“1st prize in the international “Solar Decathlon 2007″ competition to find the most attractive and energy-efficient solar home in 2007 went to Germany. The competition rules require a fully energy-independent building with a floor area limited to 75 m². The prototype is laden with new technologies and concepts: Vacuum insulation (VIP), thermo-active building systems using phase change materials (PCM), solar power generation (PV) integrated into the facade and roof and many other features ensure energy autonomy. The team from the Technical University in Darmstadt, headed by Prof. Manfred Hegger, triumphed in Washington D.C. against 19 other top universities from the USA, Canada and Spain. This high-tech building will be erected as a project office on the “Lichtwiese” campus at TU Darmstadt, serving as an EnBau model project for detailed testing and optimisation in everyday use.”

http://www.enob.info/en/new-buildings/project/details/solar-decathlon-winner-living-2015-prototype/