Virginia Tech’s Lumenhaus was just awarded the grand prize at the Solar Decathlon Europe 2010 in Madrid, beating out the University of Applied Sciences Rosenheim by less than one point in the event’s inaugural year. University of Florida’s RE:Focus also shined, bringing home the public choice award via public online voting. In its first year to be hosted internationally, this was a great showing by American Universities and a promising sign for the future of the US design and engineering industry.
Virginia Tech’s ‘Lumenhaus’ is a flexible pavilion style home inspired by Mies Van Der Rohe’s Farnsworth house. Large glass walls to the North and South are shaded by their custom designed ‘Eclipse System’ which has the ability to slide open with the glass allowing the occupant to become more in tune with nature. Rainwater collection, radiant floor heating and sun tracking solar PV panels are just a few of the