Czech students created a solar house that impressed in the USA

Prague - Students of the Czech Technical University in Prague have advanced among the 20 finalists of the Solar Decathlon 2013 student architectural competition. In the competition organized by the U.S. Department of Energy, university teams from around the world compete in the design and construction of an energy self-sufficient solar house. Czech students have reached the finals for the very first time, said Dalibor Hlaváček, a member of the competition team, to CTK today.
The Air House - a concept by the CVUT team, is based on a combination of two elements - a wooden box and a lightweight membrane structure. The wooden box contains all technologies necessary for the operation of the house. Its layout is very compact and economical, with dimensions chosen so that it fits into a single container. The membrane, which can be imagined as an inflatable mattress, envelopes the entire living space and forms its smart skin.
"The cleverness of the house lies in its low weight, compactness, easy transport, and quick construction. Essentially, it just needs to be unfolded and inflated," Hlaváček stated. The membrane is load-bearing, thermally insulating, allows light to pass through, generates electricity, and provides shading. "The self-supporting structure made of foil cushions is designed as a double facade. The temperature of the air flowing in the space between the cushions is adjusted as needed, and the structure flexibly reacts to temperature fluctuations in both the exterior and interior," the expert explained. Thin-film photovoltaic cells are integrated directly into the roof cushions, and a reflective print on the membrane ensures shading of the living area. All materials used, including the foil, are 100% recyclable.
One of the toughest competitive disciplines, of which there are ten just like in the decathlon, is according to Hlaváček the energy balance. "A house will earn the full number of points if it produces at least as much electrical energy as it consumes. In the last edition, this limit was met by seven houses out of twenty," the expert pointed out.
The Air House designed by Czech students offers solutions everywhere where time, land, and finances are critical, according to Hlaváček. It represents housing for a young couple, seniors, or temporary housing in cases of natural disasters. "As part of the project preparation, consultations were held with children's homes - one of the potential uses could be bridging housing," he added.
The house must also meet a cost limit. "A house will earn the full number of points if its acquisition costs are below $250,000, or five million crowns. This amount is calculated based on the prices of materials and construction work in the USA. For the Czech market, we expect that the acquisition price will be significantly lower," Hlaváček noted.
The constructions are evaluated in categories such as Architecture, Market Appeal, Technology, Communication, Affordability, Comfort, Hot Water, Appliances, Home Entertainment, and Energy Balance. "Students thus learn about multidisciplinarity and teamwork," Hlaváček stated.
The architectural competition was established in 2002 and is held every two years. The majority of the competing teams are chosen from the North American continent. In the current edition, there are only two European teams present - CVUT and the University of Vienna. The finals will take place in September 2013 in California. Before being sent to the USA, the Czech house will be available for viewing by both the professional and lay public at the CVUT campus.