Team Las Vegas Solar Decathlon 2013: Technical Proposal

Team Las Vegas is proposing an elegant, sustainable, and innovative home design that aims to be net zero energy as part of participation in the 2013 Solar Decathlon supported by the Department of Energy and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The home will be constructed and tested at the 2013 Solar Decathlon competition at a location to be determined by NREL. Imagine a home that captures energy instead of reflecting sunlight; one that filters rainwater and sequesters carbon in its vegetation and soils; one that actually gives back to the ecosystem in which it resides, and supports sustainability for all species. The design philosophy imagines a new type of home that could transform the housing market in Las Vegas. The house incorporates all of the high-tech opportunities (smart walls, smart ECS interfaces, solar thermal, PV, etc.) available, without focusing the design on these systems. The systems will support the project’s conception, rather than being its driving force. The conceptual design that Team Las Vegas has developed is the “Autonomy House,” designed to operate independently from all traditional public utility services. It is a self-sufficient structure designed mainly as a recreational or vacation home, while also having the capability to function as a permanent, year-round residence in our arid desert environment. Environmental technologies and renewable energy combine to allow the users to live grid-free in a place of their choosing without having to give up any modern comforts. Careful consideration of accessibility and age-in-place considerations assist in creating a home that can be enjoyed during any stage of life