DURA Home was resilient in responding to environmental disasters, such as Hurricane Sandy. Proximity to the floodplain and the rising sea levels of the Atlantic Ocean increased the need for proactive resilient design in response to the threats of flood water, gale-force winds, and seismic activity. DURA Home was designed for optimal performance in the changing climates of fast-growing, populated cities.
Structural framing model showing the building's steel and joist system.
The engineering strategy for DURA was based on overall efficiency and user-friendliness of the house's technology, with emphasis placed on making the homeowner feel at ease with advanced, integrated technology. DURA Home combined passive solar and passive house design principles with low-energy active systems. Mechanical systems within the home's 6.5 kW array included photovoltaic panels, a greywater system, low-energy mechanical and water harvesting, and Energy Recovery Ventilation (ERV).
The photovoltaic panels tracked the sun seasonally to allow optimal placement and power output. Solar thermal panels maximized the efficiency of the PV panels, and thermal electric panels converted waste heat from the PV panels into electricity. A heat chimney warmed the home through colder months and cooled it in warmer months, while a trombe wall regulated temperature swings for consistency.
Of the average national indoor residential water use, the toilet is the greatest water user, at 60–70 gallons per day per person. Greywater — lightly used water from washing clothes, hands, and dishes — accounts for 50–80% of residential water before it reaches the sewers. DURA offset both statistics by capturing greywater for toilet use rather than drawing on fresh water; during natural disasters or droughts, greywater could also be filtered for garden use or even potable drinking water. Roof runoff was harvested and stored in tanks for the outdoor garden and greenwall. The house was thoroughly insulated above code requirements and built in an airtight envelope, drawing on thermal mass to minimize temperature fluctuations throughout the year.
DURA Solar Decathlon 2015 Archive