The Solar Decathlon is an international competition of houses powered by 100% solar power held in Washington D.C. The SNAP house, designd and built by University of Texas students, is built in four SNAP's that are designed for flexibility and adaptability. They can be transported on standard flatbed trucks and can be exchanged or new modules can be added to expand the square footage as the needs of the owner change. The house sits on a series of rails so that each snap can be slid into place or removed just as easily. In addition, the roof is hinged so that it can be lowered for transportation. In addition to energy efficiency we were concerned with the overall sustainability of the house. We researched each product that went into the house and tried to provide a showcase of sustainable options.

The competition requires that the house is less than 800 squarefeet and the ten contests test everything from lighting to hot water to the architectural design. It took two years for a team of students to design the house, fundraise and procure materials, construction the house and then transport it to the National Mall.

For more information www.solardecathlon.org