Solar Decathlon: 5 Energy-Efficient Products in the Daytona Beach Solar House

By Amanda Hermans

Photo courtesy of Team Daytona Beach

Team Daytona Beach’s entry in the U.S. Department of Energy's biennial Solar Decathlon competition is a home for the future, which includes ADA-compliant features and universal design that will allow “homeowners to grow and stay in the house as long as they wish,” the team says.

Students from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and Daytona State College in Florida designed The BEACH (Building Efficient, Affordable, and Comfortable Homes) House as a solution to update infrastructure on Daytona Beach, the “World’s Most Famous Beach.”

Combining comfort and sustainability, the home will have a hydroponic garden that can thrive year-round in the Florida climate and will be watered through rainwater collection. It will also include a ductless HVAC system that will allow the temperature in each room to be controlled separately, reducing the energy used for air-conditioning.

“The goal of The BEACH House is to provide an energy-efficient and sustainable housing option for current and future seniors,” the team says.

Here are five of the sustainable products they are using in their home.

This story is part of a series covering the U.S. Department of Energy’s biennial Solar Decathlon competition, which will conclude in Denver, Colo., this October. Leading up to the event, the PRODUCTS team is bringing you the coolest green building and design products in a number of the 13 competing universities’ homes.

Crossville Virtue Tile / Photo courtesy of Crossville

This versatile design from Crossville is made up of 4 percent pre-consumer recycled content and holds the Green Squared certification for sustainable tile in North America. It also has Crossville’s Hydrotect coating that interacts with light and oxygen to keep tiles clean.
Blomberg Appliances / Photo courtesy of Team Daytona Beach

Team Daytona Beach is using Blomberg appliances in their home. The refrigerator, cooktop, oven, dishwasher, clothes washer, and dryer all come from the Energy Star 2017 Partner. Most of their products feature 95 percent recyclable components.
Classic Metal Roofing Systems Standing Seam Aluminum roof / Photo courtesy of Team Daytona Beach

This roof is sustainable and durable, just like Team Daytona Beach’s design. It is made of 95 percent post-consumer recycled aluminum and can withstand rot and infestation. The home’s solar array can easily be clipped onto the roof’s seams.
MacroAir Aeratron / Photo courtesy of MacroAir

The aerodynamic design of this two-blade fan is 10 times more energy efficient than conventional ceiling fans. It is Energy Star certified and comes with an ultra-efficient DC motor and an optional LED light.
Omega Cabinetry Renner / Photo courtesy of Omega Cabinetry

Team Daytona Beach is using Renner cabinet doors in a gray Smokey Hills Maple finish. Omega Cabinetry is committed to sustainable and responsible sourcing of its cabinet materials and is a member of the Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association (KCMA) Environmental Stewardship Program.