Thursday, 24 June 2010 01:57

Let's hope both Spain and the United States can both make it far enough in the World Cup to meet each other in the semi final rounds.  But if we can't meet on the pitch for the challenge of the cup, we can at least know that the challenge of a zero-energy home is being met right now by UF students on Spanish soil.

The Solar Decathlon is a competition in which university teams design and build an 800-square-foot house that must only run on solar energy.  Our very own UF team (in which INDIGOGreen's very own Sam Kuhpal paricipated in) is one of only two U.S. groups competing.  The house was constructed using reclaimed heart pine sourced by our local deconstruction artists the Bearded Brothers, as well as Accoya wood and Kohler sinks through INDIGOGreen.  Quite a feat, the house was initially built in Gainesville then disassembled for transportation to Madrid then reassembled in ten days for the competition.

So now, the UF team needs your help.  The University of Florida team can receive the Web Choice Award over 16 other universities from around the world who all think they have designed the best solar-energy home.  Running through June27th, visitors to the Solar Decathlon may vote for their two favorite solar house designs.  The house that gets the most votes will received the less meaningful but nonetheless coveted Web Choice Award.

To vote for your swampland team, go to:

 http://www.sdeurope.org/novedades/votacion_casa.htm