Students in international green design competition

THE University of Nottingham will represent Britain in an international competition to design, build and test drive Europe's most energy-efficient house.

A team of architecture and engineering students from the Department of the Built Environment are taking on 18 universities from across the world in the first Solar Decathlon Europe.

The competition is in Madrid between June 18 and 27 next year.

Britain's entry – The Nottingham HOUSE – is a full-scale, zero-carbon starter home.

Built with construction materials company Saint-Gobain, it will demonstrate how low-energy architecture can lend itself to the mass market.

The L-shaped design is so versatile it can be worked in terraces and rows or stacked as apartments.

The Nottingham HOUSE will be constructed at The University of Nottingham. After being flat-packed and transported across Europe by DHL, it will be re-assembled and connected to the Spanish national grid, along with the 18 other houses, on the banks of the River Manzanares at the gateway to Madrid.

The students will be competing against teams from the USA, Brazil, China, Mexico, Germany, Finland, France and Spain. They have to demonstrate the effectiveness and energy efficiency of their home by living and entertaining guests in the house while it is on display.

The 10-day exhibition is expected to attract more than 100,000 visitors.

Dr Mark Gillott, co-director of the Institute of Sustainable Energy Technology, said: "Plans by the Government to introduce a 'clean energy cashback' scheme means households which contribute electricity to the National Grid through methods such as solar power are set to be rewarded with financial incentives, making buildings such as The Nottingham HOUSE a desirable option for developers and homeowners alike.

"Using a prefabricated design, our truly sustainable home will show how a small 'starter' home could be produced with the ability to sit side by side as part of a semi-detached house or terrace."

The Nottingham HOUSE will be unveiled next March when it will be one of the key attractions at Ecobuild, an exhibition between March 2 and 4, at Earl's Court in London. For more details go to www.nottinghamhouse.co.uk.