Solar Decathlon

In a field of 20 U.S. and European universities, the University of Maryland LEAFHouse placed 2nd overall in the Solar Decathlon 2007. LEAFHouse also earned the People's Choice Award, winning the popular vote of the thousands of visitors who flocked to the National Mall to see the solar houses.

LEAFHouse Awards

Solar Decathlon

• 2nd place overall
• 1st place in the Communications Contest
• 2nd place in the Architecture, Market Viability, and Lighting Contests (1st place in the Lighting Subjective Contest)
• One of seven teams to score a perfect score in the Energy Balance Contest

Solar Decathlon Other or Industry Awards

• Solar Decathlon’s BP People’s Choice Award
• ASHRAE: Integration for Renewables for Sustainable Living
• NAHB: First Place in the NAHB Marketing Curb Appeal Award

AIA Potomac Valley

• Special Award for the “Advancement of the Art and Science of Architecture” 

Solar Decathlon Results

Press Coverage

UM News Desk: Graduates Inspired by LEAFHouse Experience
AIA: AIA Potomac Valley Purchases LEAFHouse
Interior Design: The Green Zone
Inhabitat: Maryland's Zero Energy Home
UM News Desk: UM Students Capture Second Place
NBC-4: Homes Go Green on National Mall
Washington Post: A Duel in the Sun
Voice of America: Profile and Video

Project Summary

University of Maryland Architecture students and faculty were central players in the design and construction of the university's entry in the Solar Decathlon 2007 competition. Maryland's entry, LEAFHouse, was on display October 12–20 on the National Mall in Washington, DC.

Beginning in 2006, Architecture faculty advisers Amy Gardner and Julie Gabrielli and Engineering faculty member Dr. Kaye Brubaker began the LEAFHouse design process by offering several courses, including jointly taught architecture and engineering seminars, and graduate-level studios. Over the course of a nearly two-year period, a dedicated multidisciplinary team of students from across the university generated the solar house concepts, programming, design documents, and construction documents, and built the house, with the support of industry mentors, sponsors and other departments of the University.

LEAFHouse, which was built on the grounds of the Architecture School, provides an invaluable "real world" example of sustainable design and construction for students and the university community. 

Visit the LEAFHouse website to learn more about this exciting project.