Precedent Analysis arc 572 UT Solar Decathlon 2009

Precedent Analysis arc 572 UT Solar Decathlon 2009 BLOOMhouse University of Texas at Austin I 2007 ARCHITECTURE I INTERIOR I TECHNOLOGY I SOCIETY architecture materials comfort zone getting around engineering appliances energy balance communications lighting hot water market viability Interior Open Plan Private to Public Gradation University of Texas at Austin’s “BLOOMhouse” intends to be an adaptable design using solar power as its inspiration. The design is a long, rectangular volume oriented with the long sides facing North/South for solar performance. On the interior, the open plan creates mixed-use zones rather than individual rooms. Obstruction of Open Plan Exterior Perspective, East End

Precedent Analysis arc 572 UT Solar Decathlon 2009 BLOOMhouse University of Texas at Austin I 2007 ARCHITECTURE I INTERIOR I TECHNOLOGY I SOCIETY architecture materials comfort zone getting around engineering appliances energy balance communications lighting hot water market viability South Exterior with Sliding East Panel Exterior Paneling BLOOMhouse’s skin is interactive with the environment. Lightweight plastic panels on a premounted rack system block direct solar gain and provide ventilation by swaying with the wind. The east end living area can be opened to the outside with sliding doors. The large sliding panels on this end can also block solar gain or define outdoor space depending on its position. Also, on the southern side, shade screens help to block the sun in the summer months. The combination of the PV panels and shade screens give the roof line its v-shape. Solar / Passive

Precedent Analysis arc 572 UT Solar Decathlon 2009 BLOOMhouse University of Texas at Austin I 2007 ARCHITECTURE I INTERIOR I TECHNOLOGY I SOCIETY architecture materials comfort zone getting around engineering appliances energy balance communications lighting hot water market viability Windows on the north and south aren’t as large as one might expect of a fluid space design, although the transparent doors and east wall allow for more light and fluidity with the outdoors. North Elevation Section facing west through kitchen South Elevation Section facing north

Precedent Analysis arc 572 UT Solar Decathlon 2009 BLOOMhouse University of Texas at Austin I 2007 ARCHITECTURE I INTERIOR I TECHNOLOGY I SOCIETY architecture materials comfort zone getting around engineering appliances energy balance communications lighting hot water market viability “BLOOMhouse is constructed of 6” Structurally Insulated Panels (SIP's) with an R-24 value that reduce heating and cooling costs throughout the life of the home. Metal-faced SIPs perform structurally, and act as a thermal and moisture barrier. The Photovoltaic Panels, together with a roof brim form a butterfly shape for the roof. The PV Panels are mounted in racks of 5 on the flat roof that to speed deployment. The Bloomhouse has steel frames, called "moment frames, " transferring pv rack loads to the foundation while also picking up lateral forces on the long sides of the building” ( http: //soa. utexas. edu/solard/node/36).

Precedent Analysis arc 572 UT Solar Decathlon 2009 BLOOMhouse University of Texas at Austin I 2007 ARCHITECTURE I INTERIOR I TECHNOLOGY I SOCIETY architecture materials comfort zone getting around engineering appliances energy balance communications lighting hot water market viability Construction Process

Precedent Analysis arc 572 UT Solar Decathlon 2009 BLOOMhouse University of Texas at Austin I 2007 ARCHITECTURE I INTERIOR I TECHNOLOGY I SOCIETY architecture materials comfort zone getting around engineering appliances energy balance communications lighting hot water market viability Construction Process

Precedent Analysis arc 572 UT Solar Decathlon 2009 BLOOMhouse University of Texas at Austin I 2007 ARCHITECTURE I INTERIOR I TECHNOLOGY I SOCIETY architecture materials comfort zone getting around engineering appliances energy balance communications lighting hot water market viability Construction Process

Precedent Analysis arc 572 UT Solar Decathlon 2009 BLOOMhouse University of Texas at Austin I 2007 ARCHITECTURE I INTERIOR I TECHNOLOGY I SOCIETY architecture materials comfort zone getting around engineering appliances energy balance communications lighting hot water market viability Transportation and Assembly

Precedent Analysis arc 572 UT Solar Decathlon 2009 BLOOMhouse University of Texas at Austin I 2007 ARCHITECTURE I INTERIOR I TECHNOLOGY I SOCIETY architecture materials comfort zone getting around engineering appliances energy balance communications lighting hot water market viability Transportation and Assembly

Precedent Analysis arc 572 UT Solar Decathlon 2009 BLOOMhouse University of Texas at Austin I 2007 Foundation Plan ARCHITECTURE I INTERIOR I TECHNOLOGY I SOCIETY architecture materials comfort zone getting around engineering appliances energy balance communications lighting hot water market viability Section through Floor The foundation is stacked standard, concrete masonry units on 24”x 24” ABS plastic footing with the chassis in the center. The floor SIPs are OSB skin, meaning laminated plywood sandwich panels. The walls and roof SIPs are “Steel Snap-N-Lock” sandwich panels. The steel sheathing skins are bonded to an expanded polystyrene insulation core.

Precedent Analysis arc 572 UT Solar Decathlon 2009 BLOOMhouse University of Texas at Austin I 2007 Connections ARCHITECTURE I INTERIOR I TECHNOLOGY I SOCIETY architecture materials comfort zone getting around engineering appliances energy balance communications lighting hot water market viability Roof Steel Framing Plan The steel framing is 8’ o. c. on the west end until the deck meets the house, where the framing is 4’ o. c. This could be to provide more structural connections to the preassembled fiberglass decking or for more aesthetic reasons by defining a different type of space. The drawing above on the left shows how the SIP walls and steel framing are connected.

