R-CELLS shown on Open Talk
An eye-catching solar house prototype was shown on the TV show Open Talk on Sept 13. The R-CELLS residence, designed by Team Tianjin U+, is a competing entry in the final competition of the Solar Decathlon China 2021 (SDC).
A real house built using this design has been built in Zhangjiakou, Hebei province and successfully passed an acceptance check by the SDC Committee on Sept 14.
As a prototype for solar-powered housing, R-CELLS represents the idea of " lifelong healthy and ecological residence", responding to the three challenges of “sustainable development, smart connection, and human health” put forward by SDC 2021.
It uses solar power as its main source of electrical energy and features an asymmetric V-shaped roof with reversed eaves facing the sun so as to maximize the utilization of passive solar gain in winter and provide sufficient space for photovoltaic panels. The solar energy that is absorbed can be converted into electricity and heat through internal equipment.
The solar house in Zhangjiakou
“At a conservative estimate, this house can generate more than 40,000 KWH of electricity a year, which is about 4-5 times the electricity it needs!” student representative Wang Qi of Team Tianjin U+ said on Open Talk. Wang is a master student majoring in architecture at Tianjin University. Wang added that excess electrical energy can be transmitted to the grid, achieving zero energy consumption and making the house a "producer and seller" of electrical energy.
R-CELLS is committed to creating an accessible environment for people of all ages. It considers accessibility from its exterior platform to its interior spaces. All of its spaces, including its kitchen and bathroom, are designed with wheelchair mobility in mind.
“After stepping into the house surrounded by and filled with plants after a busy day of work, you offset the lights and air conditioning with the press of a button through your phone, making the temperature comfortable and the brightness moderate. A child sleeps soundly in the house and you don’t have to worry about elderly mobility because of the house’s safety handrails and alarms. This scenario can be perfectly realized in the R-CELLS residence,” Wang remarked.
Initiated by the United States Department of Energy, the Solar Decathlon (SD) is an international collegiate competition comprising 10 contests that challenge university teams to design, build, and operate highly efficient and innovative houses powered by renewable energy. The SD has expanded globally in the United States, China, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America & the Caribbean.
SDC 2021 has invited universities from all over the world to cooperate with enterprises to design a green solar house that meets the requirements of “sustainable development, intelligent interconnection, and human health”. All groups will have their designs implemented in Zhangjiakou in a bid to support the 2022 Beijing-Zhangjiakou Winter Olympic Games and the construction of a national renewable energy demonstration zone.
Team Tianjin U+, led by Tianjin University’s School of Architecture, pools the strength of many research institutions and enterprises, such as the Tianjin University Research Institute of Architectural Design and Urban Planning Co., Ltd, Tianjin Chengjian University and Oslo School of Architecture and Design. It comprises more than 20 consultants and tutors and over 50 participants ranging from doctoral students and graduates to undergraduates.
