EFdeN announces the launch of EFdeN Signature, a new energy-efficient solar power house prototype, with which the multidisciplinary student team will represent Romania for the third time in the Solar Decathlon Solar Technology Competition, Dubai 2018. After the successes at the 2012 edition of the Decathlon Solar Decathlon (Madrid, Prispa house) and 2014 (Versailles, EfdeN house), EFdeN brings again Romania to the forefront of the sustainable development..
On November 2, the new prototype under design was first presented to a specialized audience who could preview it with virtual reality and augmented reality applications, discovering the latest innovations and cutting-edge technologies. The presentation took place at the current EFdeN house, on Pache Protopopescu Boulevard no.66.
Teachers, representatives of large companies, as well as civil society and the media gathered to discuss how to create a more sustainable Romania. This can be done starting with a project that aims to guide Romanians’ interests in the direction of sustainable development, renewable energy and green systems by participating in a competition of magnitude. The event ended with a guided tour of the current EFdeN House, transformed into a Comfort Research Center.
As a participant in the Solar Decathlon, the Dubai 2018 edition, EFdeN Signature has to respond not only to the climatic conditions in Romania but also to the extreme ones in Dubai, which involve high temperatures, high humidity and sand storms. As part of the competition, the prototype house will be built in Romania, transported over 5,000 kilometers by land and sea to Dubai, and then reassembled on site in just 10 days at temperatures of 30-45 °C in the November 2018.
“EFdeN Signature aims to improve our signature on the planet (hence its name), the footprint we put on the environment, to be a home that adapts to the user, enhancing user’s level of comfort, but also resource efficiency and a smart use. The competition is fierce and at the starting line there are 22 teams of students and researchers who aim to bring new and sustainable solutions to a place where innovation is at home. We need partners to see the impact that such an initiative can have on both young people who have this experience and for the environment and a greener future. That is why we invite the companies to join us in this project”, said Nicoleta Cruceanu, Management Team, EFdeN.
“At UTCB, we encourage students to have extra-curricular activities and we strongly believe in team spirit and development opportunities in such competitions. We are very glad to participate again in the competition and we assure the support of the young students.”, said Prof. Univ. Radu Sorin Văcăreanu, Rector, Technical University of Civil Engineering, Bucharest
“The aspects that ensure the sustainability of a project should not be ignored by the architects and engineers. I am glad that what is happening in a project like this brings together specialists from all fields, this being a beneficial experience, both for architectural students and engineers. What happens in EFdeN, the interdisciplinary approach and the practical part, the experimentation, the close collaboration between students and teachers are things that should be replicated on the widest possible scale”, said Prof. dr. arch. Marian Moiceanu, Rector of the University of Architecture and Urbanism “Ion Mincu”.
The EFdeN project is the result of the collaboration of over 350 students, 148 companies and 5 universities. Three years ago, at the Solar Decathlon competition in Versailles, the team designed, built, transported over 2500 km, assembled in just 12 days the EFdeN house – a sunny, comfortable and safe, intelligent and sustainable, energy-efficient home that produces its own energy. After the competition, the house was brought back to the country and rebuilt in Bucharest, within the Facility for Engineering of Installations, where it is open for visitors to the general and specialized public.
EFdeN Signature video presentation.
In the Solar Decathlon competition, teams from all over the world participate, by designing and building 100% electric solar homes. The competition aims to raise the awareness among the students and universities participating on the importance of using renewable energy technologies. At the same time, Solar Decathlon addresses companies by encouraging them to promote and implement green materials and systems that reduce the impact of construction on the environment while educating the general public on resource consumption.