Microtherm® supports Team Wuppertal at Solar Decathlon Europe 2010
SOLAR DECATHLON is a competition organized by the US Department of Energy where universities from all over the world can compete in the design and build of an energy self-sufficient house, using only solar power as an energy and equipped with technologies that offer maximum energy efficiency.
The competition was first held in 2002. This year’s edition, “Solar Decathlon Europe 2010” will be held in Madrid between the 18th and the 27th of June. Together with the Bergische Universität Wuppertal, 20 universities will compete in this year’s contest. The houses will be evaluated over 10 different disciplines, hence Decathlon, as in the Olympic competition.
The teams may only use solar energy to generate electricity that should be enough to run a modern household. To make the house as energy sufficient as possible, they have to carefully select the products, systems and applications that they will use in these houses.
Microtherm has been known as the leading supplier of high performance thermal insulation solutions for all temperatures for the last forty years. The Bergische Universität Wuppertal contacted us with the request that we provide for them the best performing insulation available – Microtherm SlimVac® vacuum insulation panels. Using the minimum thickness possible to meet the design specification, this product offers the best thermal performance and the guarantee of high energy efficiency over a long working life.
So, in light of this, Microtherm® is contributing in the construction of the Wuppertal Team Solar house with the supply of 225m2 of Microtherm Slimvac® – Vacuum insulation panels.
These panels are made to size to perfectly fit in the prefabricated elements out of which the walls above the windows are built up. From outside to inside, this construction consists of 1,2cm of OSB Board, 8cm of Microtherm Slimvac® insulation panels and 9cm Kerto board.
Because of the very high thermal resistance , these high performance vacuum insulation panels make a big contribution towards achieving the goals for energy efficiency.
A major advantage of Microtherm Slimvac® compared to the conventional insulation materials currently used in the construction market is that, because of the high R-value, the thickness of the walls can be decreased dramatically.
all teams are currently finalizing the construction of their houses to make sure that it is completed in time for the competition to start on Friday 18th of June.
Microtherm wish success to “Bergische Universität Wuppertal “ and hope that the Solar house of Team Wuppertal will be successful in this competition.
For further information about the contest, the participation of team Wuppertal and Slimvac Vacuum insulation panels, please check the following websites:
www.solardecathlon.gov
www.sdeurope.org
www.sdeurope.uni-wuppertal.de/index.php?id=304&lang=de
www.microthermgroup.com