I’ll huff and I’ll puff and I’ll still not be able to blow your (solar) house down

BeauSoleil, the University of Louisiana-Lafayette’s entry into the Solar Decathlon competition in Washington DC

Imagine a completely self-sufficient house strong enough to withstand another Hurricane Katrina. Students at the University of Louisiana-Lafayette did imagine it — and then built it with locally-available materials and solar technology. This year their house — named BeauSoleil, “sunshine” in Cajun French — is part of the Solar Decathlon competition in Washington DC, where it is on display with 19 other 100% solar-run homes built by university students from around the world.

According to a recent survey commissioned by the Solar Energy Industries Association, 92% of Americans think it’s important for the United States to develop solar technologies. About half are currently thinking of adding solar options to their homes or businesses. This means homes like the BeauSoleil potentially have a market in the U.S.

Gretchen Lacombe-Vanicor, the BeauSoleil team project manager, told a crowd waiting to tour the home that every student who helped design BeauSoleil felt a strong, personal attachment to the project: they’re all Louisiana natives and many experienced Katrina. Building a home that would still be standing after a Category 5 hurricane was of tantamount importance to them, she said. Also important? Using locally-available materials, such as cypress wood, running the home on solar power (39 solar panels, to be exact) and creating a home design that reflected Cajun culture’s emphasis on family, friends and food (gumbo, to be exact.)

I visited the BeauSoleil with a friend on Saturday, and while the building and design are beautiful, I wonder how feasible the house is as a mass-produced home. The BeauSoleil website says this home would cost between $120,00o to $150,000. That’s not bad but the house is small at under 800 square feet (per Solar Decathlon rules) and felt even smaller due to inefficient use of space. Despite several windows that faced south, the BeauSoleil was not bright. Even if a potential consumer were incredibly motivated to buy a 100% solar-powered home, the University of Louisiana-Lafayette team would likely have to make a few changes to the house for it to be marketable.

The BeauSoleil and other Solar Decathlon homes will be open for free tours again from Oct. 15-18.

Inside the BeauSoleil

People touring the BeauSoleil look up at the ceiling. My friend Bobbie DiPasquale is in the center of the picture.

Cajun welcome mat

Small flower and herb garden built into the BeauSoleil’s siding

The BeauSoleil reflected in a pool of plants indigenous to Louisiana

Note: A slightly different version of this post also appears on the Planet Forward-George Washington University blog page.

Oct 11, 2009 | Uncategorized | 1 Comment »