Company culture
iGuzzini contributes to the LOW3 project by the Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya, a winner in the Solar Decathlon Europe Competition
With the solar house LOW3 the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC - Polytechnic University of Catalonia) won top marks in the architecture test in the international Solar Decathlon Europe Competition and took first prize, together with another two universities: Aalto University Finland (Finland) and Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University (USA). The Architecture prize is the first of the two tests of Solar Decathlon Europe, an international competition organised by the Spanish Town Planning Ministry in cooperation with the Polytechnic University of Madrid and the US Energy Department. In awarding this prize, the jury assessed the quality of the architectural design of the houses, their coherence, the flexibility of the spaces, the application of bioclimatic strategies and integration of technological systems. The solar house LOW3 (Low energy+Low impact+Low cost) by UPC, one of the five Spanish designs entered in the competition and the only one to have won this first test, was specially designed to be much more than a home that is self-sufficient in terms of energy. It was designed starting with a thorough analysis of the lifecycle of its materials and components, optimisation of the construction process and a versatile design, which adapts to changes in use (extension, technological upgrades, re-use and recycling). The house has built-in photovoltaic technology and solar thermal systems, which guarantee that the building is capable of generating the
energy it needs. The prototype is also made of low-cost, locally-sourced sustainable materials which are renewable, simple and efficient. In this way, as well as making the house highly energy efficient, the aim of closing the cycle of materials and water as far as possible is achieved. The LOW3 team is made up of 40 students from the Escola Tècnica Superior d’Arquitectura del Vallès (ETSAV - Technical School) at UPC, supervised by professors from the university and directed by professor Torsten Masseck. The project is supported by the Department of Cars and Internal Combustion Engines and the Architecture and Sustainability Group (iPAUS) at UPC, by the Catalan Energy Institute (ICAEN), by the Department for the Environment of the Generalitat of Catalonia and by Adigsa. The design is also sponsored by many companies: Schneider Electric, Schott Solar, Rehau, iGuzzini, Aislux, Ininsa, Black&Decker, Finnforest, Fupicsa, Solarlux, Gutex, Homatherm, Stanley, Grundfos, Biohouse, ProClima and Junkers Bosch Group. Other companies which helped with the design are Biolan, Grupo JG, Zicla, Bioclim, Klein Iberica, Polysun, Unex, ABC, Armacell, Humiambiente, SI Capital, TFM, Espacio Solar, Viru, Bec, Siemens, Espais Domòtics, Espacio Solar, Fustilan, BEC, ElectroDH, Novallini, Giró, Schutz, Galindo and La Salle of Universitat Ramon Llull. On 26 June, Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University was announced as the winner.
Solar Decathlon Europe Competition http://www.sdeurope.org
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