The UPC won the first test of the Solar Decathlon Europe competition, along with Finland and United States
July 01, 2010
In this first test, the jury has appreciated the quality of the architectural design of housing, its coherence, the flexibility of its spaces, energy efficient strategies and the integration of technological systems. The solar house LOW3 (Low energy+Low impact+Low cost) of the UPC, one of the five Spanish projects taking part in the contest and the only one who has won this first test, is especially designed to be much more than an energy self-sufficient housing during operation. It is designed based on an exhaustive analysis of the life cycle of their materials and components, an optimization of the process of construction and an adaptable concept changes of uses (expansion, technological upgrading, reusing and recycling).
Integrate photovoltaic technology, so as solar thermal systems, which allows the energy self-sufficiency of the building. Also, the prototype is built with sustainable materials of low-cost, local and renewable, simple and effective. This, coupled with high energy efficiency of housing, allow the goal of closing the most cycles of materials and water. The construction with prefabricated modular and flexible systems facilitates the transformation, expansion and reorganization of the space to adapt to the changing needs of its occupants. All these factors make the UPC LOW3 project an innovative concept of bioclimatic housing.
