The EFdeN Signature solar house, designed and executed by EFdeN, was inaugurated on Tuesday, July 25, in Bucharest, and is open to the general public for visiting within the Băneasa Shopping City until early September. Then it will be transported to Dubai, where it will represent Romania at the most important international solar competition – Solar Decathlon.
EFdeN Signature house is developed by an interdisciplinary team of 60 students from the Technical University of Civil Engineering of Bucharest, the Ion Mincu University of Architecture and Urbanism and three other universities who designed and built a 100% solar and environmentally friendly house, with a high degree of comfort, health and safety for the occupant.
[Official photos by Dragos Asaftei]
All those who are directly interested in solar housing, technologies and solutions for energy efficiency, solar energy generation and reducing the environmental impact can visit the house from July 31 to August 31, Monday to Friday, between 18.00 and 21.00, and on weekends, between 12.00 and 21.00.
Starting September 1, the house will be dismantled and transported by sea to Dubai to be reassembled in just 15 days by the student team on the site where the competition will take place. Designed to integrate both in the Dubai and the Romanian climate, the prototype offers a unique experience through its adaptive and customization potential.
At the inauguration ceremony, President of Romania Klaus Iohannis appreciated the creativity and perseverance of the EFdeN team “who succeeded in bringing together important academic and private partners […], the best evidence that research in Romania is in good hands”. Prof. univ. Dr. Radu Văcăreanu, Rector of the Technical University of Civil Engineering of Bucharest, pointed out that “this interaction of interdisciplinary practice brings to the students of EFdeN a competence enhancement that complements the didactic activities”.
Project partners include Engie, Vinci Energies, Băneasa Shopping City, Lidl, Rothoblaas, ErgioProd, Signify (Philips Lighting), Sika, RoGBC, Bosch, Habitat Energy, Saint Gobain and 60 other companies.
Mihai Toader-Pasti, CEO and co-founder of EFdeN thanked universities, companies and all partners involved, adding: “We were able to provide 65% of the necessary resources to participate in the Dubai competition and we are still looking for partners to join our mission”.
Solar Decathlon is the most important sustainable housing competition in the world and was born in 2011 in the United States. In 2012, the PRISPA team was the first team in Romania to qualify for the Solar Decathlon (Madrid edition), and in 2014 the EFdeN team participated in the Versailles edition with a house which is now the Comfort Conditions Research Center in Bucharest. To date, the EFdeN team has won 23 awards.
EFdeN is the only NGO in Romania to develop solar homes for educational and research purposes, along with sustainable products and educational modules for both students, specialists and the general public. The volunteer project works on the basis of strategic partnerships and sponsorships. More details about the team, the project, and how you can get involved can be found at www.efden.org.