Solar Decathlon Team Takes First Place Nationally, Second Place Globally In Competition to Design House of the Future

Contacts: Jessica Jennings, 301-405-4618

COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- The University of Maryland’s entry into a competition sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy to design and build full-size, solar-powered houses took second place overall and was the top design from the United States. UMD’s entry, Resilient Adaptive Climate Technology (reACT) seeks to improve sustainability in four ways, and includes a hydroponic garden, “living walls” within its courtyard, modular living elements, predictive automation, and design elements that simplify future upgrades to the house.

Photo of reACT teamA cross-university team with students from multiple colleges at UMD designed reACT. Team Maryland’s entry showcases how a sustainable future is more than just designing a better built home; it is a lifestyle system that incorporates a home with its surrounding environment, interacts with its occupants, and strives to give back more than it takes.

Supporters can still vote through today for the People’s Choice Award in the competition at https://go.umd.edu/sd-peoples-choice.

This year’s results build on the university’s impressive history in the competition. In 2011, the University of Maryland team took first place, and second place in 2007.

Published October 16, 2017