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Flex House: Designing a Better Home

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UF teamed with USF, FSU and UCF to compete in the 2011 Solar Decathlon.

Univ of Fla students are competing in the Solar Decathlon in Washington, D.C.

FLeX House is a zero-energy prototype that was designed to be sustainable and efficient. "FLeX House is tailor made for Florida's hot, humid climate and is sized for a young, moderate-income couple," states Team Florida's website, www.flexhouse.org. Photos courtesy of Team Florida and the Solar Decathlon

Team Florida, a collaboration of four major Florida research universities,competed this fall in the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2011. FLeX House, a flexible modular, pre-fabricated building system that can adapt easily to different site situations and resident needs, was devised from a partnership between students and faculty from UF, USF, FSU and UCF. Team Florida was one of 20 teams in the biennial competition, which challenges college students to design and build energy-efficient, affordable and attractive solar-powered homes.

READ MORE ABOUT UF IN THE TAMPA BAY AREA

It’s the second time in two years UF has participated in a solar decathlon. Last year, UF’s Solar Decathlon team took home the People’s Choice award at Solar Decathlon Europe. RE:FOCUS, as the Florida Cracker-inspired house was called, was one of only two U.S. entries in the competition. Students in architecture, building construction and engineering took part in designing the stylish solar home.

VIEW A PHOTO GALLERY OF THE 2010 HOUSE, RE:FOCUS

For both homes, emphasis was placed on sustainable but comfortable living.

“We are making a contribution to our health and well being, and those of future generations,” said Maruja Torres-Antonini (PhD ’01), a faculty adviser from UF’s College of Design, Construction and Planning who participated in this year’s project.

Univ of Fla students are participating in the Solar Decathlon in Washington DC


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