Precedent Analysis arc 572 UT Solar Decathlon 2009 BLOOMhouse University of Texas at Austin I 2007 BLOOMhouse uses a 6. 6 k. W PV array system to power the home, including all its appliances and an electric car. On the west end of the roof, solar thermal collectors collect the heat from the sun to directly or indirectly heat the water for the house. ARCHITECTURE I INTERIOR I TECHNOLOGY I SOCIETY architecture materials comfort zone getting around engineering appliances energy balance communications lighting hot water market viability

Precedent Analysis arc 572 UT Solar Decathlon 2009 BLOOMhouse University of Texas at Austin I 2007 ARCHITECTURE I INTERIOR I TECHNOLOGY I SOCIETY architecture materials comfort zone getting around engineering appliances energy balance communications lighting hot water market viability Interior surface materials used were bamboo flooring, different modular panels of Medite for interior wall and ceiling finishes, and varia resin panels for the bathroom and shower.

Precedent Analysis arc 572 UT Solar Decathlon 2009 BLOOMhouse University of Texas at Austin I 2007 “Texas-sized” kitchen ARCHITECTURE I INTERIOR I TECHNOLOGY I SOCIETY architecture materials comfort zone getting around engineering appliances energy balance communications lighting hot water market viability

Precedent Analysis arc 572 UT Solar Decathlon 2009 BLOOMhouse University of Texas at Austin I 2007 Bathroom with varia resin panels for walls ARCHITECTURE I INTERIOR I TECHNOLOGY I SOCIETY architecture materials comfort zone getting around engineering appliances energy balance communications lighting hot water market viability

Precedent Analysis arc 572 UT Solar Decathlon 2009 BLOOMhouse University of Texas at Austin I 2007 Bedroom with Medite wall paneling ARCHITECTURE I INTERIOR I TECHNOLOGY I SOCIETY architecture materials comfort zone getting around engineering appliances energy balance communications lighting hot water market viability

Precedent Analysis arc 572 UT Solar Decathlon 2009 BLOOMhouse University of Texas at Austin I 2007 BLOOMhouse used LED lighting on the interior and exterior. ARCHITECTURE I INTERIOR I TECHNOLOGY I SOCIETY architecture materials comfort zone getting around engineering appliances energy balance communications lighting hot water market viability

Precedent Analysis arc 572 UT Solar Decathlon 2009 BLOOMhouse University of Texas at Austin I 2007 ARCHITECTURE I INTERIOR I TECHNOLOGY I SOCIETY architecture materials comfort zone getting around engineering appliances energy balance communications lighting hot water market viability

Precedent Analysis arc 572 UT Solar Decathlon 2009 BLOOMhouse University of Texas at Austin I 2007 Vent above kitchen area ARCHITECTURE I INTERIOR I TECHNOLOGY I SOCIETY architecture materials comfort zone getting around engineering appliances energy balance communications lighting hot water market viability “Our design goal is to build a sealed house with minimum infiltration, and to use a ventilation system to control the supply of fresh air. This system has several advantages. First, energy consumption would decrease as large infiltration would be avoided during windy weather conditions. Also, mechanical ventilation provides better moisture transport control. Finally, mechanical ventilation supplies constant level of fresh air that enables filtration and provides higher level of air quality control in the house. An efficient multi-zone split system was selected to provide the greatest level of temperature control within the house. Additionally, a heat recovery unit helps reduce the total amount of energy being used to condition the interior space” (http: //soa. utexas. edu/solard/node/16)

Precedent Analysis arc 572 UT Solar Decathlon 2009 BLOOMhouse University of Texas at Austin I 2007 “Solar thermal collectors absorb and store the sun's energy to provides warmth and hot water for the house. A hydronic radiant floor heating system will be installed in the BLOOM House to provide responsive and comfortable heating, while efficiently utilizing extra energy stored in the hot water system … A radiant floor system provides heat and comfort by radiant heat transfer through the floor, which distributes heat evenly to the occupied space, unlike a typical convection system. The system consists of three zones of circulating hot water in pex-al-pex tubing embedded in Warmboard Radiant flooring, a composite subfloor of plywood an aluminum sheet for heat distribution, which sits beneath the hard wood floor. The heat from the water is conducted to the aluminum and up through the floor providing a comfortable, sustainable heating experience powered by the sun” (http: //soa. utexas. edu/solard/node/16). ARCHITECTURE I INTERIOR I TECHNOLOGY I SOCIETY architecture materials comfort zone getting around engineering appliances energy balance communications lighting hot water market viability Bloomhouse placed 1 st in the hot water category of the competition.

Precedent Analysis arc 572 UT Solar Decathlon 2009 BLOOMhouse University of Texas at Austin I 2007 Points were awarded on how many miles each team completed with their electric cars fueled by their PV systems. University of Texas placed 18 th in this category. ARCHITECTURE I INTERIOR I TECHNOLOGY I SOCIETY architecture materials comfort zone getting around engineering appliances energy balance communications lighting hot water market viability

Precedent Analysis arc 572 UT Solar Decathlon 2009 BLOOMhouse University of Texas at Austin I 2007 The UT team also designed a more marketable 1, 236 square foot home. This version, at about $82 per square foot, cost $110, 636 and shares design strategies with the decathlon version. Their current projected budget is estimated at $450, 000, including the construction cost, logistics and transportation cost, and funding for research. The team also put the competition house up for sale suggesting a minimum bid of $200, 000. ARCHITECTURE I INTERIOR I TECHNOLOGY I SOCIETY architecture materials comfort zone getting around engineering appliances energy balance communications lighting hot water market viability