significant exterior performed extremely well in the objective contests, earning 1st place in Hot Water, Appliances and Home Entertainment. Also earning a 2nd in net metering and comfort zone. The ISDC is a collegiate competition with international partnerships to create the most energy efficient structure. Homeway Homes was chosen by the University of Illinois to be their builder partner for this years’ competition building the ‘Gable Home’.

The Solar Decathlon invites 20 college and university teams in a competition to design, build, and operate the most attractive and energy-efficient solar-powered house. The Solar Decathlon is a competition sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy in partnership with its National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). .

This is the fourth Solar Decathlon event and the second time the University of Illinois will be involved. The Decathlon gets its name from the 10 specific areas of competition: architecture, engineering, market viability, communications, comfort, appliances, hot water, lighting, energy balance, and transportation. In addition to producing enough electricity and hot water to perform all the functions of a home, from powering lights and electronics to cooking, washing clothes and dishes, each home must produce surplus energy sufficient to power an electric car. The team that finishes the week of competition with the most points wins.

“Our participation just made sense, with our vast education and experience in energy efficient building techniques and green home knowledge,” says General Manager, Ted Schieler. “Our home used half the solar panels of the winner, with equal results. Now we can easily take this technology into the mainstream as an affordable and wise investment for our homes we build here in Central Illinois.

The Gable Home was designed to meet Passive House standards, a rigorous performance evaluation that requires optimal performance and environmentally sensitive design. The house is highly insulated and incorporates advanced window design and installation technology. Such specifications reduce air infiltrations significantly and help the home act like a thermos, maintaining a comfortable, consistent indoor temperature. The house can actually be heated with a hair dryer. The r-rating is very high, uses a renewable bamboo product on the walls, boasts an exterior of reclaimed wood from a barn. The structure came off the Homeway Homes systems built line and delivered to the U of I for them to finish. The house has been on display in Washington DC for 3 weeks in October on the National Mall. It will then be on display next week in Urbana, and then eventually sold.

When barns are no longer of use, they are left to deteriorate peacefully in the farm fields. To further connect the Gable Home with the iconic barns of the mid-west, and in an effort to promote sustainability, they reclaimed wood from dilapidated farm structures to use for the siding and decking of the home.

Schieler & Rassi has been building quality homes throughout the Midwest for over 45 years. A Homeway Home is highly energy efficient with excellent indoor air quality. They offer the latest in building styles, colors and trends. At Homeway Homes they make it easy to build your dream home; with just one team designing and building your new home using building products that work better, last longer, and offer good design.

Interviews, photos and video available for use. For related links visit: www.solardecathalon.org