The futuristic building on Burgplatz in Essen was an impressive eye catcher. The so-called plus energy house, which was developed at Darmstadt Technical University with the support of HOCHTIEF, was displayed in downtown Essen from April to June 2010, and was also open to visitors daily. Students who were involved with the project provided guided tours of the house and explained the innovative solar technology.

"The house proves that sustainability means quality of life. It demonstrates marketable innovations. We would like to see as many of these as possible being constructed for everyday living," said HOCHTIEF CEO Herbert Lütkestratkötter at the opening in April 2010. The victory with the plus energy house in 2009 marks the second time that the TU Darmstadt team has won the Solar Decathlon competition for solar construction. Its previous win came in 2007.

Team Germany of Darmstadt Technical University, sponsored by HOCHTIEF, has won the Solar Decathlon a second time. At this international college and university competition organized by the U.S. Department of Energy, participants design houses according to the most recent energy efficiency criteria and then compete against one another. 20 teams from universities around the world took part this year. Construction services provider HOCHTIEF supported the architecture and electrical engineering students from Darmstadt Technical University with technical expertise and financing. HOCHTIEF has a global commitment for sustainable buildings and is the U.S. market leader in the area of "green buildings". Team Germany could also rely on our US-subsidiary Turner: They provided additional materials and equipment required to re-build the house and assisted with the re-packing and securing of the house for its return back to Darmstadt, Germany.

This competition, which was held for the fourth time, aims to present the potential of solar construction to the general public in the context of a construction exhibition. It is also serves as an international exchange in the area of solar, energy-efficient and sustainable construction and living. Participating teams constructed their approximately 80-square meter buildings on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., which were judged according to ten criteria: Architecture, quality of living conditions, documentation, communications, comfort, appliances, hot water, lighting design, energy capabilities and operating electric cars with energy the house produced. In the process, the building had to demonstrate its sustainability in terms of architectural design and technological efficiency. Last but not least, presentation also counted.

At the Solar Decathlon 2007, an international contest launched by the U.S. Department of Energy for solar and energy-efficient construction, 20 universities competed with each other for the best trend-setting, energy self-sufficient building in Fall 2007. The teams supported by HOCHTIEF – Darmstadt Technical University and the University of Maryland – came first and second in the contest.

The young researchers from Darmstadt convinced the jury with the energy balance of their building and won three of the Solar Decathlon's ten sub-contests: Architecture, Engineering and Lighting. In 2008, the solar house developed in Darmstadt could be visited at the international construction trade fair "Deubau 2008" at the Essen Trade Fair grounds. The building was presented exclusively to the German public at the booth of the Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Affairs.