In this video Marcin talks with members of the UAB Solar House team.

In 2017, they designed and built a 1,000 sq. ft. off-grid solar house for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Decathlon. After the competition, it was relocated to UAB’s campus, where it now serves as part of a sustainability demonstration project.

The UAB Solar House is fully powered by solar energy and “islanded”, completely disconnected from the city’s electrical grid. It was built to maximize energy efficiency while maintaining comfort and usability. The space includes a fully equipped kitchen, living/dining area, jack-and-jill bathroom, individual climate control in each room, and a smart TV for presentations. It also features a large porch and outdoor gathering area, surrounded by native gardens.

Full documentation of the project is available. The design is replicable, and there’s potential for adaptation to modular or open-source construction methods (e.g. OSE’s toolkit and build system).

For more information see https://www.uab.edu/sustainability/solar-house-community