A group of 40 students from the University of Wollongong and the TAFE Illawarra Institute have combined to design and construct an energy neutral house as part of the Solar Decathlon China 2013 competition.

Team UOW's ‘Ilawarra Flame’ entry took just 12 weeks to build, five days to tear down and an expected seven days to reconstruct.

The retrofit demonstration of an Australian 1950s fibro cottage is now nearing completion, ready to be put through its paces as it prepares to challenge the world’s best in the international Energy Olympics, to be held in Datong, China later this year.

During the competition Team UOW will participate in 10 events that will test the Illawarra Flame’s liveability and energy efficiency such as cooking, cleaning, doing laundry, watching a movie, hosting a dinner party as well as the marketability and affordability of the house.

This is the first time that an Australian team has been selected to participate in a Solar Decathlon. Team UOW is also the first team to demonstrate how to retrofit an existing house.

Project Manager Lloyd Niccol said the difference between the Illawarra Flame house and other entries is that Team UOW has designed a house and energy solutions that could be applied to thousands of homes in Australia to improve their efficiency.

“This is not just an über cool, ultra futuristic house that has been designed for the sole purpose of competing in the Solar Decathlon,” Mr Niccol said. “In designing and building the Illawarra Flame we wanted to create a house that could be used to inform everyday Australians about energy saving solutions and demonstrate practical ways to future fit their existing homes to improve cost effectiveness and sustainability.”

“With just one to two per cent of Australia’s housing stock replaced every year, improving the performance of our existing buildings provides the greatest potential for immediate positive environmental impact,” added Mr Nicol.

The Illawarra Flame house contains a number of features including pre-fabricated pods that are central to the house design. These pods contain the energy efficient heating, ventilation and air conditioning units, electrical and water systems. The house also incorporates:

  • A photovoltaic-thermal solar system
  • Phase change material thermal store
  • Innovative building management systems
  • Heavily insulated and airtight thermal envelope
  • State of the art photovoltaics and greywater treatment

The Illawarra Flame will be open free to the public at the Innovation Campus of the University of Wollongong between April 24 and 28.