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Solar Decathlon 2007: HOCHTIEF helps researchers to achieve top rankings

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.

Impressions Solar Decathlon 2007, Washington D.C.

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.

The winning house at the international construction trade fair Deubau 2008, Messe Essen

The students from Maryland won the Communications contest and were second best in the disciplines of Architecture, Market Viability and Lighting as well as in the overall ranking. In their "LEAF House", rainwater filtered by the green wall of plants on the south side of the building supplies water to the house and air conditions the rooms. An indoor waterfall regulates the humidity that is very high in Maryland due to frequent precipitation. The experiment is named for the biological leaf, nature's best example of changing sunlight into energy. In this model, 52 photovoltaic panels supply the building with energy. Turner supplied the "LEAF House" with project management expertise and materials.